EWE press release
Around 270 applications for the regional climate competition "We. Here. Now. Shaping green together!" have been received by the organiser, EWE, since the competition was launched in mid-September. The competition jury has now made a shortlist. These top 10 projects will be available for voting on the project website wir-hier-jetzt.com from 14 February. The five projects with the most votes will be honoured. This will be decided by visitors to the website - the supporters of the ten organisations: They can vote for their personal winning project until 17 March. The winning projects will then be chosen. They will receive prize money from EWE of between 1,500 and 3,500 euros. The money is earmarked for a specific purpose. The aim is for the organisations to use them to drive their project ideas forward.
The fourth round of the competition will once again focus on activities and ideas relating to a climate-friendly future. They should contribute to the sustainable use of energy and energy consumption and thus primarily serve to protect the climate. The projects submitted should have a community benefit.
Shaping a clean future, on a small and large scale
All registered associations from Lower Saxony, Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, such as school or kindergarten support organisations, sports clubs or civic associations, were eligible to take part. "We all want to live in a secure and climate-friendly future in which the energy supply is affordable. This doesn't just require action now. Everyone can make a contribution. On a large or small scale, whether at home, in a club or in a business, whether by saving energy or using renewable energies. With our climate competition, we therefore want to support voluntary climate protection activities in our home regions between Ems, Weser and Elbe as well as in Brandenburg and on Rügen, make them visible and call on people to follow suit," explains EWE CEO and jury member Stefan Dohler.
Jury impressed by regional climate projects
The 270 or so projects submitted show just how committed the organisations from the region are to climate protection. "We were very impressed by the numerous projects and ideas that benefit climate and environmental protection. Activities such as tree planting campaigns, purchasing cargo bikes for the community, converting a construction trailer into a green classroom or building raised beds or school gardens are proof that many associations from our region are doing great things every day and are active 'together for tomorrow'. The decision for the top 10 was not an easy one," says jury member Stefan Dohler.
In addition to EWE boss Stefan Dohler and EWE press officer Nadine Auras, Steffi Schwabe from Stachelkugel e.V. from Petershagen/Eggersdorf (Märkisch-Oderland) and Erik Heeren, Chairman of the DRK Ortsverein Hinte e.V. (district of Aurich), will be assessing the projects. Their associations were winners of the 2023/24 round of the competition, and sustainability and climate protection are personally close to their hearts. The jury members make their contribution with a great deal of commitment and with everyday, personal measures. Jury member Steffi Schwabe: "We were impressed by the commitment of the various associations to a sustainable and better future. This shows once again that each and every individual can make a contribution and that we can achieve a lot together."
Overview of the top 10 projects (sorted alphabetically by location)
- Am Mellensee (Dahme-Spreewald district), Wildlinge e.V.: The Montessori nature school is planning to renovate two historic sheds and equip them with photovoltaic systems - for more sustainability and learning spaces.
- Barßel (district of Cloppenburg), Förderverein IGS Barßel: With a green roof, cistern and nesting boxes, the school garden project creates a new habitat and brings nature and sustainability to the school.
- Buchholz in der Nordheide (district of Harburg), Förderverein Sportplatz des SV Holm-Seppensen e.V.: With 24 native deciduous trees, the association wants to ecologically enhance the sports facility in order to promote flora and fauna.
- Dreschvitz (Vorpommern-Rügen district), Umweltschule Rügen e.V.: The Freie Schule Rügen would like to convert a construction trailer in the school garden into a "green classroom" - as a learning centre for small groups and sustainable projects.
- Lindern (district of Cloppenburg), Sportverein Schwarz-Weiß Lindern von 1922 e. V.: SV SW Lindern wants to install an e-charging station at the clubhouse to support its volunteers. The long-term goal is to equip the clubhouse with a photovoltaic system, electricity storage and heat pump system and to operate it energy self-sufficiently.
- Löningen (district of Cloppenburg), Dorfgemeinschaft Wachtum e.V.: The installation of a photovoltaic system on the village community centre is planned - for climate protection and long-term cost reduction.
- Nordhorn (Grafschaft Bentheim district), KreisSportBund Grafschaft Bentheim e.V.: With the "Grafschaft Run - Deine Bewegung, unsere Bäume" (Grafschaft Run - Your exercise, our trees), participants collect kilometres of exercise that are converted into new trees in Grafschaft Bentheim.
- Rüdersdorf (district of Märkisch-Oderland), OV Lebenshilfe Rüdersdorf e.V.: Children create a nature garden with wild shrubs, dead wood and nesting places for animals and insects at the Wiesentheater "Bunterhund" meeting place.
- Wardenburg (Oldenburg district), Freunde und Förderer der Kita Bienenkorb Wardenburg e.V.: Bringing children closer to sustainability with raised beds, an ant farm and renewable energy projects.
- Zechin (district of Märkisch-Oderland), OderlandKids e.V.: The electricity requirements of the outdoor pool are to be covered by solar energy in order to save costs and continue to provide affordable swimming courses and holiday activities for children.