Today, German Federal Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks officially reopened the newly renovated German Embassy in the United States. Designed by Egon Eiermann and completed in 1964, the building is one of the largest German missions abroad. It has been completely renovated over the past three years at a cost of 65.6 million euros.
Hendricks: "With the architecture of this pioneering 1960s building dominated by steel, wood and glass, Germany set an example for transparency and democracy whose message is still relevant today. The renovation now completed has given the ensemble of buildings modern facilities and exemplary energy efficiency. I am especially pleased that we were able to successfully combine renovation in accordance with the principles building preservation and the latest in intelligent building management. This building also shows how effective climate change mitigation measures in existing buildings can be achieved."
After her participation in the UN Climate Summit in New York, Hendricks visited Washington D.C., where she also had a number of bilateral talks with US government representatives. She agreed with US Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julian Castro to strengthen cooperation on sustainable urban development issues between Germany and the US. Hendricks also met EPA-Administrator Gina McCarthy, welcoming President Obama’s ambitious plans for emission reductions for the energy sector. According to EPA's Clean Power Plan, CO2 emissions from power plants will be cut by 30 per cent until 2030 compared to 2005 levels.