Ventilation

• Venues can significantly reduce their energy consumption if they ensure that ventilation systems and air conditioning units are only switched on when someone needs improved or cooler air.

• Operating ventilation systems on a timer means the energy consumption of venues can be optimised and unnecessary operation avoided.

• Thoroughly ventilating rooms intermittently is better than leaving windows ajar for long periods: this reduces energy consumption and ensures efficient ventilation without heat loss.

Temperature control

• Avoiding energy-intensive appliances such as electric heaters lowers energy consumption and reduces CO₂ emissions.

• Carpets can be used to minimise energy consumption for heating: They keep the heat in the room.

• Draught excluders reduce heat loss and thus lower heating costs.

• Sealed doors and windows with curtains or draught excluders reduce the consumption of heating energy and keep the room temperature stable.

• If radiators are free-standing, the heat can circulate in the room. This in turn reduces the amount of heating required.

• The room temperature for office, test or storage rooms can be checked on a regular basis, for example by sustainability officers, to determine the maximum or minimum level required. The energy consumption can then be adjusted to requirements.

Biodiversity

• Landscapes, terraces, façades and green roofs are green corridors. They connect buildings with green spaces and promote local biodiversity.

• Green roofs promote the well-being of employees and local biodiversity.

• Green spaces with native plants in outdoor areas strengthen local biodiversity and promote the ecological balance.

City of Leipzig: Honig von den Leipziger Opern-Bienen

Modernisation

• If a venue is to be refurbished or converted, an energy consultation helps to develop an energy-efficient refurbishment strategy for the building.
  
  A refurbishment strategy includes financial planning and drawing up a schedule. It is the basis for ensuring that measures are implemented within the planned time frame.
  
  When implementing the refurbishment strategy, experts ensure compliance with standards.
  
  The early planning and authorisation of the installation of solar panels or other structural changes ensures a sustainable and future-proof energy supply.
  
  New building materials offer environmentally friendly solutions for construction, such as generatively manufactured sound-absorbing panels made from mushrooms and plant fibres.
  
  Building technology requires regular inspection. This involves identifying inefficiencies and making adjustments where necessary. The aim is to optimise energy consumption.

Light source

• Energy consumption can be significantly reduced by switching lights off in empty rooms. However, the requirements for escape and rescue routes must be complied with.

• LED lamps reduce power consumption and have a longer service life than conventional light sources.

• Warm white, dimmed and timed outdoor lighting protects the environment and promotes biodiversity.

• Energy consumption can be regulated automatically and efficiently using motion detectors and timers.

• Outdoor lighting that is not required can be switched off.

• Outdoor advertising that is illuminated but not needed during a certain period can be switched off. This reduces not only electricity consumption, but also light pollution.

• The use of energy-efficient lighting with warm colour temperatures (2400 to 3000K) helps save energy.

Energy supply

• Creating a climate balance sheet for a building is helpful for the development of measures through which venues can reduce their CO₂ emissions and energy consumption.

• Energy consumption can be checked and recorded on a regular basis. This enables sustainability officers to recognise inefficient patterns and implement improvement measures. Electricity meters in different building units can be used to identify areas of activity.

• Photovoltaic systems, geothermal energy or heat pumps are sources of green or renewable energy. Their use reduces CO₂ emissions in a sustainable manner. This makes energy provision more environmentally friendly.

• By means of self-generated solar power, venues have the opportunity to a) become less dependent on fossil fuels, b) contribute to the decentralisation of the power grid and c) improve their own energy balance sheet.

• Those who check whether the public power grid can provide renewable energy on a temporary basis will find it easier to source sustainable electricity and switch to renewable energy.

• Rainwater and grey water may be collected and used for toilets and irrigation. This conserves valuable water resources.

• Discussions with landlords on the use of green electricity can be an important step towards a more sustainable energy supply.

• Certified green electricity provides a reliable and environmentally friendly power supply. It can be identified, for example, by labels such as “ok-power” or other green energy certifications.

Energy management

• Drawing up a climate balance sheet for a building offers venues a valuable opportunity to work with a construction company to develop measures for reducing CO₂ emissions and energy consumption.

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  Easy wins enable rapid progress, while also initiating a process towards more sustainable production.

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  Materiality analyses provide information on the relevant environmental impacts of a company. Following such an analysis, the sustainability team can work on making the company more sustainable step by step.

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  Sustainability certifications such as ISO 14001, EMAS or the German Sustainability Code offer a way to implement recognized environmental standards and ensure the long-term use of sustainable energy.

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  Based on a building energy consultation, venues can develop an energy-efficient refurbishment strategy to save costs and protect the environment in the long term.

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  Joint use of space may be enabled through cooperation with neighbours and local groups. By working together, the parties involved can develop sustainable solutions that benefit everyone.

• Through investment planning, venues can advance the sustainable development of an organisation in an effective and targeted manner.