Neumarkt convinces: 40,000 euros for climate-friendly heating networks!

Neumarkt convinces: 40,000 euros for climate-friendly heating networks!

There is reason to be happy in the Neumarkt district in Upper Palatinate: the district has achieved a remarkable victory in the federal “Climate Active Municipality 2025” competition. This award recognizes the initiation and planning of innovative heating networks for climate-friendly heat supply. As the Neumarkt Current reports, the award ceremony took place as part of the 2025 Municipal Climate Conference in Berlin, where the district received prize money of 40,000 euros. This money will be invested in further climate protection projects in order to achieve the ambitious goal of saving over 650 tons of greenhouse gases annually.

District Administrator Willibald Gailler has already announced that the prize money will be used specifically for existing projects such as the green house number and the solar roof register. A particular focus is on the development of climate-friendly heat supply in smaller municipalities that do not operate their own municipal utilities.

Focus on climate-friendly heat supply

The project to implement heating networks includes the identification of suitable areas into which the population will be actively integrated. The first locations where the new heating networks are planned are Lauterhofen-Pettenhofen and Seubersdorf. The process begins with contacting the mayors of the affected communities, followed by information events for the community committees and citizen surveys. After the feedback, the focus areas are defined, operators are searched for and performance audits are carried out.

Applications for federal funding for efficient heating networks are submitted after the selected preparations. At the federal level, such infrastructural projects are supported as part of the funding program for efficient heating networks, which consists of several modules. These range from transformation plans and feasibility studies to operating cost subsidies in order to convert the heat supply to greenhouse gas-neutral systems like this by 2045 BAFA informed.

Importance of the heat transition

The heat transition is not just a buzzword, but a necessary measure to achieve climate goals. The operation of buildings accounts for around 35% of final energy consumption in Germany and therefore contributes significantly to CO₂ emissions. The Federal Environment Agency emphasizes that sustainable heat supply is a central aspect in reducing climate-damaging emissions. In order to achieve the climate goals by 2045, climate protection-friendly measures must be continuously implemented.

Municipalities play a key role here: They are responsible for the strategic planning and implementation of heat supply. Innovative processes such as the use of heat pumps are becoming increasingly important, while the expansion of heating networks is seen as urgently needed to ensure greenhouse gas neutrality.

In summary, it can be said that the Neumarkt district is not only taking an important step towards a sustainable future with the award in the “Climate Active Municipality 2025” competition, but is also serving as a role model for other municipalities. The commitment to climate-friendly heat supply shows that environmental protection and innovation can go hand in hand.