According to a study carried out for Siemens by the WuppertalInstitute for Climate, Environment and Energy, large cities couldreduce their greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 90 percentwithout any noticeable compromises in the quality of life for theirinhabitants. Taking the example of Munich, the study shows howa large modern city can drastically cut its CO2 emissions. Cities inparticular need to take a leading role in protecting the climate,since they are responsible for 80 percent of CO2 emissions.
In the case of Munich, the Wuppertal Institute investigated twoscenarios, one optimistic and one conservative, for the perioduntil 2058. In the more favorable scenario, emissions will fall byaround 90 percent to an annual figure of 750 kilograms per inhabitant;in the conservative one, they will still fall by 80 percent.If all the options to improve energy efficiency are rigorously exploited,it will be possible to meet power requirements largelyfrom renewable and CO2-low sources. Within a mere 30 years, wecan expect to see low-CO2 districts in cities.
Much of the necessary investment will amortize itself. In Munich,for example, refurbishment of old buildings and constructionof new ones in line with passive house standards would cost€13 billion more in the period until 2058 than would be neededfor construction according to the currently valid Energy ConservationAct of 2007. Calculated in terms of each inhabitant, thatwould mean extra costs of approximately €200 a year — aroundone-third of the annual gas bill. By the year 2058, however, thisadditional investment would be offset by energy savings of between€1.6 and €2.6 billion —€1,200 to €2,000 per capita.
According to the study, the most effective approaches to reducingemissions are improved insulation of buildings, use of renewableand low-CO2 energy sources, cogeneration of heat andpower, and use of economical electrical appliances and lighting.When it comes to transport, the greatest potential for savings liesin reduction of individual transport, resulting from increased useof public transportation, and in the switch to electric vehicles.
Following publication last year of an initial study on sustainableinfrastructure for the London metropolitan area, Siemens hasnow unveiled its correlate study for Munich: "Sustainable UrbanInfrastructure: Munich — A Roadmap to a CO2-Free Future." Asthe company with the largest environmental portfolio worldwide,which generated sales of ca. €19 billion in fiscal 2008, Siemenscan and will make a major contribution to this debate.
Photos: http://www.siemens.com/ct-pictures/in20090303