Publications

Demonstration project for sustainable construction of a working and living environment

integral reconstruction of the valuable cultural heritage "Freihof Sulz" to a communication- and action centre; Demonstration project for local culture and life quality, old building techniques, energy saving and ecological reconstruction."

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.

Holistic sanitation concepts for three selected army barracks belonging to the Austrian armed forces to achieve the standard of a low-energy house. An increase in energy efficiency and corresponding models for implementation agreed with large-volume buildings with due consideration to the special conditions prevalent within the Austrian armed forces.

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

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

Seasonal storage of solar heat for use in low energy and passive houses (new buildings as well as old buildings).

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.

Development and building of a prototype of a coolingmachine with a cooling power of 2 kW, tests and optimizing on a test facility, connection to a solar unit and utilization for air conditioning.

Development of a laminated wooden/aluminum window for a passive-housing featuring an integrated sun shield in the shape of blinds or of folding net curtain.

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".

Project on research and implementation for ecological and energy efficient concepts, urban redevelopment and building refurbishment. Performance of a routing project on a former ter-ritory of the Austrian armed forces in Steyr.

Support for the erection of the demonstrative housing project consisting of 7 houses (5 Low energy houses, 1 passive house and 1 "next to passive house")

The aim of this project was to a) analyse current experiences of users of ecologically innovative residential buildings ("passive houses", solar houses, etc.) in Austria, b) to evaluate innovative housing concepts in focus groups, and c) to create a model for the continuous participation of users in the innovation process.

Log-fired furnace with low energy performance, optimised to be used in passive house constructions. The desired energy output, ranging from 1 kW to a max-peak of 3 kW, is achieved by an "energy storing unit" (energy-storage material covered by an insulation layer) in combination with valves to control the energy release.

Development of technical and economical solutions for high-density housing in timber construction under consideration of future regulatory developments (case study of a 5-story housing complex in Vienna).

Energy restoration of a historical residential building

Analysis of existing passive cooling concepts, examination of various other passive cooling concepts and a comparison with conventional air conditioning systems. The elaboration of practice-oriented tools for the planning and implementation of the passive cooling concepts selected.

Development of contracting models for comprehensive renovation service packages.

A checklist considering priority, construction progress and actors is elaborated to serve a future-oriented selection of materials, energy carriers, design and construction within building sanitation, under a deliberate consideration of the involved actors from the construction branch