Lessons from Living in Vauban, Germany to Boost Calgary’s Energy Efficiency
Hello, Mount Pleasant Neighbours!
Are you ready for another virtual trip with the Green Initiatives Committee? This month, we are taking a short hop over from Amsterdam and heading to a little town in Germany called Vauban. Known as “The Greenest Town in Europe,” Vauban sets the bar high when it comes to energy efficiency and has some cool ideas that might just work for us right here in Calgary.
Vauban’s Green Scene:
So, here’s the scoop. Vauban, located in the southwest of Germany, decided to become the green superhero of the town planning world by keeping green initiatives at the core of their community design. Picture this: solar panels on rooftops, energy-efficient homes, abundant green spaces, and a co-op power system.
Solar Panels Galore:
Vauban’s rooftops are like a mini-solar panel paradise. They’re all about harnessing the power of the sun, and just like this town, we’ve got our fair share of sunshine here! Imagine our roofs decked out in solar panels, soaking up that Alberta sun and cutting down our energy bills.
Energy-Efficient Homes:
Vauban homes are like the superheroes of energy efficiency. They are super-insulated, use natural light, and are designed to keep energy consumption to a minimum. These are all great ideas to keep in mind when designing and renovating homes in our neighbourhood.
Green Spaces Everywhere:
Vauban is all about the green scene. Parks, gardens, you name it. Green spaces aren’t just pretty; they support sustainability in a variety of ways. What if we transformed more of our unused spaces into community gardens or parks? Imagine picnics, community events, and a little more nature in the heart of our city.
Community Power:
Here’s a cool twist – Vauban residents are part of a co-op that manages their own energy! Homes in this town either consume as much energy as they make or produce even more energy than consumed that goes back into the community. Imagine if we, too, became a community where we’re not just energy consumers but energy creators!
So, there you have it – a little green initiative inspiration from Vauban! If you want to dig a little deeper into this cool town, visit this link: https://www.greencitytimes.com/europe-s-most-sustainable%20-%20city/.
If you want to get involved and be a part of making Mount Pleasant a greener community, we would love to have you join the committee. Please email [email protected] for more information or if you have any questions. As well, please check out our Mount Pleasant Green Initiatives Group on Facebook! You can find us on the Mount Pleasant Community Association page. The Facebook group is a great place to share knowledge and resources and check in to see what others are saying.
Have a great month,
The MPCA Green Initiatives Committee
“Residences in the Sun Ship.” Green City Times, October 30, 2023
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