Gütersloh is located in Westphalia and is part of the Detmold administrative region (East Westphalia-Lippe). It is the administrative seat of the Gütersloh district and has a population of 99,854. Known as a modern center for business and media, it is home to the headquarters of global companies such as Miele and Bertelsmann.

For over a decade, Geoplex has managed the district-wide Solar Energy Register for the Gütersloh district—a project in which the city itself has actively participated regarding both its creation and ongoing maintenance. Since 2022, Geoplex has also been collaborating with the city of Gütersloh on the development and maintenance of its digital twin as part of the “OWL in 3D” initiative. Now, the city plans to expand its service offerings by introducing a Heating Register. This tool provides residents with free, impartial initial advice on transitioning their heating systems away from fossil fuels and toward climate-friendly technologies.

PlexMap Heating goes far beyond the mere calculation of heat demand. We view our Heating Register not as a static map, but as an interactive decision-making tool. Thanks to an integrated cost-efficiency calculator, we enable building owners to model various scenarios for their specific properties. The system identifies the most suitable heating technology for each case—whether it be a heat pump, a connection to a district heating network, or a hybrid solution.

The key added value of PlexMap Heating lies in its consistent user guidance: “From theory to practice.” Users can contact local energy consultants via an integrated search function. In doing so, we kickstart the renovation process at the very point where it often stalls—the transition from initial information gathering to concrete professional advice.

In this context, the Heating Register serves as a valuable complement to municipal heat planning (KWP). While municipal heat planning defines strategic focus areas—such as the expansion of district heating networks—and offers attractive solutions for specific parts of the municipality, residents outside these areas often feel left to their own devices when facing the complex issue of how to heat their properties in the future. Our Heating Register bridges this gap by providing a neutral, free advisory service covering the entire municipal area. It acts as an accessible entry point, bringing the city’s strategic goals directly to residents’ doorsteps.

We look forward to continuing our collaboration with the City of Gütersloh!

Photo: 1649 built former warehouse House Verhoff at old church in Gütersloh, District of Gütersloh, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany Author: Uwe Steinkolk License: This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5 Generic license.