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SPIE : supports the City of Reutlingen in Germany with energy performance contracting on its path towards the municipal energy transition
SPIE : supports the City of Reutlingen in Germany with energy performance contracting on its path towards the municipal energy
About this update from Spie Sa
Reutlingen, Germany, 26 August 2026 - SPIE, the independent European leader in multi-technical services in the areas of energy and communications, is supporting the German City of Reutlingen in the sustainable modernisation of its building portfolio. As part of an energy performance contracting 1 project for the Nord Education Centre, SPIE is responsible for the planning and implementation of a comprehensive package of energy efficiency measures, followed by a 15-year energy performance contract. The project will reduce annual energy consumption from the current 2,754 megawatt hours to approximately 1,615 megawatt hours, representing savings of around 42 per cent. At the same time, energy costs will decrease by approximately 52 per cent. SPIE guarantees these savings throughout the entire contract term. The project was supported by the German Energy Agency (Deutsche Energie-Agentur, dena) as part of the "Co 2 ntracting: build the future!" pilot programme. Its objective is to achieve lasting reductions in the Nord Education Centre's energy consumption and energy costs while supporting the City of Reutlingen in implementing its climate strategy for municipal buildings by 2040. The work is being coordinated to ensure that school operations continue without disruption, allowing the main implementation phase of the energy performance contract to commence as scheduled in January 2027. The modernisation package includes installing a pellet boiler system, upgrading the ventilation systems, adding a photovoltaic system with a capacity of approximately 56.7 kWp to generate electricity for on-site consumption, converting the lighting to energy-efficient LED technology with intelligent controls, refurbishing the drinking water installation and modernising the measurement, control and regulation technology. In addition, a digital energy management system will be implemented to enable transparent monitoring and the continuous optimisation of energy consumption. Measures to improve summertime comfort, including automated ventilation and solar shading systems, will further enhance the indoor environment for pupils, teachers and school staff. The Nord Education Centre comprises several school buildings, a sports hall, a gymnasium and assembly hall, as well as a cafeteria. Most of the buildings, which were constructed in the 1980s, have relied on outdated heating, ventilation and lighting systems until now. They also lacked a digital energy management system. SPIE identified significant energy-saving potential and developed a tailored modernisation concept as part of a detailed, comprehensive on-site assessment carried out during the 2025/2026 heating season. A key element of the project is the complete transition away from fossil fuels. The existing heat supply, which relies on natural gas and heating oil, will be replaced with a modern pellet boiler system. This will make an important contribution to reducing CO₂ emissions and supporting the sustainable transformation of the municipality's infrastructure. Project Manager Maria Faus-Villalba explains: " Based on our analysis, we developed a targeted package of measures that we are now gradually implementing while the facility remains fully operational. Our goal is to establish technically optimised, permanently energy-efficient building operations ." The subsequent 15-year energy performance contract means that SPIE will not only deliver the technical implementation but will also provide operational services, including maintenance and the continuous optimisation of the technical building systems. This provides long-term relief for the City of Reutlingen while ensuring guaranteed savings and a high level of planning certainty. " The project at the Nord Education Centre is an excellent example of how municipalities can achieve their climate protection targets in an economically viable and sustainable way. Our energy performance contracting model enables us to combine technical modernisation, the consistent use of renewable energy and guaranteed long-term savings within an integrated approach. This creates measurable added value for the City of Reutlingen, benefiting both the municipal budget and climate protection ," says Stefan Schusterschitz, General Manager of the Efficient Facilities Operational Division at SPIE Germany Switzerland Austria. 1- Energiespar-Contracting in German