GREEN LIVING
In the construction industry, sustainability issues form an integral part of the entire value chain. But how important is greentech in this context? VIVID took a look at companies and projects based in Düsseldorf that are implementing green technology in real estate.
The ‘Wolkenbügel’ (cloud hanger) in Düsseldorf's Media Harbour is a prime example of green architecture: it has a green façade covering 250 square metres, a roof with 3,700 plants, and energy-efficient building technology and modern insulation.
80% des Energieverbrauchs eines Gebäudes entfallen auf seinen Betrieb, ein wichtiger Faktor in der modernen Baubranche ist dementsprechend „Grüne Technologie“ oder auch „GreenTech“. HierzuAs 80% of a building's energy consumption is attributable to its operation, green technology, or ‘greentech’, is an important factor in the modern construction industry. This includes the use of sustainable technologies and recyclable materials and natural raw materials, as well as dismantlable building modules based on the cradle-to-cradle principle, which enable efficient and resource-saving construction.
The ‘Wolkenbügel’ (cloud hanger) in Düsseldorf's Media Harbour is a prime example of green architecture: it has a green façade covering 250 square metres, a roof with 3,700 plants, and energy-efficient building technology and modern insulation.
One successful example of green architecture in Düsseldorf is the "Wolkenbügel" in the Media Harbour, which was sustainably renovated by project manager Art-Invest Real Estate. The result is 250 square metres of green façade and a roof with 3,700 plants that improve the microclimate and thus ensuring cooler temperatures of the surrounding area. Additionally, the Wolkenbügel has become a smart building that automatically adapts to user needs. Automated systems and state-ofthe- art sensor technology enable optimal building control, lower operating costs, and greater transparency, leading to reduced energy consumption and a smaller ecological footprint. This is an example that should set a precedent in times of climate change.
At the beginning of May, Düsseldorf hosted the Polis Convention, a leading national trade fair for urban and project development. As part of the pre-programme, the Office of Economic Development organised a real estate salon where experts exchanged ideas on the "Green Economy". Since more and more Düsseldorf-based construction companies are specialising in greentechrelated services.
One such company is Smartfabrik, a full-service provider for intelligent living. ‘We provide comprehensive support to builders, property developers, and project developers in implementing smart buildings, from electrical planning and switch cabinet construction to programming,’ explains Sebastian Strickling, Head of Smart and Sales at Smartfabrik GmbH. In addition to building automation, Smartfabrik also offers photovoltaic system planning and implementation services. For Sebastian Strickling, specialising in greentech and sustainable services was a logical decision. ‘We see enormous, often untapped potential in heating control for existing properties in particular. Intelligent automation can significantly reduce energy consumption here.’ At Smartfabrik, the aim is to contribute not only to technological innovation, but also to climate protection.
LumenHaus spezialisiert sich auf die Entwicklung und Bereitstellung nachhaltiger Energielösungen für Privathaushalte. Dazu gehören Solarmodule, ein innovativer Stromspeicher, Ladestationen und Wärmepumpen.
What does Sebastian Strickling see as his company's potential for the future? ‘The construction industry has changed significantly in recent years. Five years ago, there was a real construction boom and properties were snapped up almost automatically, but the situation has changed considerably since then. Rising interest rates, high construction costs, and economic and political uncertainties have all slowed the market down considerably,’ he explains.
Nevertheless, the outlook for the future is optimistic. ‘There is still a need for intelligent, technically sophisticated solutions, especially for complex construction projects,’ says Strickling. He also notes that smart homes are becoming increasingly commonplace in everyday German life thanks to more attractively priced mass-market products.
LumenHaus, which specialises in developing and providing sustainable energy solutions for private households, is also optimistic about the future. ‘Our focus is on equipping households with a seamless energy ecosystem consisting of solar modules, an innovative electricity storage system, charging stations, and heat pumps. With the help of our myLumenHaus app, users can monitor and control their entire energy system in real time,' explains Martin Beyer, Director of Partnerships & Business Development at LumenHaus. The company covers the entire value chain, from product development and production to on-site planning, installation and long-term maintenance.
ABOUT LAARAKKERS
Sustainability is not only important in new construction. Founded in 1945, the family-owned company Laarakkers in Düsseldorf-Heerdt specialises in demolition and building material recycling, among other things. The company strives to recycle as much of the demolition materials as possible, achieving this for 98 per cent of those it collects. Mod21, based in the Areal Böhler, specialises in sustainable timber module construction for durable, multi-storey buildings such as hotels, schools and hospitals. These buildings can then be relocated or returned to the recycling cycle in line with the cradle-to-cradle principle.
Regionality is extremely important to LumenHaus in order to operate as sustainably as possible. ‘That's why we are building a strong network of regional specialist companies. Our partners usually travel no more than 30 to 50 kilometres to reach their customers.’ Martin Beyer and his team are on a mission: ‘With rising energy prices and the growing threat of climate change, we see an opportunity to offer more than just products. We want to create a platform that enables everyone to become their own green electricity supplier.’ LumenHaus's target group primarily includes private households, especially homeowners.
But what about people who don't own their own homes but still want to contribute to sustainable urban development? This is a topic addressed by the Lilmore research group at the interdisciplinary Institute for Liveable and Environmentally Friendly Urban Development (In-LUST) at the University of Applied Sciences Düsseldorf. Here, a wide range of disciplines work together to promote sustainability and social justice in construction and urban planning.
One of In-LUST's projects is the Lilmore Mini Modular House, which combines small living spaces with high quality. Project initiator Nadine Nebel came up with the idea based on her own living situation and that of many other students: after moving out of their parents' homes, they live in shared flats or small student flats, assuming that their living space will increase as their income increases. However, Nadine Nebel took a closer look at this desire for more living space, which is associated with greater comfort and contentment. 'But this comes at the expense of land use, resource consumption and CO2 emissions,' she says. She quickly realised that new, sustainable living concepts are needed that combine individual quality of life with ecological responsibility, such as the mini modular house from lilmore. Consisting of one or more modules, it allows for the flexible addition and removal of further modules, most of which are made from renewable raw materials. The lilmore mini modular house can also respond to social housing challenges, such as the 'unfair' distribution of living space or empty nest syndrome, and enables local authorities to sustainably utilise existing potential, such as vacant lots or redensification. To involve future users in the lilmore project's development, the first model house is being built as a real-life laboratory in a tiny house settlement in Jülich. The findings are keenly anticipated, as the research collective is certain that lilmore will facilitate sustainable, resilient and liveable urban planning in the near future. •
Das lilmore Mini-Modulhaus ist ein Projekt einer Forschungsgruppe des Instituts In-LUST der HSD. Das Tiny House setzt sich aus flexiblen Modulen zusammen, die zum Großteil aus nachwachsenden Rohstoffen bestehen.
Text: Katja Vaders
Pictures: Andreas Endermann / Art-Invest Real Estate, Smartfabrik, LumenHaus GmbH, Philip Behrend