Climate-friendly and sustainable building
This is a translation of an article in Wohnen plus magazine.
In cooperation with the Federal Ministry for Climate Protection, ReConstruct organised an international expert discussion, which focussed on current issues relating to the sustainable transformation of construction.
- GISELA GARY
The event organised by the ReConstruct platform in Vienna focussed on the transformation of construction and the framework for targeted solutions for a fossil-free future. Keynotes by the Swedish researcher Lars Zetterberg, Mistra Carbon Exit, and the Austrian building physicist Sebastian Nödl, 2226 GmbH, generated exciting discussions. Also present were: Robert Jansche, Austrian Institute for Building Technology (OIB), Filip Johnsson and Ida Karlsson, Mistra Carbon Exit and Chalmers University Gothenburg, and Gerd Pichler, Bundesimmobiliengesellschaft, BIG, and last but not least Henriette Spyra, Federal Ministry for Climate Protection.
The central question of the first day was: Which building concepts are necessary for society to fulfil the ecological and economic framework conditions? "Specific examples can serve as practical orientation. Because, where sustainable and climate-friendly solutions have been realised, knowledge can be generated for future developments," Christian Egenhofer, Centre for European Policy Studies and representative of ReConstruct, was convinced. "Looking around for international best practices is obvious, because the challenges facing the construction industry are similar in all industrialised countries: a huge building stock needs to be refurbished and made 'climate-ready'. And new buildings should fulfil these requirements from the start so that they do not represent a mortgage for the coming decades, but an asset."
Rejecting fossil fuels
Zetterberg outlined the success story so far of Mistra Carbon Exit and showed how Sweden is committed to work on the phasing out of fossil fuels. Mistra is a Swedish foundation for strategic environmental research that funds the Carbon Exit research programme. Mistras´ research analyses the potentials of technology, business and politics in connection with Sweden's climate target of achieving net zero emissions by 2045. It analyses supply chains, from the raw material to the finished product, including energy requirements. "The programme itself is not only developed by the research department but in collaboration with companies, authorities, municipalities and other social players," explained Zetterberg. This ensures that the concepts are realistic and remain financially viable.
His comments were substantiated by Ida Karlsson and Filip Johnsson. Karlsson illustrated the method of supply chain analysis with figures: "Even with currently available technologies and practices greenhouse gases can be reduced by up to 50 per cent - and this rate can be increased in the medium term." In the year 2045, almost net zero emissions could be achieved. This would require measures along the entire supply chain, breaking down a major challenge into many small touchpoints. "One important milestone is the establishment of systematic working methods - this includes climate action plans and the introduction of a carbon manager, responsible for the CO₂ budget of a building," says Karlsson.
Johnsson explained the decarbonization of materials as used in buildings and infrastructure: "To significantly reduce emissions we need, among other things climate-neutral cement and steel with CO₂ capture and electrification."
Minimised building services
How energy efficiency can be achieved was demonstrated by building physicist Sebastian Nödl. His bureau offers optimization of the buildings´architecture and reduction of traditional building services - replaced by intelligent software based on the 2226 principle: A house without heating and cooling maintains a comfortable room temperature of 22 to 26 degrees. This is achieved by fresh air and the heat from people and appliances on the one hand and a system of ventilation flaps on the other. A pioneering building in Lustenau has provided practical proof that the concept works. The annual energy consumption is less than a third of what a comparable standard property requires.
"2226 stands for resource-saving and reduced costs - and is suitable for new buildings and building renovation," explained Nödl. The technology used is long-lasting and does not require any updates. "This is the basis of our ambition to plan for a time horizon of 100 years and more, also technically," said Nödl, who concluded with an appeal to politicians: In order to advance innovative technology for energy efficiency, we need more subsidies as well as simplified and standardised approval procedures.
Visionary best practice
On the second day, best practices were the focus. It started with a guided tour thru the education campus Liselotte Hansen-Schmidt with Gunther Laher from the Municipal Directorate of Buildings and Technology. The building utilises the storage mass of concrete for thermal component activation and is completely powered without fossil fuels.
On the basis of various innovative buildings, it was shown how the CO₂ phasing out can be achieved in Vienna. Daniela Huber from Sozialbau AG presented the housing project “Große Neugasse” with façade-integrated thermal component activation. Vinzenz Dreher from Dietrich Untertrifaller Architects used the project DC Tower 3 "District Living" to illustrate how space conservation can be achieved with the use of concrete as a construction material. Heating and cooling is based on thermal component activation.
Sebastian Spaun from the VÖZ explained the MGG22 residential building - the first ever combination of 100 per cent renewable energy, geothermal energy and thermal component activation for heating and cooling in social housing.
Thomas Friedrich from Innogration explained the advantages of very thin concrete ceilings with component activation in the refurbishment of the Althan neighbourhood. How to successfully use geothermal energy in historic buildings the audience learnt from Johannes Zeininger from Zeininger Architects based on the refurbishment project Geblergasse smart block.
An exciting final discussion about cross-sectoral value chains for climate neutrality with Joseph Kitzweger, CEO of C2PAT and Reinhold Lang, Professor at the Johannes Kepler University Linz, completed the event.
ReConstruct is a research platform in partnership with WIFO, Sustainserv Zurich - Boston, Centre For European Policy Studies Brussels, Wegener Centre of the University of Graz with the support of the Association of mineral construction products and ceramic industries.
Read the article in German here (pdf).
The workshop was also covered by the newspaper Salzburger Nachrichten. Read the article (in German) here on Pressreader: https://www.pressreader.com/austria/salzburger-nachrichten/20231103/281895892944940