The HafenCity Development in Hamburg, Germany is Europe’s DMC without the medical.
The University of Minnesota’s Institute on the Environment, together with the Sisters of St. Francis, is sponsoring a presentation to discuss the parallels between a unique energy-efficient urban development in Hamburg, Germany with the DMC vision for Rochester.
“Building a Sustainable Energy-Efficient Urban Environment” takes place on October 14, 2015 from 4:30-6 p.m. at the Assisi Height Auditorium at 1001 14th Street NW, Rochester, MN.
In 2000, the German city of Hamburg started an ambitious effort in city redevelopment. With an investment of $11B to date, the city is defining a new energy efficient downtown that will vastly expand the city’s economic vitality. Multiple parallels to Rochester’s own DMC plan include innovative approaches to urban planning, architecture, and energy sustainablility.
In June 2015, Senator David Senjem visited HafenCity as part of a delegation from Minnesota. After meeting with Mr. Uwe Carstensen, one of the project’s consultants, Senator Senjem worked with the University of Minnesota’s Institute on the Environment to bring Mr. Carstensen to Rochester to share information on the HafenCity development.
Renewable energy expert, Mr. Jan Aengenvoort, will join Carstensen to discuss how “virtual power plants” can harness the energy of dispersed renewable power generation.
Prior to the presentation on HafenCity, the Sisters of St. Francis will describe the initiatives they have taken towards building a more energy efficient and environmentally friendly future.