Abstract

The new online home and communication platform for both research initiatives of the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology opened for visitors. The EnEff:Stadt initiative is intended to reveal ways of increasing the energy efficiency via optimised efficient energy supply and use concepts. Pilot projects in different communities and typical city districts will provide examples and indicative findings for widespread application. EnEff:Wärme promotes specific network optimisation with the aim of further increasing the share of local and district heating and integrating less densely populated areas into the supply network. District heating networks, so-called smart grids, are to become central building blocks in local energy management. Low-exergy technologies (LowEx) help reduce transmission losses. Furthermore, new adaptive cooling and heating networks offer starting points for the integration of renewable energy.