Bauhaus.SOLAR 2010 – the future of sustainable construction

The German government's long-term energy concept places major demands on the construction sector. The energy consumption of buildings is supposed to be reduced by 80 percent by 2050. The practical implementation of this target in particular raises many questions.

Answers are provided already for the third time by the international, interdisciplinary “Bauhaus.SOLAR” Congress which is taking place in Erfurt from 10th to 11th November 2010. The “Bauhaus.SOLAR Award” endowed with 15,000 euro is being presented for the first time this year.

The 3rd International Congress “Bauhaus.SOLAR” brings together experts from business, science and architecture in the solar metropolis of Erfurt, to discuss the urgent technological, economic, ecologic and social issues of construction. The central focus is on the possibilities and developments of solar and energy efficient construction.

Technology that is already available now is suitable for covering the entire private power requirements with the solar energy which radiates on Germany's house roofs. That houses can fully supply themselves with energy and can even produce electricity way beyond that, has been proved scientifically for a long time now. But how do we realise this new architecture in a functionally and aesthetically pleasing way? What about cost-effectiveness? And what does this mean for inhabitants and users? These and other questions are being answered in over 40 talks and discussions at the congress.

“The integration of photovoltaics into buildings and their multifunctional use does not only open up a dynamic field of growth with enormous application potential but as part of energy efficient construction, photovoltaics will also play an important part in our buildings being fit for the future“, emphasises Dr. Hubert Aulich, Executive Chairman of the Thuringia solar cluster, SolarInput. “For this, industry and architecture must speak the same language.”

“Bauhaus.SOLAR's” academic partner is the Bauhaus University Weimar. Its dean, Professor Gerd Zimmermann, stresses: “The city and architecture must in the future work similarly to a power plant and save energy as well as actively generate energy. This is also reflected in our university's research and teaching.“ Instead of merely applying new technology to buildings, Prof. Gerd Zimmermann sees a need to experiment with materials and technical possibilities and to create completely innovative structures with an integrated energy approach. Here architects and the solar industry are both equally in demand.

To accelerate the rapprochement process to find a common language, SolarInput and its partners are presenting the European “Bauhaus.SOLAR AWARD“ endowed with 15,000 euro for the first time this year. This promotes the young planning and creative talents and at the same time introduces them to energy efficient and solar construction and renovation. “The response was impressive”, says Dr. Hubert Aulich, “we received over 90 submissions and we are excited about the winners.”

More information at: www.bauhaus-solar.de

Press contact:
Jana Liebe, SolarInput e.V., Konrad-Zuse-Str. 14, D-99099 Erfurt
email: j.liebe@solarinput.de, phone: +49 (0) 361 / 42 76 850
Claudia Weinreich, Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, Marienstraße 9, D-99423 Weimar
email: presse@uni-weimar.de, phone: +49 (0) 36 43 / 58 11 73