Freiburg

It was on Monday, about 5:30pm local time , the weather was unpleasantly cold and off we were on our way to the annual Christmas party for staff of the Badische Zeitung daily newspaper at one of the new suburbs of Freiburg called, Vauban.

I was not only amazed at the well planned community, but was struck by the history behind it and of course the way solar system is used to power the ecological designed homes there. It conserves more energy than it consumes. It is no wonder it is termed a “sustainable model district.”

Indeed Vauban is a microcosm of the entirety of the sprawling city of Freiburg that has won many accolades for itself. It is often referred to by many as the “Eco-City”, “Germany’s Environmental Capital” while some call it the “Europe’s Greenest City”.

Call it either way and you will certainly not be wrong. Freiburg with a population of a little over 200,000 is situated in the Black Forest and on the southwestern part of Germany near the French and Swiss boarders. Eighty percent of the over 900-year old city was destroyed during the second world war in the 1940s but has since been rebuilt on its medieval plan.

In 1992, the city council of Freiburg, which literary means “Free City” from its historical past, adopted a resolution that made it mandatory for all new developers to construct low energy buildings on standard specifications. It ensured that, the permissible energy requirement of a building was two thirds the national limit.

An ecological development plan that involved energy conservation, renewable energy, waste reduction and recycling, participatory planning and the local production of staple foods was mapped out for the people. Also included in the plan was the encouragement of residents to work closer to their homes and the construction of long lasting structures. Today Freiburg has not only developed and supported alternatives to nuclear power, the citing of which the people protested against in the 70s, but has created institutions and also attracted researchers to support other means to nuclear power.

This explains the reasons for the high concentration of eco industries, experts, architects, research institutions, planners among equally minded organizations in the city. Also referred to as the solar capital of the world, solar panels span over 11,223m. the central town consists of more than 250 solar panels. Windmills are not also in short supply. More than 1.6 percent of power is sourced from bio-energy.

Equally worthy of mention is the green vegetation. The landscape is virtually green as 42 percent of the surrounding is under conservational protection. A lot of roofs have been transformed into vegetation layers, dubbed “green roofing” that allow storm water run-off. This reduces energy costs and urban heat effect.

Another notable positive feature is the city’s recycling scheme. Each household has separate bins. Kitchen and garden waste is composted. No wonder Freiburg won the “best recycler” in the European Union’s 2001 “Urban Audit” where 80 percent Freiburg’s waste was recycled compared to the EU’s average of just 19 percent.

Since 1969, the city transport regulations prioritized bicycles, public transport and pedestrian lanes. Bicycle lanes now extends more than 500 km. The tram network continue to expand to cover the entire city of 60 km radius. The number of bicycles here is better seen than be told. It is the commonest means of transport apart from the Tram.

All these efforts are aimed at minimizing the impact and effect of carbon dioxide in the system and ensuring healthy living.

Despite such a laudable achievement by the city authorities such as the Mayor of Freiburg, Dr. Dieter Salomon and the Captain of the Energy, Klaus Hoppe, are leaving no stone unturned to ensure that future generations live in even more sustainable environment. What the authorities and people of the city of Freiburg have been able to achieve over the years is surely not beyond the capabilities of Ghanaians. We are even more blessed with abundant Sunshine and natural resources. I believe with education, commitment, tenacity of purpose, hard work, selflessness, discipline and the willingness to walk the talk, we can equally make history for ourselves now and for future generations.