|
contents | events | |||||||||
| Energy-efficient building become hot topic for at BAU Klimakatastrophe’ was chosen as Word of the Year in Germany in 2007. Easily decipherable as 'climate catastrophe', this word was picked out as a key focus of public discussion during the year. Worldwide, too, the whole subject of reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions is a hot topic, including in the building and construction sector. Energy-efficient building and renovation are core themes at BAU 2009, which takes place from 12 to 17 January 2009 at the New Munich Trade Fair Centre. The job of the building envelope and the building systems is to use energy more efficiently. The technology being used in new buildings is setting an example of how it can be done. The aim is to create buildings in which more energy is generated than consumed. However, the largest potential for reducing CO2 emissions lies in the area of renovation and modernisation, because around 40 percent of the entire energy consumption in the EU is accounted for by existing buildings. The new energy-saving regulations in Germany (EnEV – Energieeinsparverordnung) are targeted at reducing the ongoing energy consumption of buildings, and thereby also reducing the emissions of the greenhouse gas CO2 which is implicated in climate change. More and more statutory regulations (the next EnEV in 2009 will be even tougher, as it aims to cut primary energy consumption in buildings by a further 30% on average) are on the other hand an incentive for manufacturers and suppliers to bring innovative new products to the market – and these will be on show at BAU 2009. The following options are available when it comes to improving the energy efficiency of these building components: * Intelligent control of solar shading, light deflection and ventilation, while also enabling manual operation * Optimisation of thermal protection in summer * Active use of solar energy through solar-heated air collectors and photovoltaics * Saving energy by integrating the building envelope into the building systems * Reducing the use of artificial lighting by optimising daylight use * Improving the thermal-insulating properties (U-value) * Minimising thermal losses At BAU 2009 the subject of energy and energy-saving will be a big one, not just at the stands of the exhibitors. It is featured in many events in the accompanying trade programme, too. In the new forum entitled 'The Future of Building' in Hall C2 planners and architects will be presenting current projects on the theme of energy and architecture and on solar energy in building. The DETAIL Symposium, attended by architects, engineers, energy experts and representatives from industry, will be exploring energy-efficiency issues in architecture. The German Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs will be looking into the themes of energy and sustainability from a European perspective in a congress on the first and second day of the fair. And of course renovating and modernising existing buildings to make them more energy-efficient will be a focal theme in the Forum Existing Buildings, in Hall B0. write your comments about the article :: © 2008 Construction News :: home page |