Housing Associations are playing an important role in Sonderborg's city transition

Cooperation with the EU ensured energy savings

The six housing associations in Sonderborg were recently gathered for a Vision Day for a status on the many energy renovation projects that have been implemented since 2018 to climate-proof the homes.

The many climate projects have been realised in close collaboration between the EU projects SmartEnCity, HAPPI and Sonderborg's ProjectZero with the goal of saving energy and thus emitting less CO₂ - emission and at the same time achieve better living comfort in the approximately 3,500 public housing in the Sonderborg area.

"The housing associations have been on an impressive climate journey over the past four years, where through the involvement of residents and association boards, a strong community has been created about future climate solutions, all of which contribute to our common goal of CO₂ neutrality in 2029 in the Sonderborg area," said Mayor Erik Lauritzen praising the housing associations on the vision day.

Investments for DKK 200 million DKK in greener solutions

In total, almost 200 million DKK has already been invested among other things in insulation of exterior walls, replacement of windows, technical energy optimization installations, conversion to district heating and heat pumps as well as installation of roof-integrated photovoltaic systems and batteries.

“I am very impressed by our housing associations, which help showing the way for energy-saving initiatives that increase interest not only in Denmark but also internationally, and when the International Energy Agency holds its energy efficiency conference in Sonderborg in June 2022, it is among other things to look at the solutions that the housing associations have demonstrated ”, says Erik Lauritzen.

The investment decisions also reach forward in time and mean, among other things, that 200 homes in Nordborg Andelsboligforening replace natural gas with district heating, just as the housing associations Danbo and Gråsten Andelsboligforening have decided to convert to district heating. 

Solar cells and batteries are the climate solution of the future

Boligselskabet Danbo, Gråsten Andelsboligforening, SØBO, B42 and Sønderborg Andelsboligforening have established solar cell and battery systems - and the combination of solar cells and battery systems is the climate solution of the future.

"In the future, we must be able to store the green energy from solar cells and with battery systems we can use the green energy - even when the sun is not shining", says Torben Esbensen from Dansk Energi Management A / S, who has assisted housing associations in their energy renovation projects.

Continued cooperation and green ambassadors

All Sonderborg area housing associations support the continued close cooperation, among other things through the green ambassadors and resident theme meetings, and this pleases Vivian Engelbredt, who is chairman of Sønderborg Andelsbolig Forening:

“The renovation projects make good financial sense and we are really proud that we have succeeded in engaging the residents in the projects. It is important that we focus on involving even more residents, among other things through our green ambassador program, and then we must follow up closely on activities so that everyone retains commitment and co-ownership. ", Says Vivian Engelbredt who is also pleased, that the climate projects also provide savings for the individual resident.

The EU projects SmartEnCity and HAPPI started in 2016 and 2018 and were for the housing associations the start of a large, green transformation, which right now concerns 3,500 non-profit housing in six housing associations in Sonderborg Municipality. The projects have been carried out in close collaboration with Dansk Energi Management, EUC Syd and ProjectZero.