Light+Building 2012: a new energy paradigm for success

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For the Germans, energy efficiency is the most important criterion influencing their decision to buy a property. This is the result of a representative poll conducted by TNS Infratest on behalf of Messe Frankfurt on the occasion of Light+Building, the world's biggest trade fair for lighting and building-services technology. According to the poll, low energy consumption is the most important factor for 90 percent of landlords and 84 percent of tenants, ahead of other aspects such as price, location, facilities and ambience.

According to the poll, around two thirds of respondents (64 percent) are prepared to invest in energy efficient building-services technology. However, there is great uncertainty about the importance of buildings for a successful shift in the energy paradigm – only one in five consider the use of energy-efficient technology and building automation to be important to very important to cut energy consumption.

The top subjects in 2012 are 'Digitalisation of lighting and buildings' and 'Buildings as green power stations". The associated worldwide demand for innovative and efficient lighting and building-services technology is reflected by the large number of exhibitors. A total of 2,352 manufacturers represents an increase of nine percent over the last Light+Building in 2010 (2,154 exhibitors). Companies from 50 countries present their new products for the fields of lighting, electrical engineering, home and building automation and construction-industry software. At Light+Building, trade visitors find the entire spectrum of lighting and building-services technology, as well as subjects ranging from LEDs, OLEDs and photovoltaic systems to decentralised electricity usage via e-mobility, smart metering and smart grids.

Light+Building opens its doors on 15 April 2012 and the first Building Future Award will be presented to nano-scientist Kostya Ostrikov during the opening ceremony. With the Light+Building Future Award, Messe Frankfurt honours Ostrikov's research in the field of plasma nano-technology, a special discipline that opens up a completely new range of possibilities for energy production.

The Light+Building 'Futurecourse' panel discussion will be held on 17 April 2012. In line with the motto of this year's fair, the participants will tackle the provocative question of 'New energy paradigm – will the tenant foot the bill?' and the associated demand for unequivocal political action. This is necessary if Germany is to achieve the ambitious climate-protection targets. Whether energy saving is really just a private issue will be discussed at 'Futurecourse 2012' in the 'Portalhaus' building at 10.30 hrs.

The revenues of the German lighting and building-services industry represented at Light+Building amount to € 11 billion per year and provide employment for more than 80,000 people. With over 463,000 employees, the electrical and information technology trade generates annual revenues of € 54 billion. Altogether, the sector stands for a turnover of € 65 billion and 543,000 jobs.

The range of products and services to be seen at Light+Building is supplemented by a comprehensive complementary programme. In this case, too, the focus is on energy efficiency. New is the 'Buildings as power stations in the smart grid' exhibition showing what the future could look like in terms of decentralised energy production using regenerative energies. The focal point is the building as a decentralised power station that, integrated into an intelligent network, generates, uses and controls energy. Parallel to this, the 100 square-metre 'E-House' special show of the Central Association of the German Electrical and Information Technology Trades (Zentralverband der Deutschen Elektro- und Informationstechnischen Handwerke – ZVEH) in Hall 8.0 offers realistic insights into the opportunities offered by intelligent buildings when it comes to energy efficiency, comfort and security.

Moreover, the spectrum of products and services to be seen at Light+Building leaves no doubt that saving energy is no obstacle to attractive furnishings and lighting. At the world's biggest trade fair for lighting and building-services technology, the industry shows the new creative possibilities opened up by innovative technology. Additionally, the Trend Forum presents the home trends for 2012/13 in four home scenarios.

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