INTERVIEW
Green Projects:
Reinventing the Made in Germany Label
The German government’s climate and energy package is designed to effect a 40 percent reduction in carbon emissions by 2020 as compared to 1990 levels. Professor Manfred Fischedick, Vice President and Director of the Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy, and Dr. Herbert Lütkestratkötter, Chairman of the HOCHTIEF Executive Board, spoke to the editorial team behind HOCHTIEF’s Sustainability Report about climate change mitigation and related opportunities for industry and society.
Professor Fischedick, where do you think action is
needed most in order to meet the German government’s target?
Prof. Manfred Fischedick: The climate and energy package puts climate change
mitigation on a faster track. But having said that, the real challenges will
only start to emerge in 2020. We have to cut global greenhouse gas emissions by
at least half, which means the industrialized countries have to slash their
carbon emissions by as much as 90 percent by mid-century. In doing so, the
energy systems in place today will have to be turned on their heads. At present,
renewable energy makes up only seven or eight percent of overall energy supply.
The ratio of renewables to fossil fuels must be reversed in the course of the
next 40 to 50 years. An integrated optimization approach is needed if we are to
achieve the climate change target without losing sight of other goals such as
security of supply and economic viability. The key lies in an implementation and
innovation initiative in which we put readily available ideas into practice and
create the right conditions. Most of the technologies needed are already on
hand. We have to see to it that we
use them.
How does HOCHTIEF serve climate change mitigation?
Dr. Herbert Lütkestratkötter: For a start, there are numerous ways for the construction industry to get involved.
When all is said and done, constructing and most of all
operating buildings and other structures accounts for around
50 percent of primary energy resource consumption. This
is where HOCHTIEF targets its climate change activities.
Energy-efficient building modernization is a prime example.
We are also committed to the use of renewable energy
sources, for example, with hydroelectric power stations
but also more innovative approaches such as wind power alongside building and operating geothermal power plants and biogas facilities. However, renewables only provide for efficiency and security of supply if the energy is actually stored, as with pump storage power plants—another requirement that has much to do with building and construction.
What in your opinion are the most important measures in mitigating climate
change?
Prof. Fischedick: There are five major strategies: greater
use of renewables, increasing energy efficiency, sustainable production and consumption patterns, nuclear energy,
and carbon capture and storage, which would make coal
and gas more climate-compatible. Nuclear energy is by far
the most controversial strategy and, in my view, it is not
the best option in efforts to halt climate change.
What can HOCHTIEF do to improve energy
efficiency?
Dr. Lütkestratkötter: We offer energy contracting services
and devise integrated energy strategies for large buildings.
These take in elements such as insulation, heat supply and
systems efficiency. The energy-saving potential is tremendous. For example, Augsburg hospital saves some 17,000
metric tons of CO2 a year. This is just one of many projects
in which we help to cut emissions.
You work with energy and mobility structures. Can
your findings be transferred to HOCHTIEF?
Prof. Fischedick: Many of them certainly can. Take greater
system integration of renewable energy sources that offer
a steady energy supply, like geothermal heat. Another key
aspect involves boosting the implementation rate in areas
such as energy-efficient building modernization and transfer of climate change technologies to other countries. This
is all heavily linked to HOCHTIEF activities. The Wuppertal
Institute can provide ideas, but it is up to industry to put
them into practice.
Has HOCHTIEF adopted any mobility measures?
Dr. Lütkestratkötter: Yes, of course. They start at a very
basic level. We have introduced driving courses to help users
of company cars adopt a fuel-saving driving style. As an
alternative to business trips, we are stepping up the use of
video and teleconferencing services. A survey is currently