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18. Feb 2009 - Refurbished student accommodation passes practical test with flying colours
Abstract
Today, researchers from the University of Wuppertal presented their report on the monitoring of the refurbished “Neue Burse” student accommodation building to the client, the Wuppertal University Social Services Office. The evaluation of the data recorded over three years shows that one of the biggest student residence buildings in Germany has become the most energy-efficient and also one of the most attractive after the refurbishment work! A poster exhibition relating to this project can be visited by the public in the premises of the Sparda-Bank in Wuppertal-Elberfeld until the end of March.
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The "Neue Burse" student residence building in Wuppertal was already one of the biggest of its kind in Germany, housing over 600 students. A lot of energy is consumed in residence buildings, and an awful lot in student residences! The values are so high because lots of people live and work in a densely populated space. Energy costs can account for as much as 45% of the rent. The Wuppertal University Social Services Office recognised the facts and carried out extensive modernisation work in two construction stages between 2001 and 2003 on its large “Burse” residence building, which was built in 1977 and was beginning to show its age. The living quality was to be brought up to new-building levels in terms of equipment and design, in order to meet the requirements of future usage cycles.
After three years of intensive monitoring, the impressive findings in the research report released now demonstrate just what is possible with today’s technology: the heat consumption for heating has been reduced by 75%. The heating consumption was reduced to around 3 litres per m² in the second construction stage, which has a building envelope corresponding to the passive house standard. The total energy consumption including electricity was reduced by 55% thanks to the refurbishment work.
At these low heating energy consumption levels, it becomes noticeable that heat generation for showers and hot water is the new main task for the central heating system. “In future, we will need hot water systems that can also provide heat instead of heating systems that provide hot water for showers,” is the conclusion drawn by Peter Engelmann of the University of Wuppertal. High use of regenerative energy sources in hot water provision is a key technology, particularly in larger residential buildings. Important experience has also been gathered in the area of ventilation. For example, controlled room-ventilation systems with heat recovery were successfully employed in compact residential units, particularly in terms of air quality.
The client wishes to benefit from these positive experiences and apply them to further residence buildings.
Poster exhibition
Runs from 18 February to 31 March 2009
Venue: Sparda-Bank West branch, Bankstrasse 3, 42103 Wuppertal, Germany