GBO converts properties from natural gas to environmentally friendly energy sources

This should make the heat supply for tenants less dependent on global political events. The GBO management team, Daniela Matha and René Weber, are therefore examining which of the approximately 2,500 GBO apartments with gas heating can be connected to district heating in future.

Around 2000 of the approximately 5000 GBO apartments in Offenbach are already connected to the district heating network. A district heating connection produces around 70 percent less CO2 compared to gas heating. "With every converted apartment, GBO is supporting the city's goal of becoming climate-neutral by 2045," says City Treasurer and GBO Supervisory Board Chairman Martin Wilhelm.

As the first step in its strategy for environmentally friendly heating and sustainable living, the GBO has now examined where district heating pipes already run in the ground close to the properties. A connection there would be quick and less costly. This requirement is met at the GBO property at Annastrasse 15, a property with 31 subsidized senior apartments.

The municipal housing association purchased the building in 2020. All that remains to be done here is to lay the house connection, remove the old heating system and install the district heating transfer station. Upon application, the Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (BAFA) approved a grant of around 30 percent of the installation costs for the conversion from gas to district heating and the installation of the necessary heating technology.

The district heating comes from EVO Energieversorgung Offenbach mbH, in which Stadtwerke Offenbach holds a stake. Its energy plant on Dietzenbacher Strasse, also known as the waste-to-energy plant, produces the district heating that will also heat the apartments in Annastrasse. Electricity is also generated here using environmentally friendly combined heat and power generation. EVO wants to be the first energy supplier in Hesse to become climate-neutral by 2040, and district heating is an important part of this ambitious goal.

Construction work has already begun in Annastrasse and tenants should be able to use district heating by the start of the next heating period. Prior to this, only the heating valves in the individual rooms will be checked and replaced if necessary; nothing else needs to be retrofitted in the apartments. The connection itself will not be passed on to the tenants. It is assumed that the residents of Annastrasse will not have to pay more for district heating than in the previous heating period with natural gas.

"At the same time, GBO is continuing the energy-efficient refurbishment program at its properties. The senior citizens' residential complex in Annastrasse is also due to undergo energy-efficient refurbishment from 2026. Tenants will then not only have reliable and environmentally friendly heating, but will also need less energy to keep their homes warm," says GBO Managing Director Daniela Matha.