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Modern Living, Modern Construction in Austria

Interior of low energy house © AUSTRIAN TRADE

A lot of progress has been made in Austria in the field of modern living and construction in recent years. The Austrian market consists of many small and medium enterprises. Key clusters, networks and competence centres support the steady growth in the field of modern living and construction.

 

What are modern living and modern construction?

The last years have seen huge progress in the field of modern construction and living. Among the countless new construction technologies, the following particularly stand out:

Biomass

The term biomass refers to biological material which comes from plant or animal matter. The solar energy accumulated through photosynthesis can be used for generating heat, fuel or electricity. Biomass is considered a sustainable energy source which burns without damaging the environment or climate. In addition, biogas is also gaining importance as a source of energy. Biogas is produced by the fermentation of wet, organic matter (e.g. manure, kitchen waste, animal waste). 

Solar energy and solar buildings

A solar building, or 'sun house'  is centred around the active use of solar energy. At least 50% of the total heating use is supplied by solar heating systems, the rest through biomass. The aim of the 'sun house' model is to achieve the highest possible standards of comfort with low energy use. It should also ensure a lasting independence from energy crises and fluctuations.  

Geothermal power

The use of geothermal power through heat pumps has opened up a new and so far underused potential energy source. The temperature below the earth's surface increases by around 3 °C per 100m, meaning that an enourmous amount of warmth is available. The amount of heat stored below ground level greatly exceeds the world's energy needs. Heating a residence with geothermal power is done using a loop which is installed via a borehole into the ground.  

"Intelligent House"

An 'intelligent house' (also known as 'home of the future') is understood to mean a home which is controlled by so-called intelligent technology, or home automation. This involves a computer which is connected to the home's technical installation and electrical appliances and can control them.
Along with cutting-edge technology, the intelligent house also favours the aesthetic factor. This means that for example countless switches for lights, blinds and other appliances can all be controlled from a central system. This function eliminates the need for numerous switches to clutter up the walls.
Additionally, intelligent houses can recognise the presence of people at home and take appropriate action (e.g. activate/deactivate alarm systems and lights, control heating and room temperature). The intelligent house can send information automatically to the owner about the condition of the house by text message (SMS) direct to the owner's mobile phone.

Competence from Austria

The Austrian market for modern construction is made up of many small and medium enterprises who predominantly concentrate on the areas of solar energy, biomass and geothermal power. The 'intelligent house' sector is the smallest area in the sustainable architecture market at present. The first intelligent house was presented by Cisco Systems in 2003 in the 'Blue Lagoon' Pre-fab Housing Park (in German) in Vienna. As the costs of an intelligent house remain extremely high due to the new technologies involved, the market is currently very small, consisting of only a few active clients.

The market for modern construction encompasses a variety of individual areas. It is difficult to pinpoint a precise number of Austrian companies working in this industry. Research shows that the market is growing steadily and that more and more clusters and networks are springing up. The most important clusters include:


and are all active in the field of sustainable building and living.

There a currently only a limited number of research organisations intensively involved with modern construction. These include:


The FH Joanneum, University of Applied Sciences in Graz offers degree programmes in construction management and engineering, which include an in-depth component in sustainable building in addition to more general construction education.

Author Mag. Katharina Geier , Source AWO Technologie
 
 
 
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