268 million euros promotion for innovative environmental technology

Osnabrück/Hanover. Guest at the world fair for energy: At the Energy 2004 in Hanover from 19 to 24 April in hall 13 (floor A, stand N° 72) the Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (DBU) shows sustainable energy technology from Germany. Exhibited are the results of model projects promoted by the DBU, among these energy-saving hi-fi-systems and the passive house technology. "The five projects, we present at the fair, are examples out of about 2,400 innovative ideas in the field of environmental technology which we have promoted with 268 million euros since starting our promotional activities in 1991," said Fritz Brickwedde, Secretary General of the DBU.

Encouraging consumers to use energy thriftingly

Also the Deutsche Energie-Agentur (dena) attends the DBU"s stand and presents its initiative "EnergyEfficiency". The campaign"s objective is to encourage the consumer using energy thriftingly. In Germany the stand-by-mode of electronic equipment such as TVs or DVD-players consumes about 3.5 billion euros per year," informs Brickwedde. The initiative EnergyEfficiency shall convince people to relieve the environment and simultaneously the own account by saving electricity. The campaign is supported by the DBU and the Federal Ministry for Economy and Employment.

Highest sound quality at lowest energy costs

Saving energy but still enjoying highest sound quality - that is the aim of the company T+A Elektroakustik. With the financial backing from the DBU amounting to around 112,000 euros it has developed electricity-saving high-fidelity amplifiers, since they are top-selling items and consume a lot of energy. The system developed by T+A consumes 60 percent less electricity than conventional equipment. According to Brickwedde "1,4 million watt hours of electricity could be saved per year, if all hifi- and home-cinema-systems were equipped with this technology. This amount of electricity would be sufficient to run the annual need of 350 four-person households."

Renewables - the future of energy

The future of energy generation belongs to renewable energies. Solar panels for example convert sun radiation into heat by means of coated copper sheets. The surface"s coating only releases a small amount of heat, in order to reduce energy losses. In co-operation with the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energysystems (Freiburg) the company Interpane (Lauenförde) has developed a new environmentally friendly technology for the coating of the sheets, which facilitates a higher exploitation of the sun. The DBU has promoted this project with 215,000 euros.

Practical education in solar energy

Also the Solar Centre in the Hanover region concentrates its activities on solar energy. The target GmbH in Hanover has established the centre in co-operation with the Energie- und Umweltzentrum am Deister e. V.. The centre based in Springe-Eldagsen offers the whole range of innovative and eco-friendly technologies in the field of construction, building and use of solar energy. The practical educational offer is variably aimed at different target groups. The DBU has promoted the installation of a solar system in the centre for demonstration purposes with 20,000 euros.

Passive houses - an all-inclusive-concept for climate protection

An all-inclusive-concept for climate protection at home offers the passive house. Such a building consumes 90 % less energy than a conventional house, because it is particularly insulated. At the "Energy 2004" the Passivhaus-Institut Darmstadt) offers all information regarding this subject. For its significant role concerning the development of the passive house concept the DBU has awarded the founder and director of the institute, Dr. Wolfgang Feist, with the German Environmental Award in 2001.