In 2018, it was already reported here about the promotion of meadow orchards by the Menden municipal utility. At that time, a green strip of 8,500 square meters became a meadow orchard with 53 high fruit trees.

In mid-2019, the next funding project was realized. Over 15,000 square meters at twelve locations were converted into flowering areas. An important step to counteract the extinction of species. On commercially used areas, which are mostly "protected" with pesticides, it is becoming increasingly difficult for insects, but also for other animal species, to survive. Also for this reason, the project includes the use of exclusively native seeds and the installation of insect hotels.

Further funding projects will follow in 2020. This year, consumers are the focus of the funding. Stadtwerke Menden is providing a funding pot of 20,000 euros to finance the replacement of electricity-guzzling old appliances with energy-efficient new A+++ household appliances. All customers of the "naturliebe" tariff have access to this funding pot and can thus claim 20 percent of the net purchase costs. In addition, a new forest will be planted in the fall of 2020. Stadtwerke Menden has purchased a 5,000 square meter meadow in Böingsen/Asbeck for this purpose. Native species will account for 90 percent of the forest. In total, the new forest will be home to around 1,500 new trees, including "harvestable" species for customers of the Green Electricity-certified green electricity tariff, such as berry bushes in the margins or walnut trees and sweet chestnuts.

These projects were supported by the "naturliebe" green electricity tariff, which has been awarded the Green Electricity Label. With the Green Electricity Label, energy providers undertake to invest a fixed amount per kilowatt hour of electricity consumed in energy transition projects for the certified green electricity tariff. In the case of the "naturliebe" tariff, this is 1 cent per kilowatt hour.