Video (2012) The treehouse of Frei Otto in Berlin-Tiergarten

Published 16 November 2011

7:32 min., 2012, Trailer for the documentary about Frei Otto's eco-house in Berlin Tiergarten.

The documentary "Dreaming of a Treehouse" addresses the Ökohaus, an experimental collective housing project in Berlin,
conceived by the famous German architect/engineer Frei Otto.
Interviews with Frei Otto, Christine Kanstinger-Otto, Hermann Kendel, co-architects, planners as well as inhabitants and participatory builders. Commentary by architects Yona Friedman, Anne Lacaton and Jean-Philippe Vassal.

The whole film can be watched as streaming video in HD quality for a rental fee:

Duration: 1 hour 6 minutes
2011, German, French with English subtitles

Project Info: http://sdg21.eu/db/baumhaeuser-von-frei-otto-in-berlin-tiergarten

Keywords: Stakeholders, Building materials / Construction, Greening / climate adaptation, DE-News, Movies, Movies > 45 Min, Movies 4 to 10 Min, News Blog Berlin, Planning offices, Housing projects

Published 23 May 2016

Energy transition: More money for research and construction

Several federal ministries launched new funding programmes and research initiatives in April. The common goal is to promote affordable and climate-friendly construction in order to advance the energy transition through energy-efficient and climate-friendly buildings.

The building sector accounts for around 40 per cent of Germany's final energy consumption and about one third of its CO2-emissions. At the same time, the potential for energy and CO2-saving big.

150 million euros for research

The Federal Ministries for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) and Education and Research (BMBF) are making 150 million euros available for the research initiative "Solar Construction/Energy Efficient City" as part of their energy research programme. Over a period of up to five years, these funds will be used to develop technologies that accelerate the expansion of energy efficiency and the integration of renewable energies.

In addition to technological aspects, the initiative also takes into account questions of demographic change in our society and is dedicated to the topic of sustainable and affordable housing. Furthermore, it is a contribution to the implementation of the project "Guideline Future City" of the BMBF. With this guideline, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research aims to promote innovations for the sustainable city.

New funding round for innovative building projects

In the new funding round, the "Zukunft Bau" research initiative of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB) focuses on low-cost housing, energy efficiency and renewable energies in buildings and neighbourhoods. The focus is also on sustainable construction and construction quality, demographic change and new materials and technologies. For this purpose, the BMUB In 2016, funding amounting to 18.7 million euros was available for around 50 projects.

The deadline for submitting funding applications is 30 June 2016. Applications are open to all institutions and companies involved in innovative projects in the field of construction.

Since the "Zukunft Bau" research initiative was founded in 2006, more than 1,000 research projects have already been funded with almost 115 million euros in federal funds.

Maximum subsidy amount for builders doubled

Since the beginning of 2016, new buildings must meet stricter energy requirements. Since then, the annual energy demand must be 25 percent below the previously valid value. The higher requirements can be implemented sustainably through the use of modern heating technology and renewable energies.

To enable builders to make greater investments in energy-efficient buildings, the KfW renewed the "Energy-efficient Construction" programme as of 1 April 2016. The maximum subsidy per housing unit is now 100,000 euros, previously it was 50,000 euros. In addition to the 10-year interest rate reduction, a new variant with a 20-year fixed interest rate is offered. Furthermore, the builder-owner has a binding entitlement to a building assistance grant. In this case, they receive 50 percent (max. 4,000 euros) of the costs for energy planning and construction supervision by an independent expert.

In addition to the standards that continue to exist KfW-Efficiency House 55 and 40 will be the new standard "KfW-Efficiency House 40 Plus" has been introduced. This applies to buildings that generate and store energy sustainably and thus predominantly cover the remaining, low energy demand themselves.
The new repayment subsidies in detail:
- • KfW-Efficiency House 40 Plus: 15 percent of the loan amount, up to 15,000 euros for each housing unit
- • KfW-Efficiency house 40: 10 percent of the loan amount, up to 10,000 euros for each housing unit
- • KfW-Efficiency house 55: 5 percent of the loan amount, up to 5,000 euros for each housing unit.

The "Energy-efficient construction" programme is part of the programme funded by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology. CO2-building refurbishment programme. With the National Action Plan on Energy Efficiency (NAPE), the funds for the CO2-Building Rehabilitation Programme increased to 2 billion euros annually by 2018.

Source: www.bundesregierung.de/...mehr-geld-fuer-forschung-und-bauen.html
(retrieval: 23.5.2016)

Keywords:
DE-News, Renewable, Research, Funding, Climate protection, PlusEnergy house/settlement, Resource efficiency, Environmental policy

Published 9 October 2020

BBSR publication on concept awards in neighbourhoods

Conceptual procedures are increasingly establishing themselves as a further instrument of municipal land policy for locations with development potential. Here, the property is not allocated according to the highest price, but according to the concept that promises the most sustainable approaches to the further development of the neighbourhood. In this way, the procedures offer municipalities approaches to solving two current and urgent problems: the need for high-quality urban development and affordable housing.

The publication on the General Departmental Research project "Baukultur für das Quartier. Process culture through concept awarding" examined the question of the extent to which building culture in the neighbourhood can be influenced and improved through concept procedures in a broader sense. On the basis of eleven best-practice examples, the spectrum of concept awarding as part of municipal real estate policy was examined: Which procedures are suitable for achieving building culture objectives? Which framework conditions were successful? Which variants and approaches are available? As a result, recommendations for action have emerged that show how concept procedures can lead to a high level of building culture quality, for example through low entry thresholds, appraisal by an expert committee and quality assurance. The publication offers the first nationwide overview of this procedure, which is still largely unused, and provides important information on how building culture, affordable housing and qualitative urban development can go hand in hand.

PDF download Long version (11 MB)
PDF download Abstract (3 MB)

Order print version:
www.bbsr.bund.de/...2020/konzeptvergabe.html

Keywords:
DE-News, Research, New books and studies, Quarters, Settlements, Housing, Housing policy, Housing projects

Published 22 October 2019

Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs reaffirms its commitment to the goals of the United Nations' Education 2030 Agenda

At the meeting of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder (KMK) in Berlin on 17 and 18 October, the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder adopted a joint declaration on the United Nations' Education 2030 Agenda (SDG 4).

In the declaration, the KMK underlines "the high degree of agreement between the education policies of the Länder and the goals of the Education 2030 Agenda, whose core goals - participation, equal opportunities, quality of education and lifelong learning - are the subject of intensive education policy efforts by the Länder". The comprehensive concept of education, which underlies the 2030 Agenda Education as well as the German education system, promotes the development of the individual personality and a free, democratic and sustainable society in equal measure. The KMK refers to the numerous education policy measures and initiatives of the Länder in the fields of action of the Agenda. The international exchange under the umbrella of UNESCO and other international organisations offers the opportunity to receive valuable suggestions for the development of one's own strategies and to present one's own good practice to other countries. The KMK affirms that it will "continue its commitment to the goals contained in the 2030 Agenda for Education together with national and international partners in the future".

The President of the German Commission for UNESCO, Prof. Dr Maria Böhmer, welcomes the KMK's declaration: "Worldwide economic progress in harmony with social justice and within the Earth's ecological limits - this is what the 17 Global Sustainability Goals of the United Nations are geared towards. Education is both a goal and a key factor in achieving all the goals. Global challenges can only be solved together. That is why the commitment of the countries to the Education 2030 Agenda is essential. With their commitment to equitable and quality education for all, the countries are making an important contribution to the global community.

In 2015, the member states of the United Nations adopted the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which describe the central future tasks of humanity. Global Sustainable Development Goal 4, differentiated by the 2030 Agenda for Education, calls for "ensuring inclusive, equitable and quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all by 2030". UNESCO coordinates the implementation of the Education 2030 Agenda at the international level.

Further information Agenda Education 2030

Source: German Commission for UNESCO, 17.10.2019

Keywords:
DE-News, SDG 2030, Social / Culture

Published 2 August 2019

Bavaria promotes photovoltaic storage

In the Bavarian 10,000 Houses Program, there is now also money for electricity storage units if the user installs them together with a PV system. Until the end of 2020, 24 million euros are available for the entire program.

The Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs has launched the new photovoltaic storage programme. It is part of the well-known 10,000 Homes Programme. From 1 August, owners of detached and semi-detached houses can apply for funding for a new electricity storage unit in conjunction with a photovoltaic system. In addition, there is the possibility for a grant for the installation of a private charging station for electric vehicles.

"We need to make better use of the sun's potential," says Minister of Economics Hubert Aiwanger. " With the new support programme, we will give additional momentum to the energy transition. It sets the right incentives to advance the decentralised expansion of renewable energies in Bavaria and will actively involve citizens in the energy transition." Citizens can also reduce their electricity costs with the help of the programme. The smart controls and connections provided for under the funding will also enable plant operators to participate in regional direct electricity marketing in the future.

The subsidy amount is graduated according to the capacity of the battery storage unit and ranges from 500 euros for a three-kilowatt-hour storage unit to 3,200 euros for a 30-kilowatt-hour storage unit. The prerequisite, however, is that the applicant simultaneously installs a new photovoltaic system whose output in kilowatt-peak is at least equal to the value of the capacity of the battery storage unit. For an additional charging station for electric vehicles, the subsidy is 200 euros. The Ministry of Economics is providing up to 24 million euros for the 10,000 Houses Programme until the end of 2020.

The successful EnergySystemHouse programme component will be continued. There, too, the use of solar energy and its storage in combination with energy-efficient refurbishment or particularly efficient houses and systems will be promoted. "The targeted promotion of innovative technologies is working, manufacturers are developing new systems and bringing them to market," says Aiwanger. "The number of particularly efficient heat pumps on the market has increased from 40 models to over 160 models. In the case of high-efficiency heat storage systems, the eligible models have increased fivefold to more than 250 models in the same period. Energy advisors report that many building owners are improving their plans and constructing or refurbishing buildings much more efficiently because of the programme."

All subsidies of the 10,000 Houses Programme are coordinated with the federal programmes and can be combined. It is very easy to apply electronically. Further information and the application platform can be found under this link.

2.8.2019 | Source: StMWi

Keywords:
DE-News, Energy storage, Funding, Climate protection, News Blog Bavaria, PV, PlusEnergy house/settlement, Electricity storage, Environmental policy, Ecology