How can we make climate and energy topics tangible? This was the focus of the Innovation Challenge, in which the city of Dresden took part as part of a creative format using design thinking and co-creation.
The open ideas competition brings together participants from different professional backgrounds in mixed teams. With the help of agile methods, practical solutions and prototypes for current issues are developed in a short time. The Dresden project consortium, represented by the City of Dresden and STESAD GmbH, contributed two challenges to the NEUTRALPATH project.
The first question was: How can we design a real-world laboratory for climate and energy that can be used by citizens? A real-world laboratory is a place where ideas can be tried out directly in everyday life. The team that won the Innovation Challenge with its result proposed an immersive experience space in Dresden. It should not only be an exhibition or museum space, but also an active place to participate and solve puzzles. This will make climate and energy issues tangible in everyday life. The space should be located centrally in the city.
The second question focused on the plus-energy districts tested within the NEUTRALPATH project. These are urban neighborhoods that produce more energy than they consume. The challenge was: How can we make an energy system in a neighborhood visible and tangible for residents? The participants developed a visualization of energy flows called EUMU – Energy Usage Monitoring Unit. Using a traffic light logic, it shows whether more energy is currently being produced or consumed. Additional elements, such as illuminated stepping fields or a bicycle for generating electricity, make energy flows tangible and create a low-threshold entry point to the topic of plus-energy districts.
With these two challenges, the city of Dresden aimed to gain new perspectives and creative approaches. The insights will now be incorporated into further project work, bringing Dresden one step closer to its goal of becoming a climate-neutral city.
Image credits: David Pinzer
