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New opportunities with new technologies
Energy-optimised buildings are already technically realisable today. But also in the building trade, new technologies offer new opportunities. New materials, technologies and systems for construction engineering and for buildings' technical equipment can make buildings more comfortable, slimmer, more energy-efficient, more flexible, more convenient, more cost-efficient, or more durable. Here, on an ongoing basis, we present new technological approaches arising from research into "buildings of the future", show the pilot projects in which prototype systems are already proving themselves, and show which hurdles must yet be surmounted before market entry is possible.
People will need to grow accustomed to this term: “textile architecture”. Buildings such as the Munich football stadium or the swimming pool building in Beijing demonstrate new design and construction possibilities using textile architecture. At the same time, the innovative, lightweight and flexible structures made using sheeting or textile fabrics also allow buildings to be energy-optimised. Now solutions for the energy-oriented refurbishment of buildings are being developed and tested in a research project.
more details Membrane constructions for building refurbishment
Construction systems with integrated phase-change materials (PCM) can store a high degree of heat at room temperature. They can be used to regulate the temperature of rooms in an energy-efficient manner, even without active systems. As part of this research project, materials, components and systems based on salt hydrates were developed, promising applications were identified, and various systems implemented and tested as pilot projects.
more details Passive cooling and PCM together
Vacuum instead of inert gases - with this technological development, glazing could take another great developmental stride. However, at 10 tonnes per square metre, the atmospheric pressure on evacuated flat glazing is immense. And for evacuated glazing, the same applies as for vacuum panels: only a lasting vacuum guarantees good thermal insulation. Now, this research project is to provide evidence that evacuated glazings with special functional layers are technically feasible for architecture.
more details Next Step: Vacuum insulation glass
The heat insulation requirements on buildings will only continue to be tightened. For exterior walls with heat insulation, this is basically not a problem. But for windows and facades it is conceivable that in a few years the requirements will only be met with triple-glazing or with vacuum-glazing which may be available by then. A research project will now develop particularly low thermal bridging constructions for the integration of extremely good thermal insulating and vacuum glazing for thin framework and facade structures.
more details Thinner heat insulation with new window and facade constructions
Construction systems with integrated phase-change materials (PCM) can store a high degree of heat at room temperature. If this heat is transported by means of water-carrying systems, it is possible to regulate room temperatures in an energy-efficient manner. This research project focused on the ongoing development of materials, components and systems with paraffins, the identification of promising applications, the performance of system tests and the development of a planning tool.
more details Climate-active heat storage in construction materials
