Siemens 2013 Annual Report Download - page 70


Annual reduction in CO emissions 
tons
At the Theresienbad pool complex, our
technologies have slashed heating use
by % and water consumption by %
while reducing carbon emissions by
 metric tons a year.
Living well with less electricity
and water
The emphasis on quality of life in Vienna
dates back to the ancient Romans, who
enjoyed bathing and relaxing in sulfur
springs on the site of the present-day
Theresienbad. One of the city’s oldest
public swimming pools, the Theresienbad
is more than a good place for quality leisure
time; it’s also a model of energy efficiency
and climate protection.
In 2009, we installed state-of-the-art build-
ing technology throughout the entire pool
complex. As part of an energy performance
contracting agreement, we made an up-
front investment of €5.2 million, to be
financed over 15 years through guaranteed
water and energy savings. This arrange-
ment was good for the city since Vienna
didn’t have to contribute capital from its
limited investment reserves. And the re-
sults were impressive: heating costs were
cut by 52% and water consumption slashed
by 76%. Savings have already exceeded the
contractually guaranteed level of nearly
€600,000 a year, benefiting not only city
coffers but also the environment and thus
all of Vienna’s residents. The Theresienbad
complex now emits 457 metric tons less
CO
2
each year than before the energy up-
grades. Energy performance contracting
has also reduced energy consumption,
costs and CO2 emissions at 23 public
schools in Vienna.
In Vienna, as in many cities, buildings
account for the lion’s share of the energy
consumed. As a result, Mayor Michael
Häupl has set up a city-wide energy-effi-
ciency program in addition to implement-
ing energy performance contracting solu-
tions for municipal properties. “We’re
promoting energy upgrades and thermal
insulation – which is one of my pet projects
because it means that more money stays in
people’s wallets,” he says.
Creative solutions
for climate protection
Energy-efficient buildings are a key factor
when it comes to making cities more
climate-friendly. On this front, there’s still
room for improvement in Vienna, accord-
ing to the European Green City Index, a
Siemens-sponsored study that rates the
environmental performance of 30 of the
continent’s cities in the areas of sustain-
ability, natural resource use and commit-
ment to environmentally sound practices.
Although Vienna achieved an admirable
fourth place, the study found potential for
improvement in the areas of carbon emis-
sions and air quality. Vienna got the mes-
sage: the city’s first climate protection pro-
gram reduced annual CO2 emissions by 3.1
million metric tons, and a second program
is now aiming to cut another 1.4 million
tons a year by 2020. Many of the planned
initiatives are technology-driven: climate-
neutral building construction, metro and
tram cars that recover traction power, and
electric buses for public transportation.
PAGE 
Making infrastructures more intelligent
Enhancing quality of life