Berlin progresses state building decarbonisation programme

Berlin State Library (Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin) is working with Siemens to reduce its energy consumption, lower its CO₂ emissions and better protect valuable cultural assets.

To achieve this, Siemens installed intelligent building technology that reduces energy consumption by 52 per cent and saves 3,745 tons of CO₂ annually.

National climate programme

At the same time, the new technology ensures stable temperature and humidity levels throughout the building – essential for preserving the library’s more than 32 million media items over the long term. 

The project costs – around €20m – are fully covered by guaranteed savings in energy costs. This is made possible with energy savings contracting, a service Siemens offers to public as well as private customers.

“With guaranteed energy cost savings fully financing all project costs, this cooperation serves as a blueprint for reaching sustainability targets for millions of cultural facilities around the globe” 

The Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin project is part of the company’s ongoing collaboration with Berlin’s cultural buildings that began in 2014. The library’s Potsdamer Strasse building is a protected historic complex with around 106,000 square metres of gross floor area. Carried out as part of the federal government’s decarbonisation programme, the Siemens project contributes to the programme’s 2030 target of reducing CO₂ emissions from state buildings by 65 compared to their 1990 levels.

New technologies installed by Siemens include the Desigo building automation system, room operator units, sensors and a cloud-based energy and asset management platform. Ventilation is optimised through flexible systems for heating, ventilation and air-conditioning. In addition, 5,300 LED lights consume up to 80 per cent less electricity than the building’s old conventional lighting.