In Überlingen, a town of 20,000 inhabitants, a new climate-friendly residential quarter is rising on the Schättlisberg overlooking Lake Constance. 14 modern buildings with 180 rental apartments not only offer a roof over your head, but also set standards for a more sustainable future. Here, environmentally friendly energy supply meets resource-conserving construction and a green, natural environment. The innovative concept shows how living, sustainability and quality of life can work together.
Polarstern customers support integrated tenant electricity project
When the sun shines, not only are the residents of the neighborhood happy, but energy is also generated. The energy supply for the residential quarter includes a tenant electricity project from green energy pioneer Polarstern. Solar panels on the roofs of the buildings generate clean electricity directly for the local residents - without any detours via the public power grid. In this way, residents benefit directly from solar power and become an active part of the energy transition.
"We opted for Polarstern's tenant electricity model because we want to offer our tenants a sustainable and cost-effective energy supply without having to worry about billing models and bureaucratic obstacles. In this way, we can use the solar energy on our roofs directly, reduce energy costs for our tenants and make a contribution to climate protection," says Dieter Ressel, Managing Director of Baugenossenschaft Überlingen eG.
"Tenant electricity brings the energy transition directly to the people, into their homes, without them having to invest in it themselves. This makes the energy transition fair and a positive experience for everyone locally. Thanks to increasing electrification, households benefit not only from reduced electricity costs, but also from advantages in terms of heat supply and charging electric vehicles," says Florian Henle, Managing Director of the green energy supplier and tenant electricity service provider Polarstern.
Info box
The financing of this tenant electricity project was supported by the Grüner Strom-Label subsidy system: All of Polarstern's green electricity tariffs are awarded the Grüner Strom-Label. This means that the energy supplier guarantees that a fixed amount is invested in future-oriented energy transition projects for every kilowatt hour of electricity sold. In total, tariffs with the Grüner Strom-Label have co-financed more than 1,900 innovative energy transition projects with over 96 million euros. This also includes the tenant electricity project for the residential quarter in Überlingen. Certified green electricity tariffs from Polarstern have already triggered investments in over 100 energy transition projects in the tenant electricity sector.
A lighthouse project for the energy transition
When the sun isn't shining, residents are still well supplied thanks to the electricity storage units in their residential buildings. These storage units capture the surplus solar power and ensure that their own energy requirements can be covered flexibly. With a self-sufficiency rate of around 40 percent, local people enjoy greater independence from the public power grid. Sustainability was also a priority when insulating the buildings: recyclable materials ensure a more resource-efficient construction method, which also reduces our ecological footprint in the long term.
The district project integrates ecological concepts of the energy and heating transition and serves as a model for future-oriented urban development. Not only does smart energy technology come together in this district, but a meeting place has also been created for the residents. Spacious green areas and charging stations for electric vehicles also contribute to a living space that enables people to live in an energy-efficient and climate-friendly way.
This project shows how the energy transition can succeed at the neighborhood level. Modern residential districts can make a decisive contribution to a climate-friendly future - for local people and beyond. In the June 2024 Klara Geywitz visitedFederal Minister for Housing, Urban Development and Construction, visited the Überlingen eG building cooperative's neighborhood and was impressed. The project is part of the "Stadtquartier.2050" lighthouse project, which is investigating how a climate-neutral energy supply can be achieved in urban districts with socially acceptable rents. The focus is on energy-efficient construction and the intelligent networking of electricity, heat and mobility.
