10. Oct 2007 - EnOB Workshop discusses benchmarking for “zero-energy buildings”

Abstract

Roughly sixty research and planning personnel met on the 1st and 2nd of October at the Service and Administration Centre in Eberswalde. For the first time, project teams from demonstration building projects in the new-build (EnBau) and refurbishment (EnSan) sectors met up at a joint workshop. The focus this time was on “zero-energy buildings/zero-emissions buildings“. In addition to several presentations covering fundamental aspects, various zero-energy and zero-emissions building concepts were also presented. Finally, working groups were formed to discuss various topics.

more details

Workshops have a fine tradition in the field of research. They have been an effective communication platform in the EnOB research area for many years. The purpose of these events is to intensify the exchange of ideas between the teams responsible for planning, performance audits, operation and optimising operation as well as overall project evaluation. In addition, research groups can use the opportunity of directly examining a model project on site. The focus is always on individual topics.

The meeting in Eberswalde centred on the issue of zero-energy and zero-emissions buildings. “Zero-energy”, “zero-emission”, “plus-energy”, “net-zero-energy”, “zero carbon”, “carbon balanced“ – there is no lack of ambition or terms. These building concepts should demonstrate, however, that they meet their requirements; their performance must therefore be verifiable according to clear and plausible definitions (based on measurements). This is the purpose of the EnOB model projects. The first working group was concerned with the definition and requirements profile of zero-energy buildings, the second discussed the potential and conditions of use for new and existing technologies for this type of buildings, and a third analysed this issue from a real estate and economic perspective. The workshop results are currently being processed and will soon be published on this website.

EnOB model projects are monitored and evaluated by a separate cross-project research team. This responsibility was transferred to a new team in the middle of this year, which will now make a joint analysis for new-build and refurbishment projects. The workshop in Eberswalde provides this new secondary research team the opportunity of presenting itself and its remit. More information to follow shortly in another newsletter.