2022

How can a site like the one on the banks of the River Main in Heidingsfeld in Würzburg be upgraded? Students on the Geovisualization course at the Würzburg-Schweinfurt University of Applied Sciences tackled this question. Under the motto "Living on the water", they had to develop designs that combine the areas of living, working and leisure. The challenge...

A team from the Chair of Technical Thermodynamics at the Technical University Bergakademie Freiberg and the company DBI Gas- und Umwelttechnik GmbH are currently researching how mine water from the former Lugau-Oelsnitz coalfield in north-western Saxony can be used to supply heat. The idea is to heat the mine water with heat pumps and use it for heat and power generation.

The University of Göttingen has developed a process for a granulate that can be used to make panels and walls from hemp, falch and popcorn granulate. According to the responsible working group "Chemistry and Process Engineering of Composite Materials" at the Faculty of Forest Sciences and Forest Ecology, the material used is reusable, recyclable and compostable....

The German Facility Management Association (GEFMA) and the German Business Initiative for Energy Efficiency (DENEFF) have concluded a cooperation agreement to ensure greater energy efficiency, resource conservation and sustainability. Through the cooperation agreement, GEFMA and DENEFF also hope to achieve a stronger exchange between their own members and...

An architect commissioned to carry out the basic assessment and design planning is not obliged to protect his client from possible tax damages. This was recently decided by the Higher Regional Court of Frankfurt am Main (OLG, Ref. 29 U 185/20). In this case, clients wanted to renovate their attic apartment and commissioned an architect to provide services. They paid the architect...

The German Quality Association for Furniture (DGM) now advises tenants and owners on how to be environmentally conscious when buying furniture. It has three tips for interested parties. Firstly: Tenants or homeowners can pay attention to good furniture quality and choose durable, healthy and environmentally friendly products. According to the DGM, the RAL quality mark "Golden M" indicates...

Insurers like to invest in real estate. This is according to the study "Trendbarometer Real Estate Investments of the Insurance Industry" by the tax consultancy firm EY. With a so-called real estate ratio of 12.1 percent, this was the highest level since the survey began in 2008. However, the study also shows that insurers are becoming more cautious. Half of those surveyed...

IG-Bau is calling on the real estate industry to look for alternative solutions in view of the difficult conditions for new construction, such as a shortage of materials. Among other things, the union is considering the conversion of vacant offices into living space and the addition of extra storeys to the roofs of residential buildings that were built in the post-war period up to the end of the 1990s. The...

Companies that have developed innovative and sustainable technologies for the renovation of existing buildings can still apply for the "German Renovation Award". The technologies must be designed in such a way that they meet the EU climate targets for the renovation of existing buildings. Companies can present their ideas on Friday, August 26, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the "1st German...

Hartz V recipients are not allowed to live permanently in housing that is too expensive - despite a special regulation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This was recently decided by the North Rhine-Westphalia Regional Social Court (LSG). The reason for this is that the so-called "SGB appropriateness test" can be suspended for a maximum of six months. After that, Section 22, Book 2 of the SGB applies again. This states the following:...