The times they are a-changin`. The bucolic skylines of tiled roofswhich define cities in Germany could soon be sporting a new look: solar.If the Marburg City Council gets its way, Marburg will be the firstcity in Germany to legally require solar collectors on rooftops ofprivate and commercial buildings. The goal of Fritz Kahle, the GreenMayor of Marburg: No south-facing roof shall be left unused.Kahlefurther defines his goals for Marburg: "We don`t want to save the Worldand we don`t claim that Marburg will revolutionize climate action. Butwe must chart new territory in order to ensure a future supply ofenergy independent of oil and gas." The City Council has passed thelaw, which will not take effect until approval of the regionalauthorities in Giessen is granted.The imaginary photo of Solar-Marburg shown above will not fullyrepresent reality: historical buildings such as the Marburg Castle andthe Elisabeth Church will be exempt from the requirement.Unfortunately, not setting a very good example, Marburg`s City Hall isalso granted an exemption. Marburgis a city of approx. 80,000 lying halfway between Frankfurt on the Mainand Kasel in the German state of Hesse. The city has origins datingback to the first millenium, and gained notoriety when the CountessElisabeth of Thueringen moved to Marburg to dedicate herself to thecare of the sick after the death of her husband. In spite of her ownpremature death, at age 24, her legend persists and the Countess`castle as well as the Church built to the sainted lady`s memory remainthe two major historical attractions of Marburg. Among the more modernattractions of Marburg is the University, perhaps best known to anEnglish audience for two students: the Brother Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm.Now Marburg enters the third millenium seeking renewed fame in athoroughly modern manner. The legal requirement for solar installations will be activated whenmore than 20% of roof area is renovated, when heating systems arereplaced or when an addition is planned. The law requires at least 1square meter of solar energy collector per 20 square meters of roofsurface, foreseeing a minimum of 4 square meters of solar-thermalcollector or 1 Kilowatt of photovoltaic panels {approx. 7 squaremeters}. The city estimates a cost of 4000€ per single-family house, tobe carried by the house owner, but does not intend to increase thestandard 250€ subsidy currently existing to promote solarinstallations. The mayor points out the the German national authorities{BAFA} have subsidy programs.
www.treehugger.com/files/2008/06/first-solar-city-germany-marburg.php