BEATE WEBER SCHUERHOLZ

Germany

The winner of WIN WIN Gothenburg Sustainability Award 2014 on the theme Solar Energy & Energy Efficiency was Beate Weber Schuerholtz, together with Jeremy Leggett and Peter Hannicke.

Beate Weber-Schuerholz was elected mayor of the town of Heidelberg in 1990 where she, over the course of two election periods (1990-1998), laid the foundation for the leading position within energy efficiency which Heidelberg holds today among the cities of the world. Through co-operation with local business, leadership of the local authority’s energy supply company, financing of energy efficient buildings and heavy investments within public transport, Heidelberg reduced its CO2 emissions by 30 percent over the period 1993 to 2007. Today, Heidelberg is a role model within energy efficiency, it having, for example, the world’s largest passive house areas.

During the course of her term of office, Beate Weber-Schuerholz demonstrated strong leadership and an ability to organize and inspire companies, local officials and citizens. Moreover, Weber-Schuerholz emphasized the economic and environmental benefit of energy efficiency. Her commitment extended beyond the city limits through regional initiatives and to work within the EU.