City of Lucerne wants to heat entirely with renewable energy
Lucerne - The city of Lucerne is planning to convert its heat supply to 100 percent renewable energy. Public buildings are to be supplied with the new energy sources by 2030 and private properties by 2035.
The Lucerne City Council has applied to the Grand City Council for a special loan of 5.05 million Swiss francs to convert its heat supply to 100 percent renewable energy. In addition, an application for an additional loan of 194,000 Swiss francs was submitted for the 2023 budget. According to a press release, this is intended to finance hiring the extra staff required in the real estate service department up to 2034.
Additional full-time positions had become necessary because the city of Lucerne electorate approved the city’s climate and energy strategy in September 2022. This stipulates that the city’s own buildings and administrative assets such as schools or buildings used for public administration activities must be supplied with 100 percent renewable energy by 2030.
By increasing the number of staff in the real estate service department, the conversion to renewable heat supply should be implemented by 2035, while also allowed the city to manage the pending refurbishments of financial asset properties at the same time. This is planned for a total of 39 properties.
With the conversion of the financial asset properties to 100 percent renewable energy, the Lucerne City Council is seeking to set a good example with its own real estate assets, the press release states. Any tenants that may require interim solutions while the renovation work is in progress will be helped by the city.
