In Bottrop in the heart of the Ruhr region citizens have set themselves an ambitious goal: they intend to create a model quarter for climate protection in an area where coal used to be mined. Their aim is to reduce harmful carbon-dioxide emissions in the industrial area by half. Bottrop residents have initiated more than 125 projects to ensure that the former coal district becomes a shining example of the use of alternative energies in tomorrow’s cities. For example, miners’ housing is being energetically modernised and a solar atlas indicates the places with the best exposure to sunlight. In addition, tests are carried out in a tip to find out how geothermal heat is stored.