Siemens tech protects cultural assets at Berlin State Library
Siemens Smart Infrastructure implemented smart building technology at the ‘House Potsdamer Strasse’ of the ‘Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin’ (Berlin State Library), Germany, and since then has continued with its services to enhance sustainability and energy efficiency at the site.
The project ensures a constant indoor climate at the library to preserve its valuable cultural assets even better. The contract is an extension of a larger decarbonization program with the German Federal Government, which already saw seven cultural properties, including museums, galleries and libraries, retrofitted by Siemens since 2007. The contract supports the national climate protection program to reduce CO₂ emissions of government-owned assets by 65 percent by 2030 compared to 1990 levels.
The extension of the program for the Berlin State Library includes energy consumption analysis and reduction planning as well as technology implementation, operations and services. To help the library to reach its decarbonization targets, Siemens deployed advanced building technology.
This includes the company’s comprehensive building automation system Desigo, room operator units, sensors and detectors, as well as a cloud-based energy and asset management platform, powered by Siemens’ digital building platform, Building X. In addition, Siemens ensures optimized process control through Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) products, including flexible supply air control and a connection to district cooling with a total output of 2.5 megawatts. Furthermore, 5,300 LED lights have been installed.
“The Berlin State Library has a rich history spanning more than 360 years. To preserve its valuable, high-diversity assets even better, it requires consistent environmental parameters. Siemens is delighted to supply the technology that enables it to sustain these conditions, while also reducing energy consumption by 52 percent,” said Constantin Ginet, Executive Vice President, Sustainability, Siemens Smart Infrastructure Buildings.
“The latest contract, focused on services, builds on the success of the initial phase of the project. With guaranteed energy cost savings fully financing all project costs, this cooperation serves as a blueprint for reaching sustainability targets for millions of cultural facilities around the globe.”
“Siemens' holistic approach, deep expertise, and innovative financing model make it a perfect match to help us – and the national program – to achieve substantial energy savings and sustainability improvements, while still maintaining the optimal conditions required to safeguard our priceless cultural heritage through continuous monitoring,” Reinhard Altenhöner, Deputy General Director at Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin, added.
Since 2007 Siemens has supported seven of Berlin’s cultural institutions to achieve remarkable sustainability results, including an outcome of nearly €25m gross energy savings, and eliminating around 3,745 tons of annual CO₂ emissions. With the completion of the tech implementation at the eighth facility, the Berlin State Library, the collaboration results in a total of around €45m gross energy savings and eliminating around 11,745 tons of annual CO₂ emissions, while continuing with constant energy monitoring and data-based advisory services for all eight buildings.
Building X is a digital building platform that supports customers to digitalize, manage, and optimize their building operations, paving the way for sustainable, autonomous, and profitable assets. It is part of Siemens Xcelerator, an open digital business platform that enables customers to accelerate their digital transformation easier, faster and at scale.
