Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action honors 21 Energy Scout teams in Berlin

Michael Kellner, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), and Ulrike Leis, Deputy Director of the European Climate Initiative (EUKI), as well as Ralf Stoffels, Vice President of the Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DIHK), honored European Energy Scout teams for their energy efficiency projects on June 30, 2022.

The best 21 (out of 125) European Energy Scout teams spent three days in Berlin exchanging information on their practical approaches to saving energy and resources in the company and were ceremoniously honored for their commitment on June 30 at the Urania as part of the “Climate Champions 22” event. The European projects of 2021 showed a potential reduction of greenhouse gas emissions of around 45,000 t CO2 per year. This reduction stems from potential savings of around 24,400 MWh of electricity as well as significant amounts of fossil fuels, which the participating companies reduce or replace.

Ulrike Leis, Deputy Director of the European Climate Initiative (EUKI) underlined the cross-border approach: “The EUKI is an active community with more than 300 organizations in 31 European countries. We fund project ideas so that these organizations drive effective climate protection – The Energy Scouts are an outstanding example of this.”

Ralf Stoffels, Vice President of DIHK, praised the Energy Scouts’ important contribution to energy efficiency and climate protection: “The example of the Energy Scouts shows: energy efficiency in companies is driven by qualification measures. At the European level, more than 600 Energy Scouts have qualified since 2018.”

As the initiator and provider of the idea of the Energy Scout concept Markus Mettler, Technical Operations Manager at ebm-papst, was honored as well. “The awarded Energy Scout projects impressively demonstrate how climate protection can succeed with creative and innovative solutions. Energy Scouts find individual solutions for saving energy in their companies – often including surprisingly short payback times. In doing so, they help their companies save costs and drive sustainable transformation.”

On June 28 and 29, the 32 Energy Scouts and their companions from the AHKs completed an intensive social program designed to promote exchange and networking across international borders. After the presentations of the energy and resource efficiency projects of all 21 awarded European Energy Scout teams at the Haus der Deutschen Wirtschaft, a solar boat cruise through Berlin finished off the evening.

The following day, the agenda included a visit to the climate-neutral production facility at Florida Eis. The owner-operated company produces, cools and transports ice cream in an exemplary manner. Managing Director Olaf Kühn and Plant Manager Henrike Schulz gave a personal tour through the production facility and explained the underlying technologies and solutions for saving energy.

During the subsequent guided tour at the Humboldt Forum, the interplay of man-nature-technology was viewed and discussed in an interdisciplinary manner. Finally, during the following tour of the Futurium, we dared to look forward together to a climate-friendly and sustainable future.

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