Fundamental challenges and approaches – Global/Local

Energy/resource efficiency, climate/resource protection and sustainable construction globally …

Significant energy and resource efficiency improvements and sustainable construction are necessary if the challenges of the 21st century are to be met. Since almost 40% of energy consumption and 50% of material flows are directly or indirectly caused by buildings, they are also of particular importance for climate and resource protection (Reducing Energy by a Factor of 10 – Promoting Energy Efficient Sustainable Housing Approaches in the Western World). This applies in particular to existing buildings, which not only consume energy, but also store a considerable amount of “grey manufacturing energy” and valuable resources that must be used as efficiently as possible.

With this in mind, Bernd Steinmüller was instrumental in initiating the “1000 Home Challenge” building renovation campaign in North America and at the 2010 NCSE Annual Conference in Washington, D.C., “The New Green Economy” – “Priorities After Copenhagen”, he made an urgent plea for a factor of 10 to 20 improvements in energy efficiency and climate protection.

The basis for such improvements in the building sector is passive house technology, to whose foundations B. Steinmüller made important research contributions in the 1970s and whose importance he repeatedly emphasises at national and international forums.

Economic implementation nationally, regionally, locally …

in the country, region and municipality is crucial for global success.

To this end, BSMC advises public and private investors at different levels of action on the efficient use of sustainability strategies and resource-saving technologies.

In 2010, BSMC founder Dr Bernd Steinmüller was appointed to the Advisory Board of the National Centre ZRE for Resource Efficiency and Climate Protection and worked here as a technical expert until 2015.
At the municipal and regional level, Dr Bernd Steinmüller has advised cities and districts on the economically sustainable introduction of passive house technology and initiated/implemented pilot projects. At regional and state level, he has conducted innovation campaigns and competitions for efficient building modernisation and chaired the jury.

He is currently involved in demanding refurbishment projects towards the Passive House Premium Standard as well as the sustainable orientation/planning of urban conversion areas.