Energy efficiency

Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Energy Economics and Energy System Technology IEE and their industrial partners have made progress in the development of photovoltaic power converters in the "PV-MoVe" project funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection (BMWK). The aim of the project was to use innovative technologies to reduce the size, weight and cost of PV power converters...

The "Silgentas" research project, led by legal IT specialist Frederik Möllers from Saarland University, focuses on improving IT security in residential areas with smart home systems. These systems offer considerable advantages. For example, they can increase comfort and energy efficiency by adjusting the heating and lighting settings to suit the...

The use of heat pumps to heat water in new and existing buildings is becoming increasingly important. They represent a sustainable solution that uses renewable energies. The domestic hot water or hot water heat pump, a form of hybrid heating, can be particularly useful in existing buildings. The energy advice service of the consumer advice center points this out. For...

"We can generate three to four kilowatt hours of usable heat from one kilowatt hour of electricity - the efficiency of heat pumps is enormous," says Prof. Dr. Michael Schaub from Coburg University of Applied Sciences. In addition to reducing CO2 emissions, heat pumps could also help to reduce the load on the electricity grids. Studies predict that between 60 and 80 percent of heat will be generated by heat pumps in the future.

The Efficiency House is a key standard that defines the energy efficiency of residential buildings in comparison to a reference building. Two important key figures play a role here: the total energy requirement of the building and the quality of the thermal insulation. These criteria can be used to assess a building in concrete terms. Particularly worth mentioning is the efficiency house level 40, which...

With its climate protection measures to date, Germany is missing its target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 65% by 2030 compared to 1990. Instead, the country has only achieved a reduction of 63 percent. This means that Germany has a discrepancy of 331 million tons of greenhouse gases compared to the Federal Climate Protection Act. However, there is an opportunity to close this...

Around 11.2 billion euros were invested in sustainable, certified buildings in Germany in 2022. This corresponds to a 30.6 percent share of the total investment market. This is according to the market report by BNP Paribas Real Estate GmbH. The document also provides information on the growing importance of green building certificates such as DGNB, BREEAM and LEED. Especially for institutional...

In times of increasing water scarcity, homeowners are called upon to use this vital resource more consciously. The Association of Private Builders (VPB) points this out. The carefree use of water for gardening, washing the car or filling the pool is no longer possible in view of falling groundwater levels in many regions. The association recommends taking this into account when planning a new...

Researchers have now achieved an electrical efficiency of 99.74 percent using heat pump technology. This was made possible by advances in power electronics, which have been specially developed for electrocalorics. According to the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Solid State Physics IAF, the effect is as follows: if an electrocaloric material made of special materials is...

The Association of German Engineers (VDI) has published new guidelines to help ensure the professional planning and installation of heat pumps in single and multi-family homes. VDI guideline 4645 is aimed at experts such as planners, system manufacturers, tradesmen and operators involved in the installation and operation of hot water heating systems that work with...