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Eight tons of CO₂ saved annually – extensive conversion made possible thanks to funding and donations
As the Darmstadt-Eberstadt Nature Friends Association reports, the Riedberghaus, located on the Modau River, is currently undergoing comprehensive energy-efficiency upgrades. A new heat pump heating system will replace the existing oil heating system, which consumes approximately 3,000 liters of oil annually. This will reduce the building's CO₂ emissions by about eight tons per year. Installation of the system by ENTEGA Gebäudetechnik has been underway since November; prior to this, the planning and tendering process took about a year.
New technology for the main building and gatehouse
The main building, with 20 beds, conference rooms, a kitchen, and sanitary facilities, is being equipped with a large Viessmann heat pump that will handle heating, cooling, and hot water.
A conventional heat pump would have been oversized for the smaller gatehouse. Here, a government-subsidized Daikin multi-split system with one outdoor unit and three indoor modules now provides heat during the winter.
Funding through grants and donations
The total cost of the project is approximately €90,000. A heating subsidy of around €25,000 from KfW (German Development Bank) has already been approved.
Additional support came from numerous donations from local partners, including the NaturPur Foundation, Sparkasse Darmstadt, Volksbank Darmstadt, the Eberstadt Software Foundation, and the Hessian branch of the Friends of Nature. A total of €23,000 was raised. The sponsoring association, KiJuBS Riedberg, must therefore cover approximately €40,000 of the costs itself.
Unexpected problems in the old building
During installation, ENTEGA technicians discovered that the carbon steel heating pipes, only 20 years old, were already heavily corroded and in some cases on the verge of rusting through. A complete replacement of all the pipes would be necessary, but is not financially feasible in the short term. Therefore, only the pipes in the main hall were replaced initially. The remaining pipe renovations are scheduled for the end of 2026 – with the hope of receiving further donations.
Lessons learned from the project
The nature conservationists emphasize two key experiences:
– Only one of the three companies contacted submitted a complete offer; supposedly cheaper offers concealed follow-up costs.
– The professional support provided by the energy agency "Efficiency Class" was crucial – both for planning and for the successful application to the KfW (German Development Bank).
The combination of funding, donations and expert advice made the project possible and ensures a climate-friendly future for the Riedberghaus.
(EBERSTADT – RED/PM/J.Schmidt)
