Manage_GeoCity - Development of a method for the coordinated management of geothermal energy in urban areas

Based on the urban region Graz a method had been developed for the coordinated use and management of shallow geothermal energy for heating and cooling as well as seasonal heat storage in urban regions. Ground water flow, different geologic conditions, heating and cooling demand, heat input from solar collectors and industrial waste heat and the possibilities of seasonal heat storage in the subsurface were considered.

Assessment of user requirements and technical feasibility of lightweight applications based on renewables

Assessment of user requirements was studied. Furthermore, the technical feasibility of se-lected lightweight applications based on renewables in the furniture and interior design sector is investigated through involvement of all relevant stakeholders (panel manufacturers - further processing enterprises - distributors - consumers) in the value chain.

Environmental, Material Flow and Sustainability Management Accounting - Offensive diffusion in adult education

Diffusion of the "Factory of Tomorrow" project line on environmental and material flow cost accounting (EMA and MFCA) for corporate and national system boundaries, as well as related tools for sustainability accounting in existing post graduate studies.

ZERMEG III - Decision guidance for the visualisation of the achievements of sustainable corporate strategies

ZERMEG III creates a virtual factory of the future from the combination of the research results of different projects. This model will be used to generate real experience for managers in experimenting taking organisational and technical decisions with regard to a sustainable development.

Bio bitumen - bitumen substitute based on renewable raw materials and resulting in energy efficient asphalt

Development of a binder for asphalt based on renewable raw materials. Studies to choose the ideal natural base product, regarding the aspect of utilization of remaining material and the elaboration of practical methods of synthesis were made.

Development of a moulding technique for wood-based composites for the production of biogenic SiC-Ceramics.

New methods to produce SiC- ceramics based on wood based materials were developed and the samples developed were characterized according to their properties. The main objectives dimension stability and carbon utilization was analyzed.

Transferproject: Professional strawbale building - "Virtual building-site", exhibition and instruction material

Strawbale-workshops are considered as the best way to inseminate this ecological building-technique. The "virtual building site" has some decisive advantages over the common situation: it does not depend on the weather, allows the comparative study of different constructing methods and can, as a permanent installation, be used as an exhibition.

Voltage stabilization by central reactive power control of biogas power plants (Virtual Biogas Power Plant)

A virtual power plant, combining 20 agricultural biogas plants is planned in the south-eastern part of the State of Styria (A). The aim of the project is to realize a central reactive power control system of the biogas plants. Active power of this biogas plants ranges between 1 and 3 MW. Specific goals of the project are increasing grid stability, decreasing long distance reactive power transmission, decreasing energy losses, and decreasing utility costs.

Evaluation of mechanical class room ventilation systems in Austria and generation of a planning guideline

Accumulation of technical solutions and practical experience of schools (kindergarten) with mechanical ventilation systems and identification of how pupils and teachers accept the systems.

Basic research on the load bearing capacity and high thermal insulation properties of foam glass granulate

The aim of the scientific investigations is to find the characteristic parameters of foam glass granulate applied as load transfer layer and thermal insulation, to provide the base for the application of a multi functional and economical insulation material at the interface between building and ground for buildings of the future.

Life Cycle Cost Forecasting Model - Real Estate-Database analysis for life-cycle based investment decisions

Estimation of operational costs of buildings based on a "cause/effect model" between technical building characteristics, investment and running costs to support the decision making process in early planning stages regarding energy efficient buildings.

Evaluation of solar-thermal energy stores using a uniform and marketable system of characteristic numbers

Comparison of solar-thermal energy stores A clear and uniform system of characteristic numbers enables a cost-saving comparison of the efficiency of solar-thermal energy stores of different technologies for the first time and gives important impulses for the market.

Legal, economical and technical preconditions for the feed-in of biogas into the Austrian natural gas grid

Legal, economical and technical preconditions for a successful introduction and market development of fermentation gas feed-in to the Austrian natural gas grid. Appropriate legal and financial support regulations. Calculation basis for demonstration plants.

StromBIZ - demonstration projects: business models for decentralized electricity generation and distribution

Feasible business models to utilize locally generated renewable energy are expected to induce a tipping point for the "Energy Turnaround" in Austria. Within the proposed project a number of demonstration PV plants on residential and non-residential buildings had been realized. On this basis new approaches of business cases had been developed, implemented, tested and disseminated.

Sustainable product service for raising the energy efficiency of injection moulding machines for plastics

Performing a feasibility study of establishing a sustainable product service for raising the energy efficiency of injection moulding machines for plastics via analysing the basic organizational and technical conditions.

Using buildings as energy storage - Monitoring project: Detached house H and detached house F Energy source wind power – Energy source solar power

Monitoring and comparison of performance of thermally activated building components in two similarly built, inhabited detached houses with different energy sources (wind and solar power). The functionality of energy supply through wind power or solar energy will be investigated as well as the verification of the practicability of self-regulating system control due to building temperature behaviour. The results provide an insight into the calculation assumptions, system control and feasibility of the smart grid technology.

Sustainability Reporting - Guidelines for Sustainability Reporting based on reporting processes of VA Technologie and Österreichische Bundesforste

Scientific attendance of sustainability reporting processes in two partner enterprises (VA Tech and ÖBf AG). Development of the guideline "Reporting about Sustainability" based on these practical experiences.

Total Quality Design and Assessment of buildings as a strategy to increase the level of know-how with regard to the issue of "sustainable buildings".

Total Quality Design and Assessment is an instrument to increase the demand for high quality buildings; "high quality" in terms of improved comfort as well as decrease in negative environmental impact, at affordable costs. Application of TQ design targets requires additional and new knowledge, thus increasing the level of know-how with regard to the issue of "sustainable buildings".

Increase in Sales of Vegetable Oils from Austrian Oilseeds by Increase of the Technical Grade with Regard to the Demands of the Varnishing Industry

The cultivation of flax (linseed) in Austria should be enhanced by arrangements to increase the technical grade of linseed oil produced. Austrian agriculture should be enabled to provide raw materials sufficient in batch and technical grade for the Austrian varnishing industry.

Demonstration building of the eco²building system: First passive house prefabricated wood building system for commercial and industrial buildings

The EU funded "eco2building" construction system in a timber-frame based modular design represents a systematic approach for energy efficient commercial and industrial buildings. The object of the eco²building demonstration project - the logistics centre in passive-house quality for "Eine Welt Handel AG" - in Niklasdorf was to optimize the planning and construction processes and prepare for the market launch of the eco²building construction system. Accompanying research monitored and disseminated the experience.