Scientific support for the BMWi research initiative “EnEff:Stadt, Research on Energy Efficient Cities”

Scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics IBP have been working on several research projects to increase the efficiency of cities and urban districts in terms of energy. For example, Fraunhofer IBP - in cooperation with the Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology UMSICHT and other partners - was entrusted with accompanying research for the “EnEff:Stadt” initiative funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi).

In addition to assessing demonstration projects on energy-efficient urban districts, research work was carried out on aspects such as evaluation criteria for projects, a selection matrix for identifying research gaps, the further development of planning aids (so-called energy efficiency guide for urban districts) and a guide for municipal energy planning.

Further information:

Final report on accompanying research for the EnEff:Stadt initiative (only German)

Cross-evaluation of the demonstration projects on energy-efficient urban districts

Evaluation methods, reporting structures, exchange platforms and event formats were developed by the accompanying research team for the cross-evaluation.

This made it possible to make compare different projects with regard to housing development type, technologies used to improve building, equipment and supply efficiency, the evaluation of the final and primary energy savings planned and achieved in each case, and the planning aids used. Stakeholder structures, obstacles and solutions relating to the planning and implementation of energy-efficient urban districts were also analyzed and the technological, economic and organizational experiences made were documented.

More than 30 EnEff:Stadt demonstration projects were evaluated in detail by the accompanying research team. The results are documented in various publications, such as the book “Energetische Quartiersplanung: Methoden – Technologien – Praxisbeispiele” and in the EnEff:Stadt publication series with the issues “Energetische Bilanzierung von Quartieren”, “Planungs­hilfsmittel: Praxiserfahrungen aus der energetischen Quartiersplanung”, “Der energieeffiziente Universitätscampus” und “Nichttechnische Erfolgsfaktoren”.

Further information:

Cross-evaluation of campus projects in the BMWi research field "ENERGIEWENDEBAUEN" (only German)

Assessing the energy efficiency of urban districts (only German)

Book “Energetische Quartiersplanung”

A book that was written in the course of the project summarizes existing basic principles of municipal energy supply concepts, available technologies in the building sector, and different types of energy supply. Key figures and evaluation criteria are clearly presented. Planners are given helpful information in the form of explanations of different types of housing development, planning tools and general constraints such as legal requirements. The focus is particularly on the various facets of the EnEff:Stadt research activities. Examples of projects were selected from national and international ventures and are described in the book. 

Detailed presentation and reference:
Fraunhofer IRB Verlag, www.baufachinformation.de (only German)

Planning tool: District Energy Concept Advisor

As part of the research work accompanying the EnEff:Stadt research initiative, scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics IBP have developed a software tool for urban planners. The tool is available free of charge, both as a German and also international version.

The tool provides:

• a series of examples of energy-efficient national and international districts,
• information on energy efficiency measures for towns and cities,
• a comparison of energy consumption with a medium-sized urban district in Germany, and
• primarily, a quick and easy-to-use tool for assessing building and energy supply measures in a district. This allows different energy concepts for a district to be compared with each other in the early planning phase and potential savings to be identified.

Link to the tool:

https://www.district-eca.com/index.php?lang=en