Motivation

The climate change is a scientifically proven fact. One of the main reasons is the rising of the greenhouse gas CO2 in the atmosphere. Therefore, the use of fossil fuels should be minimized for the production of building materials, the energy consumption during the construction or renovation process as well as the energy supply for the building operation. The big cities are currently responsible for 80 % of the global CO2 emissions with their high accumulation of buildings and their building materials. The global forecasts say that in 2050 two-thirds of all people will live in cities. Thus, one needs multi-functional system solutions in order that the quality of life can be maintained in the cities of the future. Under these solutions one should be possible to gain energy; to save heating and cooling energy, to bind dust and to increase air quality. In addition noise should be reduced and heat problems, CO2 capturing and floods must be counteracted.

Content

All previous studies of the building greening refer to a concrete situation, a particular system, a maximum attained growth stage, etc. They were carried out for new buildings or to attempt homes. In this research project, building greening will be investigated on many aspects.

Methods

The subject is an old building with an asphaltic / paved area (school GRG 7) in the metropolitan area of Vienna. There is the opportunity to visit the experimental fields of the building and the usage future residents (students) can be integrated. The building represents suitable the older parts of the metropolitan area of Vienna. On the subject different experimental area with measuring equipment are built. Several on the market available greening systems / substrates / plants without and in combination with photovoltaic as well as various combinations, regardless of market vendors will be used. It will be critical studied their effects on the hygrothermal behavior of the building, the energy gain, the energy saving, the sound insulation and room acoustics. In addition, the microclimate and the summer overheating will be analyzed.

Then all systems and combinations are ecologically rated (there will be a calculation tool) and the cost-benefit ratio is calculated. An efficient and cost-saving solution should be found out of a wide range of available plant diversity and photovoltaic modules (opaque and semi-transparent) which is arbitrarily multipliable and can be used for the improvement of existing accommodation. The target is to achieve correct energy efficiency and to minimize the ¿gray energy¿.

Expected Results

The best (energetic, environmentally and economically) combinations of the multifunctional systems could be used for future building renovations and new buildings.

Thus, it will be possible to reach a right decision for building projects in the "City of the Future". The results are provided in the form of a catalog of measures / guidelines and on a public project homepage. They can be used for example by companies for further development (services and products) or innovation projects. The detailed and deep -laying tests and results are also presented for publication in scientific high-level SCI journals and at conferences.