Lowergetic

This project is financially supported by the European Regional Development Fund.

www.efre.gv.at

Great importance is attached to the sustainability of buildings at regional, national and EU level. Sustainable buildings are characterised by the greatest possible comfort for the user at the lowest possible cost, energy consumption and environmental impact.

In this context, a distinction is made between low-tech buildings and high-tech buildings. In many cases, it is only possible to achieve the objectives by using a comparatively high level of technology (high-tech buildings). In many cases, however, the question arises as to whether it would not be possible to achieve the objective with less technology (low-tech buildings).

Advantages of low-tech buildings:

• Cheaper and simpler construction,
• lower maintenance and servicing costs,
• lower operating costs,
• less complexity for the operator or user.

As part of the project, a demonstration and test building for the integral and interdisciplinary investigation of low-tech approaches will be constructed at the Pinkafeld site of the Burgenland University of Applied Sciences.

The Lowergetikum as a research object enables the following exemplary investigations:

• Evaluation of sustainable building materials through the use of different material combinations (this means that refurbishment cases can also be depicted and evaluated),
• Enabling the replacement of façades to evaluate new material and system developments,
• Analysing the building as an energy storage and producer,
• Evaluation of load shifting approaches,
• Evaluation of sustainability over the entire life cycle with regard to ecological, economic and social aspects,
• Development of construction and refurbishment guidelines with regard to cost efficiency,
• Development of measurement and analysis technology for the sound evaluation of existing buildings on the basis of detailed building surveys and building history.