Energy efficiency

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...

According to the portal "infranken.de", the popularity of photovoltaic systems is steadily increasing. This is also reflected in discussions about the topic on social media platforms. A large community discusses the topic in groups such as "Photovoltaik: Alles Rund um die Solaranlage" (Facebook) with over 135,000 members. The community focuses on topics such as the...

When used correctly, heat pumps can guarantee both moderate costs and comfortable warmth while protecting the climate. This is the conclusion reached by the energy advice service of the consumer advice center. The heat pump draws its heat free of charge from natural sources such as air, soil or groundwater. The low temperature level that these pumps generate for heating systems is due to the...

Homeowners and builders can mitigate the effects of climate change by designing their outdoor facilities in a targeted manner. This is the conclusion reached by the Association of Private Building Owners (VPB). Consultant Norman-Marcel Dietz at VPB Hildesheim emphasizes that green, unsealed surfaces both protect the environment and improve the quality of life: "Greenery promotes the health and well-being of the...

A vacation trip is the perfect time to reduce energy consumption. This is the conclusion reached by the energy advice service of the consumer advice center. It suggests a number of measures to identify energy guzzlers at home and save money. One strategy is to only switch on appliances when they are needed. Otherwise, care should be taken to ensure that the appliances are actually...