August 2022

Heat: Heating with renewable energy

In future, heating systems are to be powered by at least 65 percent renewable energy. This is according to a press release from the Federal Ministry of Housing, Urban Development and Building (BMWSB). It is expected that from January 1, 2024, owners of new or existing properties will have to comply with this when installing/replacing heating systems. On this topic, the Federal Ministry...

Energy advice: Book for children

Hajo Schörle from W&D Schörle has given some thought to how the next generation can be involved in energy consulting. The result is the book "There's a lot of energy in it". On 40 pages, children learn more about the topic - from energy-efficient refurbishment to storing energy and generating their own energy. The book...

Neighborhood: Cameras are not allowed to film other people's property

Neighbors are not allowed to install surveillance cameras that record their own property as well as that of their neighbors. This has now been decided by the Bad Iburg District Court (AZ: 4 C 366/21). In this case, a neighbor of a semi-detached house had installed surveillance cameras with intelligent video technology on his property, which, among other things, were able to identify objects and people in real time....

Visualization: Students design new areas on the riverbank

How can a site like the one on the banks of the River Main in Heidingsfeld in Würzburg be upgraded? Students on the Geovisualization course at the Würzburg-Schweinfurt University of Applied Sciences tackled this question. Under the motto "Living on the water", they had to develop designs that combine the areas of living, working and leisure. The challenge...

Study: Heating mine water using heat pumps

A team from the Chair of Technical Thermodynamics at the Technical University Bergakademie Freiberg and the company DBI Gas- und Umwelttechnik GmbH are currently researching how mine water from the former Lugau-Oelsnitz coalfield in north-western Saxony can be used to supply heat. The idea is to heat the mine water with heat pumps and use it for heat and power generation.

Research: Panels developed from popcorn

The University of Göttingen has developed a process for a granulate that can be used to make panels and walls from hemp, falch and popcorn granulate. According to the responsible working group "Chemistry and Process Engineering of Composite Materials" at the Faculty of Forest Sciences and Forest Ecology, the material used is reusable, recyclable and compostable....

Climate protection: GEFMA and DENEFF cooperate

The German Facility Management Association (GEFMA) and the German Business Initiative for Energy Efficiency (DENEFF) have concluded a cooperation agreement to ensure greater energy efficiency, resource conservation and sustainability. Through the cooperation agreement, GEFMA and DENEFF also hope to achieve a stronger exchange between their own members and...

Ruling: Architect does not have to protect against tax damages

An architect commissioned to carry out the basic assessment and design planning is not obliged to protect his client from possible tax damages. This was recently decided by the Higher Regional Court of Frankfurt am Main (OLG, Ref. 29 U 185/20). In this case, clients wanted to renovate their attic apartment and commissioned an architect to provide services. They paid the architect...

Furniture: DGM gives tips on purchasing environmentally conscious products

The German Quality Association for Furniture (DGM) now advises tenants and owners on how to be environmentally conscious when buying furniture. It has three tips for interested parties. Firstly, tenants or homeowners can pay attention to good furniture quality and choose durable, healthy and environmentally friendly products. According to the DGM, the RAL quality mark "Golden M" indicates...

Study: Real estate popular with insurers

Insurers like to invest in real estate. This is according to the study "Trendbarometer Real Estate Investments of the Insurance Industry" by the tax consultancy firm EY. With a so-called real estate ratio of 12.1 percent, this was the highest level since the survey began in 2008. However, the study also shows that insurers are becoming more cautious. Half of those surveyed...

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