A new database has been created which makes it easier to compare energy consumption in buildings in Europe. Data is available from 27 member states of the European Union, Croatia and Serbia. Diagrams enable users to make comparisons between countries at a single glance.  more...

The Solar Decathlon Europe is a competition for homes which cover their annual energy needs using solar power. Within the framework of an exhibition, they are evaluated over several days in operation. This short period of observation is hardly able to ascertain whether they are also able to meet the competition standards in everyday life. Now, a practical test in Wuppertal has provided sufficient evidence. Since the middle of last year, two people have been living in the house developed by the town´s university.  more...

For the competition, 18 interdisciplinary student teams from all over the world developed and built houses that generate at least as much energy – using solar systems – as they consume. They were supported by their universities, researchers and companies. From Germany, students took part from Hochschule Konstanz University of Applied Sciences (HTWG) and RWTH Aachen University, supported with government energy research funds. Whereas the design from Constance has perfected a modular construction system, with the Aachen team the focus is on recycling. After ten disciplines, the two homes achieved 4th and 5th places.  more...

Last Saturday saw the conclusion and climax of the international university competition "Solar Decathlon Europe 2012". The aim of the competition was to design an energy efficient and innovative house that generates more energy via solar active surfaces than it actually needs. From the 18 university teams taking part, the Rhône Alpes team from Grenoble managed to win the most points. The German teams from Constance and Aachen were ranked fourth and fifth respectively.  more...

On 13 September, the Solar Decathlon Europe 2012 was officially opened in Madrid. At 1.00 pm, the 19 university teams from 12 countries taking part gathered at the opening ceremony that was held at the Villa Solar - a construction site in the heart of the Spanish capital that has been specially reserved for the competition. This ceremony marks the beginning of the official competition phase. The team that collects the most points with its building in the ten competition disciplines will take top spot on the winners` podium on 30 September. Two German teams from Aachen and Constance are taking part in this innovation competition.  more...

The German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology has presented a new concept for the Energy-Optimised Construction (EnOB) research initiative. This formulates new requirements for research projects and readjusts the focus, whereby the emphasis is now on interfaces between buildings and the urban energy infrastructure. Performance and efficiency analyses shall investigate the buildings in terms of their interaction with the energy systems to a greater extent than was previously the case. Particular attention shall be paid to analysing the lifecycle of the actual building operation with energy-optimised operational management.  more...

Instead of screwing various module and collector types for solar power and solar heat on the roof, an obvious idea would be to use a hybrid collector that can do both and which creates a uniform appearance. In addition to generating photovoltaic electricity, which only utilises 15-20 % of the incident solar radiation, a so-called PVT collector can use the remaining radiation energy for generating heat. Researchers are working on optimising the output and production of these systems.  more...

Lightweight and transparent membrane structures enable large spaces, such as courtyards in old building complexes, to be roofed over. Supplemental to the additional space created, this also achieves savings in terms of the heating and lighting. Artificial light is not necessary and the heat losses from the adjacent buildings can be reduced. However, an intelligent building management system is essential in order to create a pleasant indoor environment. To ensure that this is achieved, scientists have developed new concepts and components for the use of film and membranes in old buildings.  more...

Last Wednesday, students at the Hochschule Konstanz University of Applied Sciences (HTWG) began constructing their innovative house. The "Ecolar" team from the City of Constance on the shores of Lake Constance are planning to enter their design in the "Solar Decathlon Europe 2012" international university competition, which is being held in September in Madrid. The modularly designed house is therefore being first of all constructed in Constance in order to test and optimise it in detail. However, the unsettled weather has already caused unwanted interruptions.  more...

Last Friday, students of the RWTH Aachen invited guests to their topping-out ceremony. The multidisciplinary team presented its building "Counter Entropy House" to the general public for the first time for real. In September, the students will compete with their house in the international Solar Decathlon Europe 2012 university competition in Madrid. The house, which has been consequently created in such a way that the use of resources is systematically reduced, is currently being constructed for testing purposes in an old assembly hall in the Jülich research centre.  more...