ICLEI member Freiburg’s (Germany) self-sustaining village, Solarsiedlung (Solar Settlement), is going strong after almost 15 years and is still producing four times the amount of energy its residents consume. The community achieves this through its smart solar design, which is embedded within the architecture. This means that the photovoltaic panels are always facing the right direction, and can increase in size when the sun dims.

59 homes have been occupied since the community’s construction, which ran from 2002 – 2005. The settlement generates 420,000 kWh of solar energy from a total photovoltaic output of 445 kW peak per year, resulting in around 200,000 litres of oil and 500 tons of CO2 saved annually. The space is also car-free thanks to a large underground car park which houses 138 vehicles, and due to a well-organised car-sharing system.

At the heart of the village is the Sonnenschiff (Sun Ship) which, as a large commercial space, acts as a service centre for the community. It is home to a rooftop garden, and additionally works as a sound barrier for the residencies. It is the first commercial PlusEnergy (a term coined by the architect Rolf Disch for buildings that produce more energy than they use) space. The building has been the recipient of many awards over the years, including the German Sustainability award, the Global Energy Award and the European Solar Prize.

For more information, visit the Rolf Disch Solar Architecture website.