Church communities in the Archdiocese of Cologne switch to green electricity | DOMRADIO.DE
A switch to renewable energy will gradually contribute to a climate-positive Archdiocese of Cologne in 2030. In a first step, 25 percent of all parishes are now using green electricity, reports the Archdiocese.
As part of the “Creation-friendly energy conversion” project, over 25 percent of all church parishes, parish associations and community associations in the Archdiocese of Cologne and the Vicariate General of the Archdiocese of Cologne have joined forces and will be purchasing energy and gas from two joint providers from September 2021, according to the Press release from the Archdiocese of Cologne this Thursday.
WEMAG GmbH & Co KG believed that the participants were using green electricity with a green electricity label certificate and that gas was obtained from a provider, Knauber Erdgas GmbH.
60 percent of all participating municipalities have not yet received green electricity and would switch to this alternative with immediate effect. By bundling the electricity and gas contracts, a comprehensive and reliable survey of CO2 emissions is possible, which is relevant for planning and future environmental protection measures.
In addition, the administrative effort on site, especially in the renditions, would be reduced and optimized conditions, especially better prices, would be achieved.
Also think along when planning new buildings
Because around 85 percent of the CO2 in the Archdiocese of Cologne would be consumed by the provision of heat and electricity in church properties, the gradual conversion to renewable energies is contributing to the overall goal of a climate-positive and sustainable creation-friendly Archdiocese of Cologne in 2030.
In the Archdiocese of Cologne, for example, the reduction of emissions is also taken into account when planning new buildings: at the educational campus in Cologne-Kalk, synergies are to be used with the help of district heating and a photovoltaic system is to be installed on the school roof. Existing heating systems in the Archdiocese of Cologne would be checked for optimization potential by energy expert Christian Scholz.
Since 80 percent of the parishes have already expressed their interest in the energy bundling program, the Archdiocese of Cologne is organizing a second wave of awards in November 2021 and March 2022.