Hergensweiler, Bavaria, Germany
From spring 2026, the existing daycare facility will be demolished to make way for a new building. Geothermal wells, drilled to depths of 100 to 150 meters, will be installed alongside the construction. The new daycare will be situated near the Leiblachhalle sports complex and an adjacent elementary school, which currently share a gas-based heating system.
To support the geothermal system, one of the two youth rooms in the Leiblachhalle will house surface equipment, including a heat pump. This setup will provide heating for the daycare during winter and enable cooling in summer. Mayor Wolfgang Strohmaier stated: “While we primarily rely on natural cooling measures, such as cleverly placed porches, blinds, and awnings, with geothermal energy, we have chosen a system that also offers us the opportunity to respond flexibly to rising temperatures – also in the future.”
The Leiblachhalle and elementary school will switch to a pellet heating system. A combined heating solution for all three buildings was evaluated but deemed too expensive and technically challenging. Additionally, the grant applied for by the municipality did not support biomass heating.
Funding for the daycare’s geothermal system will come from the federal KfW 499 “Climate-Friendly New Construction” program, which promotes renewable energy in new buildings. The municipality anticipates that the program will fully cover the project’s estimated budget of EUR 110,000.
This initiative reflects Hergensweiler’s commitment to integrating renewable energy solutions in public infrastructure, ensuring efficient heating and cooling for the new daycare while adapting to future climate needs.
