Environmentally- and climate-friendly renovation or building – but how? The new brochure “Building and Dwelling – Resource-Efficiently and Energy-Efficiently”, from the German Federal Environmental Foundation (Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt, DBU) in cooperation with the VDI Resource-Efficiency Center GmbH (VDI Zentrum Ressourceneffizienz GmbH), delivers practical answers. The brochure was published recently in connection with the MesseBAU 2013 construction trade fair, which took place from January 14th to 19th in Munich.
The 14 exemplary grant projects in the publication give those responsible for building undertakings a descriptive look at highlights from sustainable building and dwelling – from resource-efficient architecture and the choices in corresponding building materials, to energy-saving technical innovations, all the way to reusability in building materials.
The construction industry is one of the most resource-intensive of all. Thus it is imperative to achieve a more efficient utilization of resources and materials, according to Sascha Hermann, Managing Director of the VDI Center.
In addition to energy- and resource-saving solutions for new construction and modernization, the publication features examples of innovative technical developments which demonstrate energy-efficient options. Among others these include the innovative ventilation system which requires no electricity. In order to realize the controlled ventilation necessary for passive houses, a multigenerational house in Berlin was outfitted with newly-designed air intake windows. Ventilation openings in these windows open and close with the help of hydraulic springs, according to temperature, without any electricity. Simultaneously, the intake air in the outer space between the panes is warmed by the transmitted heat loss from the inner pane and by the sun’s rays. This reduces the energy use for the heating of the building.
The 40-page brochure can be obtained free of charge at the business office, or downloaded at www.dbu.de.
