The first measurement results confirm the efficient building concept for the Science College Overbach, which opened in June 2009: the data from 186 measurement points are continually captured via the building's services technology and enable continual monitoring, analysis and optimisation of the technical systems. In terms of the primary energy, the building is doing very well: it only consumed 83.4 kWh/m² p.a. in the first year. Not only do the figures add up, the students are also thrilled by their new school. Whereas 15% of the students used to opt for technology and 85% for the three foreign languages on offer, 60% of the students are now choosing a scientific subject in order to enable them to attend lessons in the attractive new building.  more...

The political conditions for a change in energy policy (from fossil fuels and nuclear energy to renewable energy sources) have never been better. However, a successful change in energy supply can only take place with the support of private households who change to green electricity and homeowners who invest in renewable energy technology. How can potential users (and especially women) be persuaded to change? The interdisciplinary research project "Renewable energy sources and green electricity - communication according to specific target groups" intended to find the answer to this question.  more...

Buildings of the future are secret power plants: they will generate more energy than they require. The surplus can be used for the residents? electromobility or is fed into the grid. This idea is now to be implemented as an energy-plus building with electromobility. The fully recyclable house designed by scientists from Dresden, Germany offers 142 m² of floor space and produces more energy than is required for a 4-person household and to run two electric cars and an electric scooter (with an annual mileage of 29,000 km). The team of researchers from Dresden University of Technology won second prize at the planning competition of the Zukunft Bau (Future of Construction) research initiative with this pilot project in February 2011.  more...

In 2009, renewable energies met 11.6% of the gross final energy consumption of the European Union, whereby they generated 18.2% of the electrical energy supplies. Their economic importance is also growing: more than 900,000 workers in the various sectors generate a turnover of 120 billion euros. These are the results of the tenth report published by the EurObserv'ER consortium on "The State of Renewable Energies in Europe". The annually published report describes not just the development of the various technologies, broken down according to the respective EU countries, but also explains their socio-economic importance. The documentation, which is published in English and French, can now be downloaded free of charge.  more...

Too many cooks delay the broth. The fact that it does not have to be spoilt was shown by a workshop on the pilot project "Solar local heating at Am Ackermannbogen in Munich". The City Department for Health and the Environment had sent out invitations to the event held in the regional capital. Around 50 delegates accepted the invitation and listened to the lectures given by the three main players: the Bavarian Centre for Applied Energy Research (ZAE Bayern), the Munich Municipal Utility Company (SWM) and the City of Munich. During the event on Monday, the city was therefore able to take stock of the roughly ten-year preparation, planning, construction and research process.  more...

In recent years, the heat pump has become increasingly popular on the heating market. For new buildings and building refurbishment, users can expect lower energy costs and environmentally friendly, low-maintenance operation. There is much heated debate as to the degree of efficiency at which heat pumps work.  more...

Approximately 50% of the global population lives in cities. In 2020, this figure will be more than 60%. The success of climate protections is, therefore, dependent on energy consumption and pollutant emissions in our cities and conurbations. Local councils can specify important framework conditions for implementing energy efficiency measures.  more...

Following a three-year planning and construction phase, the building complex for the local authorities and federal state parliament was erected and officially opened in the historic city centre of Eberswalde in 2007. From the very outset, energy-efficiency and sustainability were important criteria.  more...

A pilot project supported by the EU, the Intelligent Energy - Europe programme, aims to speed up the market breakthrough of high-efficiency heating pumps, which can save 60% or more on energy consumption compared to conventional pumps. The goal is to alter the market such that the new technology becomes standard and attains a price level similar to that of conventional pumps. The cooperative procurement approach was tried out across national boundaries in nine European countries.  more...

The German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology has published a strategy paper entitled "Eckpunkte und Leitlinien zur Weiterentwicklung der Energieforschungspolitik der Bundesregierung (Cornerstones and guidelines for the continued development of the German federal government's energy research policy)". The detailed analyses and suggestions were developed as a result of the cooperation between a number of institutes in the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres as part of a broadly based consultation process.  more...