A gold label for particularly energy-efficient communities
The "Energiestadt Gold" label is awarded to municipalities that are particularly committed to climate protection and to the efficient use of energy, such as the municipality of Reinach BL. Gold is omnipresent during the Christmas season and stands for something valuable and special.
54 Energy Cities GOLD in Switzerland | The Energiestadt GOLD label is based on the Energiestadt label. It is the highest award for cities and municipalities that are committed to the ongoing efficient use of energy, renewable energy and climate protection and meet particularly high standards.
A wood pellet heating system for a neighbourhood | The municipality of Reinach was the first municipality in Canton Baselland to be awarded the "Energy City Gold" label in 2019. The municipality has its own energy strategy. New neighbourhood planning must be compatible with this strategy, and resource-conserving mobility is being developed in a comprehensive way. Communities with the Gold label must demonstrate how they are committed to climate protection. The new wood pellet heating system, which replaces an old oil heating system, plays a key role for Reinach. It will be used to heat a large school building, including gymnasiums, and the clubhouse of the local soccer club, and to supply part of their hot water. The example shows that communities have great potential to reduce their CO2 emissions if they are systematic about switching to renewable energy for community buildings.
Energy Strategy 2013-2020 of the municipality of Reinach
Energy consulting and school projects | Involving and informing the population are also part of an active energy policy. In Reinach, this is done through public information events and on-site energy recommendations. Doris Vögeli, the municipal councillor responsible, emphasised during the presentation of the award that it would take time to achieve major goals. For some years now, the community has been organising Energy Days with Energie Zukunft Schweiz and Ökozentrum in a different primary school every year. If schoolchildren are made aware of energy as an issue and learn how to use resources carefully, they take this home to their families so that broad sections of the population can be reached through these Energy Days.
Media release, 25th October 2019, about the presentation of the Gold-Label (in German)
20 years of the advent calendar on sustainable development | We created a window with Energiestadt in the 2017 calendar. We invite you to a short journey back in time.
