In order to actively increase the diffusion of innovative residential buildings, the results of currently available research were summarised to produce a "'diffusion campaign", directed at building planners, residential building contractors and selected technology producers.

The goal of the research project is the evaluation of different heating and ventilation systems for passive- and low energy multi family and office buildings taking into account indoor climate, possible variation of user behaviour, final and primary energy demand, costs, space demand and fail save installation and operation.

Strategies to open markets for passive houses in the east of Austria

Renovation of a semidetached house using vacuum insulation panel in area of wall, roof and terrace. The very first time the mechanical mounting systems from VIP is used for special applications in the renovation of facades.

Renovation of an apartment house from the 1970s as passive house using renewable energy.

Development of practise-fit methods for intensification and rationalisation of processes in the field of restoration of one-and two-family houses built between 1945 and 1982 in Austria.

Arrangement of a passive house village for test living in the context of an innovative settlement expansion. Building up a large dimensioned passive house for consulting, training, exhibitions, research and distribution of passive house technology and know-how in the field of energy efficient and sustainable building.

An empirical analysis of the most important factors in supporting or hindering the market diffusion of selected technologies or different innovative residential concepts.

The many housing estates of detached houses in Austria built in the times of economic crisis between the wars and post-war as part of publicly funded housing programmes are the starting point for this research project. The aim is to offer detailed guidelines with basic planning principles for the renovation of these housing estates with detached houses, aiming to reach the standard of a low-energy house or a passive house.

theoretical topics: Optimization of natural light, ambient humidity and of private exterior space, planted over buildings, evaluation of the energetic performance and special challenges of large volume "Passivhaus" residential buildings. applied research: concept for the renovation of a 13 storey residential building for senior citizens built in 1974 to PassivHaus standards, applying the results attained in the theoretical part.

Listening to the inhabitants of innovative buildings and using their satisfactory and unsatisfactory experiences as the basis for drawing up practice based criteria and recommendations for a quality, user-orientated building policy. The target groups are funding bodies, building contractors and town planners.

The ecology and economy of housing. An assessment system for the evaluation of the suitability of buildings and housing estates for the future.

By means of pilot projects in two urban areas comprehensive goals and criteria, assessment approaches and a code of practice for sustainable urban renewal are elaborated jointly with decision makers and experts in urban development.

The goal of the project is the development of a guideline, which supports builders and planners or consultants in the organization and monitoring of inhabitant integration into the reorganization processes of multi-storey housing.

Energy restoration of a historical residential building

Production of a 45 minutes film about living in the future.

The relevant Know-How in the fields of "sustainable building and energy supply" will be gathered. The information will be transferred to the relevant target groups (building promoters, architects, planners, customers). This will be done during workshops, planning assistance and a catalogue of quality criteria. The focus lies on solar thermal systems for multiple-family houses.

Modernization of a multistorey block of flats with 50 units (built in 1957/58). Renovation up to passive house standard.

Pilot scheme for the restoration of the multi-storey residential buildings to a low energy building while people keep living in their flats with energy efficient, ecological and economical criteria.

Post occupancy evaluation with residents of four low energy building projects and four conventional residential buildings in the city of Salzburg. (A co-operative project with the Workers Chamber of Salzburg and provincial research into residential building).