Over 1,500 energy-efficient refurbishment projects have been initiated to date through the KfW's urban energy refurbishment funding program. This was recently announced by the Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development (BBSR). In a study, it examined how the funding program was implemented from 2018 to 2022 and found it to be successful. "The integrated approach 'from building to...

Building owners in Germany are to be able to submit their building applications digitally this year. Felix Pakleppa, Managing Director of the German Construction Industry Association (ZDB), welcomes this development. However, he is calling for mandatory guidelines. By the end of 2023, more than half of the lower building supervisory authorities are to go digital, according to the Federal Building Ministry. "That is...

At the second Photovoltaics Summit, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection Robert Habeck presented a strategy to strengthen photovoltaics. The strategy includes action plans in eleven areas, ranging from energy policy and securing skilled workers to technology development. "Photovoltaics is one of the cheapest sources of energy and is one of the...

According to the Administrative Court of Neustadt an der Weinstraße, owners must place their waste garbage cans somewhere other than their property if it cannot be accessed by the waste collection service for factual or legal reasons (AZ: 4 K 488/22.NW). This applies in particular if access is only possible in reverse. The reason for this is that, according to the...

Sofa beds are practical and versatile pieces of furniture that fit well in both small and larger homes. They offer comfort for guests and are available in numerous styles, materials and price ranges. Nowadays, they are both functional and aesthetically pleasing. The livingathome.de portal provides information on what to look out for when buying...

Office properties are staying on the market longer than before, especially those with poor facilities and in less attractive locations. This is the result of a study by the German Economic Institute (IW). According to the study, one in four listings remains on the market for 38 weeks. The office market is therefore in a phase of upheaval. Compared to the previous year, rents across Germany have only risen by 5.9 percent...

The proposals for changes to the construction contract law of the German Civil Code (BGB) have met with resistance from the construction industry. The core of these proposed amendments concerns the possibility for clients to independently change contractually agreed services. The construction trade and construction industry associations reject the abolition of the attempt to reach an agreement before such an amendment...

Sustainability is evolving from a marketing asset to a business necessity for companies. This is the conclusion of the Fraunhofer IPK trend report. Due to raw material shortages and rising energy prices, resource-efficient practices are becoming increasingly important. Using data-based methods and intelligent control technology, companies could find the most energy-efficient...

The award procedure for the planning services for the new Asklepios clinic building in Hamburg-Altona can be continued with the existing award documents. This was recently decided by the Hanseatic Higher Regional Court (1 Verg 3/22). However, a re-evaluation of the bidders' final offers is required. The decision upheld an appeal by Asklepios-Kliniken in Hamburg against a decision by the...

High electricity and heating bills are prompting property owners to invest in their buildings. But how can homeowners minimize energy use to avoid high energy bills? According to the German Window + Façade Association (VFF), the building envelope plays a particularly important role alongside the heating system in order to achieve solar gains. An efficient building envelope helps to...