Energy efficiency

Renate Sachse recently received the €10,000 Bertha Benz Prize from the Daimler and Benz Foundation for her dissertation "Variational Motion Design for Adaptive Structures" (Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Stuttgart). In her dissertation, she presents a mathematical method that can be used not only by those responsible in the construction industry, but also...

Together with citizens in 338 cities and municipalities, Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH) has submitted applications for a filter obligation for new wood-burning stoves and an obligation to retrofit old wood-burning stoves. Particularly in cities such as Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Bonn and Freiburg, DUH criticizes the excessive fine dust pollution caused by wood firing. Due to the war in Ukraine, more and more people are currently...

Landlords of retail properties are reluctant to invest in energy-saving measures. This is the conclusion reached by the authors of the study "Energy efficiency measures for tenants in the retail sector", published by adelphi and the climate protection offensive of the retail sector. The reason for this is a so-called tenant-landlord dilemma. This describes the fact that the tenants responsible for implementing the...

In a four-part series, the energy advice service of the consumer advice center informs private individuals about how they can save energy. In Part 1, consumers learn how they can "optimize heating". Part 2 deals with how energy can be saved through "Cost-effective measures that you can do yourself". In Part 3, private individuals learn more about how to "Save hot water"...

Building owners who value sustainability should look for test certificates for building materials. The Association of Private Builders (VPB) advises this. Certified recycled concrete, for example, can effectively reduce gravel extraction and carbon dioxide emissions. According to the VPB, builders can also contribute to sustainability if they ensure that as few different and good materials as possible are used.

Owners who buy or inherit a detached or semi-detached house must implement energy standards. The energy advice service of the consumer advice center points this out. The requirements that apply to residential buildings with regard to energy efficiency are regulated in the Building Energy Act (GEG). According to energy advice, the property must meet the requirements of the GEG within two years. So...

The BDEW Federal Association of the Energy and Water Industries is calling on those responsible to fill the so-called area tool (flaechentool.de) with life. The purpose of the area tool is to accelerate the development of charging infrastructure for electric vehicles. According to BDEW, federal, state and local authority properties as well as those of companies can be recorded in the area tool so that project developers can...

The Solar Decathlon Europe, according to the organizers the world's largest university competition for sustainable building and living, is being held in Germany for the first time. The event is also open to the general public: from Friday, June 10, to Sunday, June 26, visitors can find out more about sustainable building and living, architecture and climate protection free of charge.

Interested parties have until Wednesday, June 8, to decide who will receive the "Blue Compass" public award for exemplary climate adaptation projects. Of the 240 applications received by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUV) and the Federal Environment Agency (UBA), 20 projects have been nominated. The federal "Blue Compass" award is being jointly organized this year for the first time by the...

Since May 1st, newly built houses in Baden-Württemberg must be equipped with solar roofs. The energy advice service of the consumer advice center points this out. Existing properties must be retrofitted from 2023 at the earliest. This so-called solar obligation will then also follow in other federal states. In Berlin and Hamburg, the installation of solar systems will be mandatory from...