The new solar roof was financed to a large extent by 80 students and employees of Freie Universität as well as other individuals. Their shares of loans of at least 250 euros, amounting to a total of 100,000 euros, are repayable in cooperation with Solardach Invest GmbH over a period of 20 years, in consistently high proportions. Four to six percent interest will be paid each year on the unredeemed part of the loan – regardless of the energy yield of the roof.

In the planning stages and in the search for a suitable roof, the group was supported by Andreas Wanke, Energy and Environmental Officer at Freie Universität, and the Engineering and Utilities Division. The photovoltaic system produces 90,000 kilowatt hours annually, enough for 25 four-person households. That is one-tenth the amount of electricity used in the humanities building complex, according to Wanke. The Director of Administration and Finance of Freie Universität, Peter Lange, welcomed the students' initiative. "Using renewable energy is an important investment in the future and helps to improve the environmental performance of Freie Universität," stated Lange. In the future other locations will be made available at Freie Universität for the construction of additional solar systems.

Presentation for Representatives of the Press:

• Humanities Building, Habelschwerdter Allee 45, 14195 Berlin-Dahlem; subway station: Thielplatz or Dahlem-Dorf (U3)
• Thursday, July 9, 2009, 3:30 p.m.