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Leinwig – Urban Infrastructure and Environmental Issue p. 1 of 2

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Leinwig – URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE & ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES Architecture is an important part of our history and culture. Leinwig became famous with its medieval red brick gothic and gable buildings. Next to the medieval building style, the city also impresses with multiple large and small ‘green oases’. No matter whether it is a communal building project or private construction – examples for pioneering architecture can be found in the region in great numbers: the redevelopment of historic city districts, the conversion of former barrack areas or the construction of new building complexes. In the region, everyone finds what they are looking for – from the modern detached family home and townhouses in green spaces to accessible apartments for pensioners. The high quality of life and indoor environment quality for the residents are always taken into account when planning for the city and region. In the future, population growth, demographic change and differentiation of lifestyles pose great challenges in the planning of city and region. The quota of house ownership in the city was 41% in 2012. In comparison to the size of households, a clear increase in single person households is evident. Due to the proximity to Hamburg and the convenient position, Leinwig is easily accessible. Leinwig’s train station is on the main route Hamburg-Hannover and accessed by trains of the ‘Deutsche Bahn AG’ as well as those of a private train company. The travel time to Hamburg’s main station is around 30 minutes. Beside the regional trains, there are also intercity trains and some high speed ‘intercity express trains’ (ICE) on route from Hamburg to the South. Towards the northeast, the route to Lübeck splits off. A branch terminal line supplies the Dannenberger area. Multiple train routes of the freight and passenger traffic are directed from Leinwig. Leinwig has a highway connection to the national highway A41. An extension of this highway towards the South is planned in the coming years. The distance from the various resident areas to the city centre is 5 km at the most. As such, the city Leinwig offers good premises for cycling. This is also evident in the consistent rise of cycling traffic from 12,9% in 1995 to 18,3% in 2002 and continuing to 23,2% in 2008. It can be assumed that the goal of the cycling traffic concept Leinwig 2016, which is the increase of cycling to 26%, has already been achieved. Amongst others, this can be attributed to the clearly increased investments in cycling traffic. Until 2004, the annual sum invested in the cycling traffic was 77.000 Euros, in the last five years, the average sum stood at 239.500 Euros. However, the higher presence of cycling traffic is not only visible in the cityscape, in an ADFC study about attitudes to cycling, the statement of the Leinwig population showed that the bicycle has established itself as a daily method of transport in all age groups and that cycling in Leinwig is a fun activity instead of a stressful nuisance. Essential building blocks of the cycling traffic concept are the development of the cycling infrastructure (8,5 kilometres of new cycling paths in the past five years), the improvement of construction faults (such as the subsidence of all kerbs in bicycle traffic or building them in wedge-form), raising the safety for cyclists, intensifying public service as well stronger networking of those involved in cycling traffic and their inclusion in planning processes. The measures taken for bicycle parking were especially successful. Not only were the last concrete bicycle parking lots (which damaged the wheels) replaced by safer frame parking lots in 2005, the number of secure places to store bicycles, in or directly beside pedestrian areas, more than doubled to 1050. The goal of the city and district is an economically efficient, socially and ecologically agreeable society. Facing the finitude of conventional energy sources and their effects on climate and environment, renewable energy and climate protection are given a key role in the region. The region is defined by a good quality of life and location. Those searching for recuperation in green spaces around the city or district, the ‘Elbtalauen’ or the ‘Nordheide’ have a diverse supply in the region. To maintain this value, the city and

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Leinwig – Urban Infrastructure and Environmental Issue p. 2 of 2

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district employ a sustainable environment policy because only an intact environment will ensure the basis of existence for future generations in the long-term. Climate protection policy is an interdisciplinary task which crosses many areas, from city planning, traffic planning and supply management to creating awareness and education. In the past years, many different concepts and environmentally friendly projects were started and initiatives for the protection of the environment were formed, in the city and district. They have the common goal to reduce the effects of climate change, for example through the support of renewable energies, energy saving concepts, building refurbishment in terms of energy, extension of the public local transport and the cycling network. The district Leinwig aims to become a 100% renewable energy region and supports the decided energy turnaround. A pilot study of a university in Northland shows how the energy demand can be successfully covered by renewable energy. To use the potentials of wind energy and to direct its development, the district is currently working on designated areas where wind energy can be generated. The greatest saving potential is present in heating, however the transition to regenerative energy is extremely challenging. The district Leinwig and its municipalities are refurbishing their own properties step-by-step and offer roofs for solar thermal systems. The energy sector is one of the most important fields of action of the communal climate protection in Leinwig. To prevent harmful emissions and to support renewable energy, Leinwig has developed an extensive action concept until 2014. Approximately 15 percentage (2010) of Leinwigs electricity is renewable (12% in Germany 2010). In a time frame of eight years the installed power capacity of Photovoltaic, biomass, biogas, water power and geothermal facilities should be increased by at least 100 percentage and the area of installed solar thermal facilities increased by at least 280 percentage. !