"Nutzlicht": Useful Light in Rottweil
"Nutzlicht": Useful Light in Rottweil
One of Germany's most innovative electric utilities, the municipal utility in the small town of Rottweil (with 50.000 inhabitants), has developed a new service concept called "Useful Light" (Nutzlicht).
This concept is now being considered by the municipal authorities of Rottweil, and the town's high school has been suggested as a suitable site for a pilot-project. This service concept is an innovative method for utility financing of lighting retrofits and energy-efficient lighting systems in selected buildings. According to the "Useful Light" concept, the utility itself makes investments in energy-efficient lighting. The energy savings realized by the retrofit are then used by the utility to finance the investment over a period of years. To accomplish this, electricity costs for the customer are thus kept constant at the level existing prior to the retrofit, until the utility's investment for the retrofit has been recovered.
If the municipal authorities accept the utility's proposal, the high school in Rottweil will be the site of the first practical test of the concept. It has been projected that annual electricity savings of about 76.000 kWh (appr. 30-35%) can be realized by:
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installing CFLs
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reducing the number of light sources by optimizing light reflection from ceiling and walls
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replacing old conventional electromagnetic ballasts with high-frequencey ballasts
- installing modern lighting control equipment.
Despite long pay-back periods, Siegfried Rettich, technical manager of the utility, is optimistic about the future prospects of the "Useful Light" concept. According to Mr Rettich, the utility will also be able to offer this alternative to their commercial, industrial and institutional subscribers. (See also:Leasing the light in Germany, IAEEL 2/94)
Uwe Leprich
For more information, contact:
Stadtwerke Rottweil
In der Au 4
D-7210 Rottweil
Germany
Tel: +49 74 147 20