- In a four-month energy-saving challenge starting October 1, all student dormitories in Landau, Germersheim, Ludwigshafen and Worms with 971 places will compete against each other in saving energy.
- The Studierendenwerk supports the nationwide energy campaign "Flip the Switch" of the German Student Union.
- DSW Secretary General Matthias Anbuhl: "The student unions need more state aid to be able to limit rent increases in their halls of residence.
Energy is becoming more and more expensive. Price increases of up to 300 percent compared to last year are forecast in the media for this winter. 100 to 150 percent have already reached us. Of course, this also affects the 971 tenants of the 7 student dormitories of the Studierendenwerk in Landau, Germersheim, Ludwigshafen and Worms. "We have decided to absorb the energy price increases for our tenant:s until the end of 2022, but then we will have no choice: the ancillary costs of all tenant:s will increase by at least 30 euros from 01.01.2023," Andreas Schülke - Managing Director of the Studierendenwerk - explains the financial situation. "We are more than skeptical that this increase will be sufficient in the long term. The forecasts and the price development of recent months clearly speak a different language."
That's why the Studierendenwerk has now declared energy a "top priority": "We as a company are examining every savings potential, and it must also be clear to our tenants that the time for wasting energy is definitely over. Every kilowatt hour that is now consumed unnecessarily is reflected directly in the tenants' utility bills. We will have to pass on any further price increases in the area of energy on a 1:1 basis."
The Studierendenwerk itself has no financial means to absorb the higher costs for students. Although in cases of extreme hardship it can provide money from its own aid fund, these resources have been very limited for years.
The German Student Union - the umbrella organization of all German student unions - is therefore calling for:
"The student unions need more financial support from the states very quickly so that they do not have to pass on the enormous price increases for energy and food to the students - in the form of greatly increased rents in the student dormitories and more expensive food - in the dining halls. Having to do that goes against the 'DNA' of student unions, whose mission as nonprofit organizations is to provide students with affordable housing and affordable food as best they can."
"We think saving energy is a responsibility of society as a whole and an act of solidarity. With the Energy Saving Challenge from October to January 2023 in the residence halls, we want to make this idea more alive and reward the winning residence hall with the Energy Saving Champion Award and a party in the new year paid for by us," explains Schülke. "Whoever saves the most kilowatts per capita during that period wins."
Find all the information about DSW's "Flip the Switch" campaign here:
- https://www.studentenwerke.de/content/%E2%80%9Eflip-switch%E2%80%9C-studierendenwerke-starten
- https://www.myenergychallenge.de/
Or about the Energy Saving Challenge on the Student Union's homepage and social media channels:
- https://stw-vp.de/de/
- https://www.facebook.com/stwvp /
- https://www.instagram.com/stwvp/
- https://twitter.com/stwvp
Contact:
Thomas Mosthaf
Head of Communications Department
Studierendenwerk Vorderpfalz
https://stw-vp.de/de/
