Refreshing for the summer – cool places in Kleve

DialogPunkt Kleve was recently a hotspot for fresh ideas and sustainable solutions under the motto “Cool places”. Philip Cantos from the city of Kleve and Jan Sonntag from Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences (HSRW) presented exciting projects designed to help Kleve residents adapt to the challenges of climate change.

Refill card: simply top up your water

This initiative makes it possible to refill water bottles free of charge at over 7,000 stations and drinking fountains across Germany. There are already over 30 refill stations in Kleve, which help to reduce plastic waste and facilitate access to clean drinking water. Wherever you see the refill sticker, you can tap water for free.

Cool places map: looking to cool off?

We continued with the presentation of the “Kühle Orte Karte”. This map shows public places in Kleve that offer pleasant cooling on hot summer days. Parks such as those around the zoo or bodies of water promise welcome refreshment according to the map. Such places are not only important for our well-being, but also help us to adapt to climate change. A real highlight for anyone who needs a break on a hot day – especially handy on a bike tour!

Thermal imaging camera: Detecting energy losses

Another highlight was the presentation of the thermal imaging camera from the “Library of Things”. This camera can be borrowed from the public library to detect energy losses in your own home and improve energy efficiency. Philip Cantos demonstrated how easy the camera is to use and the valuable insights it provides. A tree in front of the house can already make a temperature difference of up to 20° by providing shade. “Nature is the best air conditioner,” concluded Cantos.

Capturing weather data yourself

Finally, the weather station project of the city of Kleve in cooperation with the GreenFabLab of Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences was presented. Participants learnt how they can access data from the city’s weather stations or set up their own weather station. The event showed how citizens can actively contribute to environmental observation to better understand local weather phenomena.

Jan Sonntag presented the “Earth Observation Lab” (AOlab) with the motto “More sensors, better city”. A central weather measuring station in the fruit tree arboretum at the zoo serves as a starting point for measurements such as wind direction, air temperature, humidity, air pressure, precipitation and solar radiation. The networking of the stations, including private ones, enables close-meshed data collection. This system continuously provides data that is publicly accessible and can be used for data-based decisions on climate adaptation. The next step is to build a community to maximise the public benefit.

Additional information

You can find more information about DialogPunkt Kleve here. You can find an overview of all events here.