March / 2019CENERO accompanies the refurbishment of the Konsumzentrale as an energy strategist

The Leipzig Konsumzentrale is a landmark in the west of Leipzig. Almost everyone in Leipzig is familiar with the office building designed by the architect Fritz Höger in the late 1920s, with its face brick front and striking windows on the side of the Karl Heine Canal. The complex itself, however, consists of several existing buildings around a courtyard. An old and a new Kontor, two warehouses, workshops and an administration building from different construction eras served the needs of the growing consumer association. The Konsumzentrale thus held a central place in the industrial area of Plagwitz.

Reviving this central role and reorienting the commercial complex towards a contemporary, modern work environment is the ambition of the Berlin-based project developer MIB AG, which has had its Leipzig headquarters in the neighbouring Stelzenhaus for almost 20 years and has recently redeveloped and marketed the site. In the future, a bright new building will close the greened, central courtyard; close proximities and recreational and communal areas serve the needs of today's new-work generation. Values such as collaboration, innovation, exchange and work-life balance inspire the plans for the refurbishment, which will begin at the end of 2020. 

Leipzig-based CENERO Energy GmbH is supporting the project as energy strategist. In particular, its nationwide experience with the imponderables of existing buildings comes into play here. The different architectural styles and original uses pose a particular challenge. By means of measurements and analyses, CENERO was able to make an inventory of the energy input and consumption points and optimise the ongoing tenant billing. Now it is time to create an energy concept and set up a state-of-the-art load management system to accompany the planning.

"We are also relying on the expertise of CENERO for the development of the Konsumzentrale, as we are impressed by their holistic, sustainable approach. The aim is to optimise ongoing operations while preserving the existing building and, at the same time, to set up new, efficient structures. In doing so, we want to push forward topics such as e-mobility." Maik Mehlhose from MIB describes the cooperation with CENERO.

E-mobility is an important factor in the attractiveness of the site for deliveries, visitors and employees. Parking spaces and car sharing cooperatives for e-bikes and e-vehicles are planned. CENERO is looking into the use of charging stations with bidirectional storage systems, which can be used to ensure rapid charging of e-vehicles and mobile energy storage to relieve peak times in the complex, if necessary.

The Konsumzentrale website:

https://www.konsumzentrale.com/