First heat pump from the Janusz Korczak School: Future for Steinfurt!

First heat pump from the Janusz Korczak School: Future for Steinfurt!

The Janusz Korczak School in Ibbenbüren-Uffeln shows how sustainable energy supply can be found in education. It was the first educational institution in the Steinfurt district to be equipped with a modern heat pump in order to take a further step towards the district's climate-neutral goals by 2040. This initiative is part of a larger plan to advance the use of renewable energy throughout the county. That reports allesdetten.de.

The new heat pump replaces an outdated gas condensing boiler from 2002 and, with an output of 100 kilowatts (KW), has enough power to cover the school's heating needs. For comparison: a typical single-family home requires around 10 KW to generate comfortable heat. The heat pump uses environmental heat from air, soil or groundwater and only requires a small amount of electricity to operate.

The school’s technical infrastructure is currently being further optimized. As part of the renovation work, the electrical supply was expanded and a new supply line was laid from the transformer station to the special school because the old one was at its limit. In addition, preparations are underway for the construction of a photovoltaic system.

A step towards the heat transition

The installation of the heat pump is not only a benefit for the Janusz Korczak School, but also a significant contribution to the heat transition in Germany. This change is urgently needed because buildings in this country account for around 35% of final energy consumption and more than 30% of CO₂ emissions. This makes sustainable heat supply a crucial factor in the fight against climate change. This also shows that Federal Environment Agency, which highlights the importance of switching to renewable heat sources in various studies.

Although the focus is on heat pump technology, the challenge is to implement it across the board. Only through comprehensive energy-saving renovations and the use of innovative processes, such as serial renovation, can the path to zero-energy buildings be accelerated. A holistic approach that includes both technical innovations and sensible municipal planning is necessary.

Challenges and opportunities

The energy supply companies are also in demand! The German heating market is essentially a natural gas market, and the urgency to reduce this dependence is greater than ever. Loud Deloitte Many of the providers are planning to realign their portfolio. Over 80% of municipal utilities are municipal and play a central role in implementing the heating transition. But there are still a few hurdles: The majority of energy suppliers do not have a structured financing concept for the heating transition. Only 5% of companies have already secured the necessary financial resources.

In order to effectively achieve the climate goals, stable framework conditions, less bureaucracy and targeted subsidies for sustainable technologies are required. The Office for Building Management in the Steinfurt district not only supports local schools, but also offers other communities technical assistance with the installation of heat pumps in order to further promote the change to climate-neutral heat supply.

Overall, the example of the Janusz Korczak School shows how local actors can lead the way in meeting climate challenges. The next steps are crucial: With innovative concepts and a clear strategy in the heating transition, nothing stands in the way of a successful transformation.