"The skilled trades are increasingly burdened by steadily rising energy costs," says Potsdam Chamber of Skilled Crafts President Robert Wüst. Energy efficiency is therefore becoming increasingly important. (Photo: © kebox/123RF.com)
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Germany aims to become climate-neutral by 2045. Brandenburg's skilled trades also offer many opportunities to save energy and reduce pollutant emissions.
Jörg Gauger has a firm principle : "As little natural gas as necessary, as much solar energy as possible." With this maxim, Gauger has implemented his own personal energy transition at the Röhrig country bakery on Blankenseer Dorfstraße, just outside Trebbin . While Gauger's wife, master baker Antje Mieske , now in her fourth generation, ensures fresh and delicious baked goods in the bakery, and Sunday visitors find an idyllic place to stop for refreshments in the courtyard café, Jörg Gauger began sustainably modernizing the family business, founded in 1910, around 20 years ago . "Even today, the baking trade requires a great deal of energy to produce baked goods ," explains Gauger. He therefore comprehensively analyzed the energy-saving potential of the country bakery early on and gradually converted the business to generating its own electricity from renewable energy sources.
Shortly after Antje Mieske took over the family business, the bakery switched from oil to natural gas for its heating system. In 2006, Gauger installed a solar thermal system , followed by the first photovoltaic system in 2010 and another in 2011. Two years later, Gauger commissioned its first combined heat and power plant (CHP), and in 2016, a battery storage system. "We've built our own power generation facility . This allows us to produce electricity more cost-effectively and with less environmental impact than would be possible by purchasing it from the grid. 98 percent of our electricity needs are met through in-house generation," Gauger explains, describing the success of the energy transition within the company.
In September of this year, a new combined heat and power (CHP) plant was finally connected to the grid. "The new CHP plant is among the most energy-efficient currently available on the market," Gauger proudly emphasizes. The sum of the measures, which also included converting the lighting to LED technology and replacing outdated refrigeration and dishwashing equipment , led to a reduction in CO2 emissions at the Röhrig bakery by around 60 percent.
The Röhrig country bakery in Trebbin is a prime example of the use of energy-saving technologies in Brandenburg's skilled trades – but by no means the only one . The issue affects almost all trades . "The skilled trades are increasingly burdened by steadily rising energy costs ," says Robert Wüst, President of the Potsdam Chamber of Skilled Crafts , recognizing the urgent need to reduce energy consumption in the skilled trades. "Bakery ovens, but also refrigeration systems in butcher shops, necessary ventilation systems, hot water preparation, and compressed air are just a few examples of the biggest energy consumers in skilled trades businesses."
Craft policy
Craft policy
Craft policy
Jan-Hendrik Aust , Team Leader Innovation & Technology and Innovation and Technology Officer (BIT) at the Potsdam Chamber of Skilled Crafts , shares this view : "The energy transition is currently a key issue for the skilled trades." Many craft businesses have invested in photovoltaic systems in recent years, for example, says Aust. "However, there are numerous measures that every business can implement to reduce energy costs."
To identify potential savings, a critical external perspective , such as that offered by the BIT consultants at the Chambers of Skilled Crafts, is often helpful. Master confectioner René Klinkmüller has also already benefited from the consulting services of the Cottbus Chamber of Skilled Crafts . Founded in 1983 by Werner Klinkmüller , the Klinkmüller confectionery in Luckau combines classic confectionery craftsmanship with fresh ideas and surprising creations.
René Klinkmüller, a multi-award-winning master confectioner , took over the family business from his parents in 2018. Last year, modernizing the oven was on the agenda. "This also raised the question of greater energy efficiency for us ," says the confectioner from Luckau. "We discussed with the manufacturer, in particular, how the residual heat could be better utilized in the future . This was an important aspect for us in our purchasing decision, especially given the high energy costs." Now, the residual heat from the baking process is used to heat water via a heat exchanger . A preliminary calculation showed that this will save around €1.000 per year in energy costs. "The Chamber of Skilled Crafts also supported us in selecting a suitable funding program for our investment," explains confectionery owner Klinkmüller.
“Such an investment is worthwhile wherever energy-intensive machinery is used, not just by bakers, but also, for example, by carpenters and metalworkers ,” reports Gunnar Ballschmieter , environmental and technical consultant at the Frankfurt (Oder) Chamber of Skilled Crafts . Ballschmieter therefore refers interested craft businesses to the SME initiative for energy transition and climate protection , in which the Chambers of Skilled Crafts participate (mittelstand-energiewende.de). There, they can find many practical energy-saving tips , for example for butchers, carpenters, or the automotive industry, which provide a good starting point for exploring the topic.
Master baker Claas Baumgärtel from the Lindendorf district of Sachsendorf is also investing in modern, energy-efficient ovens and refrigeration systems . In 2015, siblings Claas and Diana Baumgärtel took over the family business from their mother Doris and father Günter Baumgärtel and are now running the traditional company in its fourth generation. "We are a small, medium-sized company with eight branches and 50 employees," Claas Baumgärtel says of the family business. Baumgärtel is currently investing in the modernization of two ovens and a refrigeration system. The master baker expects this to not only improve working conditions for his employees but also result in significant energy savings . After all, the Sachsendorf baker is also feeling the effects of rising energy costs . Baumgärtel therefore sought external expertise early on. "Two years ago, I attended a seminar on energy saving at the Frankfurt (Oder) Chamber of Skilled Crafts and subsequently consulted an energy advisor to explore potential savings and funding opportunities." The funding from the state of Brandenburg has now been approved to enable the modernization of the facilities to be carried out promptly.
The advisors at the Chambers of Skilled Crafts see great potential for the energy transition not only in the conversion of machinery and equipment, but also in e-mobility . However, many tradespeople are currently hesitant to switch their fleets to electric vehicles . "But the interest is definitely there," says Axel Bernhardt , Technical Advisor at the Cottbus Chamber of Skilled Crafts, based on numerous conversations with tradespeople where he informs them about, for example, government funding opportunities for electric commercial vehicles . However, the corresponding options are still lacking in some cases, such as for vehicles with trailers. The charging infrastructure and range are also still insufficient for some craft businesses.
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