Developing Future Technologies

Plusenergy day care center Höhenkirchen
© Planungsbüro Stefan Wilhelm
Future technologies: From façades towards plant systems

From façades towards plant systems

In the last few years, continuously rising energy prices and a growing awareness of environmental protection have contributed to the development of numerous innovative technologies, which use regenerative sources of energy, as well as to the introduction of energy-saving construction methods. The resulting change regarding the requirements to technologies in turn calls for continuously adjusting and advancing the individual systems while optimizing their interaction, as well.

At IBP’s Holzkirchen branch, we offer clients and partners the unique option to perform full-scale (1:1) tests of façade components (including the adjacent indoor spaces) using VERU, our multi-story, modular outdoor test building – IBP’s test facility for energy performance and indoor environment investigations.

During the development phase of a building it is essential to continually adapt the thermal supply systems in order to ensure the overall energy performance of the building. As advanced concepts for new buildings continue to further reduce the required heating capacities, the gap between heating energy demand and solar gains supplies is even widening. To enhance solar architecture in Germany, we have provided scientific support to a large number of nationwide demonstration and research projects.

The project work that was performed by a consortium of several Fraunhofer institutes, industry and trade resulted in some innovative new and further developments of various structural and technical solar components and systems: For instance, in buildings that combine minimized, well-insulated thermal envelope surfaces and the optimized use of passive solar gains through windows, various types of hybrid systems offer promising solutions to save more heating energy, e.g. in multi-story residential buildings.

Another part of our work focuses on reducing ventilation heat losses, which form the major part in the energy performance balance of buildings. However, running ventilation systems in order to reduce ventilation heat losses requires additional operating energy. Any developments in this sector should therefore be critically examined in order to make sure that heat savings are not »paid for« by increasing the electricity consumption. We are also doing research on integrating regenerative thermal systems into efficient storage systems.

 

Reference projects