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Senator Franziska Giffey meets Kieback&Peter: How building automation helps with the climate change

Press release | Climate protection | Building efficiency
Senator Franziska Giffey (center of image) during the inspection of the reference Friedrichstadt-Palast Berlin together with Dr. Christopher Jahns (Füchse Berlin | image left) and Christoph Ritzkat (CEO of Kieback&Peter) © Kieback&Peter

On her summer tour, the Senator for Economic Affairs, Energy and Business, Franziska Giffey, visited three Berlin companies working for a successful climate change on Wednesday, 23 August 2023. The pioneer in building automation Kieback&Peter is one of them. During the tour of the reference Friedrichstadt-Palast Berlin, the medium-sized company showed how the CO₂ emissions of existing buildings can also be successfully reduced through the use of building automation.

By 2030, Berlin is to reduce its CO₂ emissions by 70 percent, and by 2045 at the latest, it is to be climate-neutral. In order to successfully implement the energy and heating turnaround, the German business community in particular is also called upon. "We are proud to be one of the three selected companies and very much appreciate the perception of Kieback&Peter as a company that is committed to the success of the climate turnaround," Christoph Ritzkat, CEO of Kieback&Peter, said happily, adding: "As a company, we are committed to the goal of climate neutrality. As a sustainably operating medium-sized company, we want to be pioneers and set standards in the areas of climate protection, health protection and social action."

Senator Giffey, who described Kieback&Peter as a hidden champion in her welcoming speech, emphasised: "Today we can visit an important institution in Berlin. What they have done here is very progressive and innovative. Building energy efficiency, the switch to renewable energies, the transformation of the economy: these are the three big areas of climate change. These are all fields that are addressed by what is happening here at Friedrichstadt-Palast and that we will need in many other places in the city." The senator went on to say that the technology on display here is meant to be an example of what it could look like and what still lies ahead of us.

BEMS software Qanteon in use at Friedrichstadt-Palast

Berlin's Senator for Economic Affairs, Energy and Business, Franziska Giffey, during the inspection of the reference Friedrichstadt-Palast Berlin together with Christoph Ritzkat, Chairman of the Management Board of Kieback&Peter. ǀ © Kieback&Peter

The experts from Kieback&Peter explained the intelligent energy management concept during an inspection at the Friedrichstadt-Palast, Europe's largest theatre stage. In the existing building, the specialist for building automation has installed the Qanteon energy management system. "Qanteon serves to clearly display and thus control consumption and costs in the energy sector and thus leads to more energy efficiency," explained Yannick Hinterleitner, the responsible project manager at Kieback&Peter.

In addition, several DDC4000 controllers and the en:key room temperature control unit, which uses self-learning algorithms to independently set the desired temperature in an energy-efficient manner, were installed in 190 rooms as part of the energy refurbishment, thus enabling intelligent heating in the building. In addition, around 150 fire dampers via ASi controllers ensure the safety of visitors and staff in the event of a fire.

CO₂ savings through the use of building automation

Philipp Menzel, Regional Manager East and Branch Manager Berlin-Brandenburg at Kieback&Peter, explained that especially in existing buildings, energy management systems can ensure a significant reduction in energy and emissions.

According to a study by Bitkom, up to 14.7 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions can be saved in the short to medium term through the use of building automation, and this is mainly due to the more efficient provision of heating energy and hot water generation.

"Kieback&Peter has developed a CO₂ roadmap especially for properties in existing buildings, which leads to energy and cost savings and thus emission reductions within a very short time," said Menzel.

Among the participants of the tour was Dr. Christopher Jahns, board member for sustainability and development of the handball Bundesliga team Füchse Berlin. Kieback&Peter recently became the official main and jersey sponsor of the Füchse. The world's most sustainable handball club and the pioneer of building automation sealed a groundbreaking cooperation in July.

About Kieback&Peter

As a Smart Building Solutioneer, Kieback&Peter GmbH & Co. KG combines intelligent building technology, data-based services, and multiple synergy effects to create sustainable solutions. Founded in 1927 in Berlin, the family-owned company with approximately 1,500 employees and 50 locations worldwide thus secures and expands the value of buildings and business models. The result is a real-terms gain with regard to climate and health protection, safety, and social participation.