Symposium - Lifelong Learning for Sustainable Buildings

Lifelong Learning for Buildings worth Living In
Lifelong training is for buildings and real estate of particular importance. 40% of the total energy consumptions of the EU member states are caused by buildings and in buildings. 80 – 95% of this energy consumption and the appertaining CO²-emissions can be reduced as well. Together with that, building quality,health and comfort can be improved decisively.
In recent years this energy saving potential was recognized by different interest groups. This resulted in the realization of various political steering and funding activities to improve the energy efficiency of buildings as well as numerous developments in the field of construction planning and building technology. Thus new building standards like the low energy house and the passive house were developed. These standards stand out due to extraordinary low energy consumption.
The usable space in passive houses in Europe accounted for about 0.1 million m² in the year 2000. In 2012 Europe has reached a usable space of almost 20 millions m². In the year 2021 the usable space in passive house quality could reach 340 millions m² for new and existing buildings together. This development leads to an enormous demand of initiatives of vocational training and education for sustainable energy efficient buildings.
The EU building directive of 2010 (Directive 2010/31/EU) contains further considerations. From 2021 only so called nearly zero-energy buildings will be allowed to be constructed - buildings with a very high total energy efficiency, which will meet the energy needs mainly from renewable sources.
This development leads to an enormous demand of initiatives of training and further education towards innovative sustainable buildings.