With the aim of achieving an optimum indoor environment and lowering operating costs in the long term, the performance of a so-called "operational optimisation with weather forecast control" system has been tested in three administrative buildings in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia since 2007. The operation of the heating systems is optimised based on a thermodynamic computer model and local weather forecast data. The result: A tangible increase in comfort with simultaneous heat energy savings.  more...

On 7 December 1990, an economic and ecological success story began in Germany that is still going strong. It was the day the German Electricity Feed Act was adopted. As of 1 January 1991, the operators of the German electricity grid were obliged for the first time to include electricity from wind turbines, small-scale hydropower plants, biomass and photovoltaic plants in the grid at a fixed, long-term remuneration rate. The act itself, which consisted of no more than five short articles, had a significant effect in times to come.  more...

Shallow geothermal energy is being used increasingly often in new office buildings. The advantage of this renewable energy source is that the ground can be used alternately for both heating and cooling purposes, depending on the season. The use of geothermal energy has been further promoted by the German Renewable Energies Heat Act (EEWärmeG), which has been in force since the start of 2009 and provides for the partial use of renewable energy sources for heating and cooling new buildings and for water heating in new buildings.  more...

There are now many highly efficient new buildings around ? at least on paper, anyway.  Only when a building actually goes into operation does its owner really know whether it makes the most of its potential efficiency or not. However, not enough attention is paid to the long phase of operation. A clean break generally takes place when the keys to the building are handed over: The architects and energy planners have specified target values, but actually achieving these values is either left to others or else disappears completely off the radar.  more...

Hospitals have a high energy consumption. Scientists now plan to investigate all the various areas in a hospital and develop an innovative approach for achieving energy savings. This will be done as part of the "Hospital plus" research project which is being supported by the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology with funding of 1.85 million euros over four years.  more...

Several industrial products have to go through fire during production. In the metalworking industry, in the production of glass, ceramics and building materials as well as in parts of the food industry, heating processes are key production steps. About 65% of the industry's final energy requirement is expended on it. In Germany, industry furnaces are chiefly produced by small and medium-sized companies and close to every second furnace is exported.  more...

Operation Diagnostics taps into new potential for savings in the operation of building services equipment. It was used in the Gebhard Müller School in Biberach, Germany, to support evaluation of the building concept on the basis of measurements.  more...

The increasing contribution of energy costs to rent costs is making it even more important to reduce costs and save on energy when running public buildings, office blocks and apartment buildings. In order to achieve long-term savings, one must take internal and external factors into account and also actively involve residents and building users.  more...

A whole array of complex demands are made of a school's architecture and building services equipment, due to the special type of usage. High occupancy densities in the classrooms, which entail high internal thermal loads and strict air hygiene requirements, must be taken into account.  more...