Power to the Germans (and their heating systems)

Forty households have already signed up, and installations are on the horizon!

In the Bavarian town of Neutraubling, the LIFE Street HP Reno project is turning community interest into concrete steps toward clean heating. What began as a well-attended information evening has evolved into a promising local pilot, with a growing number of residents participating in a collective heat pump initiative.

A community sparked into motion

Earlier this year, around 70 residents gathered at the Kulturhaus to learn more about their municipality’s heat planning and the potential role of heat pumps. Together with the city of Neutraubling, German project partners Shiftup and IWO presented the idea of a group purchase — a coordinated approach that could simplify the process and reduce costs for residents.

Following this event, the city formally invited the Street HP Reno team to support the implementation phase. The interest was clear, and the collaboration quickly gained momentum.

Local outreach with strong results

As part of the municipality’s official heat planning programme, two follow-up events were organised: one aimed at residents and another at local businesses. The initiative reached far beyond the event spaces. Residents were informed through town hall displays, targeted direct mail, and an article in the local newspaper, which was delivered to all 3,000 households. Some attendees even promoted the initiative through their personal WhatsApp status updates, helping the message reach neighbours organically.

To make it easy for interested households to take the next step, Shiftup launched an online registration platform. Within just a few weeks, forty households had signed up to join the group purchasing process.

Installer selection underway

With a solid base of interested participants, the focus has now shifted to selecting a qualified installer. IWO and Shiftup are currently meeting with potential providers. These include companies recommended by the municipality, suggestions from registered participants who already have experience with heat pumps, and contacts from manufacturers previously involved in the project.

All offers will be carefully reviewed and compared to ensure a transparent and fair process for everyone involved. The installer is expected to be selected in early autumn, after which installations can begin.

What's next and where else?

Neutraubling is not the only town exploring this approach. Street HP Reno is also active in Wangen im Allgäu and Berlin, where new pilots are being prepared, including one led by the housing cooperative kliQ Berlin. In Wörrstadt, residents will be introduced to the concept this autumn, with the aim of launching another pilot there.

The idea of coordinated, community-based renovation is clearly gaining traction across Germany. One neighbourhood at a time, the energy transition is becoming a local reality.