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13.12.2007
Sweden’s first passive house centre opens in Alingsås
The Passive House Centre in Alingsås was oficially opened on the 13th of December.

About 150 guests listened to expert speakers and representatives from the founders of the centre, Alingsås municipality and Västra Götaland Regional Council. Among the speakers were County Governer Göte Bernhardsson, author and environment debater Stefan Edman, Are Rödsjö from Husbanken in Norway and passive house experts Hans Eek and Eje Sandberg. A christmas dinner followed the seminar, giving the guests the opportunity to mingle and to visit the exhibition.

The Centre is a resource for all politicians, urban planners, builders and consultants – the market actors. It offers knowledge, contacts and functions as the spider in a national network that links the market to research. In addition to this, Alingsås Passive House Centre is also a resource for the individual consumer who wants to know more about energy efficient homes and construction of passive houses.
In the Passive House Centre, situated in the Educational Centre, you will find a reception and an exhibition. The centre will function in the areas of information and dissemination, education, guidance, cooperation with market actors and organisation of study visits.

Alingsås Passive House Centre is a joint initiative of Alingsås Municipality and Västra Götaland Regional Council. It is a direct result of the REBECEE project and the investments done by the municipal companies in Alingsås. The centre will be a part of an international network of passive house centres and continue engaging in European projects and initiatives. The centre and the REBECEE project will enhance eachother.

12.12.2007
Ljubljana: Energy rehabilitation projects finished
Energy rehabilitation project of multi apartment building with 60 flats at Steletova Street 8 and multi apartment building with 20 flats at Kvedrova Street 17 in Ljubljana has been carried out. The contractor IMOS d.d. has completed all works before the start of the heating season in which the energy supply bills will descend esentially. Tenants were informed on proper use of heating and ventilation devices. Good results can be achieved only upon proper users behavior and to assure it, many contacts with occupants will be needed to eliminate the "old habbit" having radiators at full power position and windows opened.

11.12.2007
Sixth REBECEE-Newsletter online
Newest REBECEE-Newsletter with a report about the Meeting in Ljubljana is available at the Download-section.

28.11.2007
Kiel: Second project team meeting
The second project team meeting within the framework of the Innovative Building Exhibition (InBA)® Kiel 2008 and the European project REBECEE took place on November 28th 2007. Participants were the representatives of investors, architects and energy consultants of the projects.
The meeting was opened by the coordinator of the federal state capital Kiel Ms. Dr. Husmann. Quality assurance with the main focus on hermetic building shell, controlled ventilation system and blower-door test was the central topic of the programme. In the end of the project team meeting the exchange with other partners of InBA took centre stage. The third project team meeting shall take place in the Kiel City Hall on February 19th 2008.

28.11.2007
InBA Kiel 2008 is part of “Germany - Land of Ideas"
The main message is “Germany - Land of Ideas". The wording expresses a wealth of positive arguments associated with Germany both within Germany and abroad: nation of science and culture - the land of poets and thinkers, innovative products “made in Germany".
The message stands for a world-renowned quality of Germany: its inventiveness and creative passion. There is plenty of historical and present-day evidence of this wealth of ideas, from Gutenberg right up to the present day.
Germany is known around the world for its imagination and creative wealth. Both features can be found in the "Land of Ideas".
The initiative is sponsored by the German government and commerce and industry, represented by the German Industry Association (BDI) and leading corporations.
The winners of the nationwide competition “365 Landmarks in the Land of Ideas” 2008 are now determined. Around 1.500 institutions, public and private organisations, universities and research institutes, firms and social projects have applied for the distinction "The Chosen Landmark 2008".
For the leap year 2008 Jury with 17 members has chosen 365 plus 1 landmarks, where the future is shaped. The landmark of September 7th 2008 is at its opening the InBA Kiel 2008 and, therewith, it will attract nationwide interest and attention. By today, InBA Kiel 2008 has presented itself to the public by means of publications about the initiative in 2008 and its internet site. And so all the partners and projects shall be able to present themselves on September 7th 2008 as the most innovative venue nationwide.
For more information please see www.land-of-ideas.org.

25.11.2007
www.passivhuscentrum.se online
Website of the Passivhuscentrum of Alingsås as one main part of the swedish REBECEE participation has launched in the end of November two weeks before the grand opening on December 13th. For more information please visit www.passivhuscentrum.se.

16.11.2007
Conference "Optimize Buildings Energetically" in Eckernförde
Thanks to the cooperation of the InBA and Eckernförde Symposium ("Optimize Buildings Energetically") the good patterns of this event collected during past 10 years could be used for the announcement of the Innovative Building Exhibition (InBA) ® Kiel 2008.
The one-day event took place in the Eckernförde town hall on 16th November 2007. The symposium "Optimize Buildings Energetically" was devoted to overview of the implemented best-practice examples from the Northern Germany and Scandinavia. Furthermore, tools for implementation and quality control were presented and the possibilities of renewable energies usage during refurbishment measures were discussed.

Approximately 200 investors, energy consultants, architects and further interested professionals visited this event.
The symposium was accompanied by the product exhibition. Producers and executive firms exhibited their products devoted to heat insulation, high quality glazing, advanced heating and ventilation.
As a cooperation partner, the Innovative Building Exhibition (InBA) ® Kiel 2008 could obtain many potential partners and customers for the InBA 2008 during short project presentation.

The project with its premium sponsors REHAU and SunEnergy was presented at its own stand in the foyer of the town hall.
The visitors could receive information about participating projects, goals of InBA, offers of the sponsoring partners and conditions for participation in the building exhibition.

8./9.11.2007
REBECEE-Meeting in Ljubljana/Slovenia: REBECEE is on its way after 12 months of the project runtime
All the partners could state the progress of their projects during the third cluster meeting on 08.11./09.11.2007 in Ljubljana. With the formal opening of the energetically refurbished apartment building Steletova 8 by the Ljubljana mayor Mr Zoran Jankovic the first REBECEE-project of the Slovenian partner Ljubljana had been fulfilled.

The realisation of the refurbished sample apartment in Brogården and numerous passive houses in Stadsskogen till the end of 2007 could be announced by Alingsås/Sweden. The Swedish Passive House Centre will be opened in Alingsås on 13.12.2007 and then prepare the regional support for the REBECEE building exhibition in Alingsås in April/May 2009.
Numerous new buildings and refurbishment projects are already being carried out in Kiel. They are going to be presented at the Innovative Building Exhibition (InBA) ® Kiel 2008 in September, among those there is a wood pellet heating unit that will supply a sport hall, newly built according to KfW-40-standard, with heat and hot water.
After the decision of the municipal assembly in Tallinn the Estonian capital has also determined its building exhibition area in the city district Pöhja for 2009.
In the following months REBECEE will evolve intense cooperation activities in order to achieve successful project development on sites. The cluster meeting in Ljubljana has set the framework for that and exchange between mass media and partners was discussed there.
Further on, REBECEE expects additional co-operations with market partners, such as manufacturers, property developers and energy suppliers. So during REBECEE-Baltic-Tour in May 2008, network generation and concrete project participation in the Baltic partner cities Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius will be offered to market partners, in order to position renewable energies and energetically efficient construction technologies in growing markets of the Eastern Europe.
The cooperation with REBECEE partners in Ljubljana and Sofia will also be further intensified, so that the demand for energy efficiency and renewable energies would increase on the new markets of South-east Europe by 2010 with help of model projects.

7.11.2007
Quality assurance workshop in Ljubljana/Slovenia
The workshop was organised for designers and developers and their quality assurance engineers. The invitation was sent to 120 selected addresses and available space for 50 participants was booked in three days, all together there were 64 participants. The attendees were informed by Tonka Grgic on REBECEE project and events and they were invited to attend opening of refurbished building at Steletova 8 the next day and to participate to the events in other REBECEE partner cities.
The workshop covered good practice guidelines on three specific areas of low energy and passive building design and realisation: Building envelope, Mechanical and ventilation systems and Photovoltaics.

Presenters were most prominent Slovenian speakers and a guest from Germany, Mr Eberhardt Paul who is leading European specialist on ventilation of residential buildings, he patented many technical innovations and he was awarded by most prominent professional awards in the passive house technology field.
Discussion was on high technical level and showed interest for further events in this field, such as detailed design workshop and on site visits to realised buildings.
All participants received well illustrated, 50 pages full colour technical material, prepared by the workshop speakers.

2.11.2007
Three more projects for InBA Kiel 2008
During the summer months three new projects were added to the list of the building projects of the Innovative Building Exhibition (InBA)® Kiel 2008: Science Centre in Science Park, development residential area in Kiel-Projensdorf and freehold apartments on the ground of former Gerhard School. The mayor of Kiel, Peter Todeskino, and Lars Beckmannshagen of ZEBAU GmbH presented them to the public in the city hall of Kiel on Friday 2nd November. In the meantime, InBA Kiel 2008 includes six projects.
"InBA Kiel 2008 is gaining more and more momentum", said Todeskino at the presentation in the city hall regarding three new projects. "With the Science Centre, freehold apartments 'Gerhard School', residential area Kiel-Projensdorf and all the other InBA projects federal state capital Kiel 2008 takes a further step against the global climate changes", continued Todeskino.
In the science centre, where the paths of the Science Park should come together, the installation of a photovoltaic unit on the flat roof is planned. So that the usage of solar energy in the Kiel model project for knowledge transfer will be visible from outside over a long distance. On the grounds of the former Gerhard School BIG-Anlagen GmbH shall construct a multi-family house with 19 apartments according to KfW energy saving house 40-Standard. Water heating shall take place partially by thermal solar units. In the construction area "Alte Gärtnerei" in Kiel Projensdorf in Steenbeker Weg over 80 accommodation units will be built by Ing.-Haus Elwert, also according KfW energy saving house 40-Standard. Beside the premium sponsors Energy GmbH (photo voltaic units) and REHAU AG + Co (polymer manufacture) Glas+Spiegel-Schulz GmbH&Co. KG was won over as a sponsor for InBA. So, for example, Glas+Spiegel-Schulz GmbH&Co. KG builds in Dekorex LL window panes in the building of the Science Centre, which reduce the usage of artificial light.

1.11.2007
The Modern House in Kiel-Gaarden - Energy Refurbishment Contest 2008
Contest devoted to energy refurbishment began with an information event in Kiel on Thursday, 1st November 2007. The goal is the reassessment of buildings in historic district Gaarden.

Within the framework of the action plan Gaarden (2006) a project group was formed with the goal to make this city district more attractive as residential area with help of various projects. After they have conducted a house front contest in 2007, they are planning to make "Energy refurbishment" theme of contest in 2008. The goal is reassessment of buildings in historic district Gaarden. All the owners (private and public) of real estate as well as communities of real estate owners within boarders of this district are invited to take part in this contest. The lord mayor of the federal state capital Kiel, Angelika Volquartz, is the patron of the contest.
The contest is part of the Innovative Building Exhibition (InBA) ® Kiel 2008.
Beside the prize money for the most exemplary three projects in regards of "Energy Refurbishment" (1. Prize: 2000 €, 2. Prize: 1.500 €, 3. Prize: 1.000 €), a house plate and "Energy certificate" will be awarded (which will be obligatory for all house owners beginning from 2008).
All the prize money will be increased percentage wise provided further sponsor means are available. All the contest participants receive an on-site energy consulting free of charge.

24.10.2007
Workshop on energy efficient buildings and RES in Grosuplje/Slovenia
The Slovenian Eco Fund launched information and promotion campaign called »Eco Fund Helps Reduce CO2 Emissions«. Within this campaign there were several regional workshops organised in order to present to local communities the status of development and status on practical realisations of low energy buildings and the use of RES. In workshop held in Grosuplje (30 km south of Ljubljana) one of the three speakers, Mr Bojko Jerman presented REBECEE programme and realisations that will be available for citizens to visit them. All options for RES to be used in existing and new houses were presented and discussed. At the end of well attended (37 attendees) workshop, the three speakers (Mr Bojan Znidarsic (energy consultant), Mr Darko Koporcic (Deputy Director of Eco Fund) and Bojko Jerman answered several questions from the audience.
The workshop took place in Cultural Centre of Grosuplje and the organiser, NGO E-Forum exhibited movable PV array in function.
The workshop was free of charge for attendees and was sponsored by the Eco Fund.

23.10.2007
Passive House seminar in Alingsås/Sweden
On the 23th of October Alingsås Municipality organised two well-visited seminars. The first one was targeted to builders, banks, estate agents and insurance companies. The objective of this seminar was to inform and discuss what market possibilities there are for passive house technique. Discussions revolved around the economic issues and how society can work together to promote energy efficient houses. The model used in Germany where banks offer loans at lower rates was shown as a good example of how it can be done. Guest lecturer and energy expert Eje Sandberg from Aton Teknikkonsult emphasized the importance of accurate and reliable information to kill some of the myths around energy efficiency.  

The second seminar was open to the public and focused on all aspects involved in building and living in a passive house. 35 people attended the seminar at Campus Alingsås and the audience showed great interest in the subject. The speakers Eje Sandberg and Rebecee project leader Bo Norling finished the evening by opening up to a very fruitful discussion with the public.

15.10.2007
Workshop on business perspectives in energy efficient buildings and RES in Postojna/Slovenia
Two NGOs: VITRA and E-FORUM organised Workshop on business perspectives in energy efficient buildings and RES. The workshop took place in regional Chamber of Commerce in Postojna (50 km south/west of Ljubljana). The workshop was attended by local industry, regional Chamber of Commerce representatives and designers in order to review possibilities of local industry and SMEs to take part in forthcoming low CO2 building techniques with inclusion of RES.
There were three keynote speakers. Bojan Znidarsic presented overview of local RES potential and local building development techniques with good and bad practice examples.
Dr Marjana Sijanec from Building Institute presented forthcoming regulation in compliance with the EU Directive on Energy Efficiency and in compliance with EU 3 x 20% decision.
Mr Bojko Jerman presented techniques and realisations in RES and energy efficiency in buildings and he used EUSolEx and REBECEE project as demonstration and promotion projects open to wide publics.
After initial presentations a long discussion took place in order to allocate best local opportunities in sustainable development in building area.
The event was free of charge and was sponsored by the Slovenian Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning.

12.10.2007
Fifth REBECEE-Newsletter online
Newest REBECEE-Newsletter with some reports of the successful progress of the current local projects is available at the Download-section.

9.10.2007
First Project Team Meeting in Kiel
The first project team meeting in the context of the Innovative Building Exhibition (InBA) 2008 and European project REBECEE took place on 09.10.2007 in Adult Education Centre in Kiel.
Project teams, major sponsors, REHAU and Sun Energy Europe, the first sponsor from Kiel, Glas und Spiegel Schulz, were invited.
After the greeting by mayor Todeskino, InBA and REBECEE were presented by coordinator ZEBAU. It was reported about the current state of affairs and information on further course of action was given.
During the second part of the event, Mister Walberg from ARGE - Arbeitsgemeinschaft für zeitgemäßes Bauen e.V. (Working Committee of Contemporary Construction) made an introduction into planning and building accompanying quality assurance.

During the project team meeting the participants also received the possibility to talk with other partners of the InBA and to exchange information about separate projects. The second project team meeting shall take place on 28.11.2007 in the city hall of Kiel.

5.10.2007
Refurbishment projects in Ljubljana
The refurbishment project in 60 flats at Steletova 8 is coming towards the last phase. All radiators have been replaced with new ones, much smaller. Below each window a ventilation unit was mounted and all external doors and windows have been replaced with new, energy efficient. Two thirds of the facade envelope has been finalised. One third of the flats have been checked and tenants have been informed on the proper use of the equipment and energy efficient user behaviour. All works were conducted in relatively delicate conditions as all residents stayed in flats during the refurbishment works. A very lot of coordination has been needed to overcome logistics problems.

Refurbishment works on 20 flats at Kvedrova 17 started on 24 September and after two weeks the performer IMOS d.d. can report that all windows and external doors have been replaced with new energy efficient ones and all radiators have also been replaced with much smaller. On the place where big radiators took place, new small radiators and ventilation unit will be placed. Holes for ventilation units are drilled into building envelope. After finalisation of internal walls, ventilation units will be placed under the windows. New roof and new facade with additional 10 cm of insulation are in good progress. Special care is given to prevention of thermal bridges. This project also demands a lot of logistics coordination and residents give good help to performers.

27/28.9.2007
Slovenian National Conference:
Buildings, Energy and Environment 2007
The Slovenian National Conference “Buildings, Energy and Environment 2007” with 370 participants and 54 exhibitors from several countries took place in Slovenian Alpine resort Kranjska Gora on 27 and 28 September 2007. Conference programme started with presentations on national and local policies on Energy, buildings and environment with emphasis on RES and EE. Representative of Slovenian Government Mr. Solinc indicated the importance of the potential for RES and EE in buildings and he presented government policy in this field. He agreed that there is not enough supporting budget money for incentives at the moment but it is expected that the budget in this area will boost in 2009.

Mr Bo Norling gave very picturesque presentation of Alingsås and their plans for EE and RES as a part of REBECEE project. Ms Jozke Hegler, director of the Housing Fund of the Municipality of Ljubljana described the evolution process that ends with their decision to start developing and buying only apartments in low energy or passive standard. She mentioned the REBECEE project as the final push into that decision. Detailed presentations of Ljubljana's REBECEE projects were presented by some more speakers.
After a break, Prof. Peter Gabrijelcic, the Dean of the (Slovenian only) Ljubljana Faculty of Architecture take the floor and hosted most prominent Slovenian architects to talk on the conference subject and present their realisations.
After lunch there were three workshops prepared and conducted in line with the REBECEE project: Trans-national information exchange for SMEs, Trans- national exchange for planners and Financing models for RES.
In Trans- national exchange for planners several planners presented their low energy and passive designs and exchange their experience working on projects with new technical, management and legal requirements. Projects from Slovenia were presented by Tonka Grgic and leading Slovenian architectural offices working for the Housing Fund of the Municipality of Ljubljana. Swedish projects were presented by urban planning specialist Katja Ketola and an interesting discussion followed the introductory speakers.
In Trans-national information exchange for SMEs, first there were presented running investment project in partner cities of Ljubljana, Kiel and Alingsås from the very detailed technical point of view. Then technical experts from several companies presented solutions that can be integrated into presented and similar low energy and passive design investments. Newer ending discussion appeared again after presentations.
In Financing models for RES workshop there were three introductory speakers: one from SME dealing with third party financing expertises, one from the Eco Fund and one from company Petrol, the leading Slovenian petrol distributor that is also very active in third party financing schemes in energy efficiency and RES sector.
Next day, 28 September started with panel presentations on technical solutions used for low energy and passive building designs. Most of presented details and system designs dealing with RES and EE techniques and most usual mistakes have also been highlighted. This conference section provided the most relevant European specialists of the field. Last conference section dealt with practical aspects of living in low energy and passive buildings that use extensive amount of RES.

The other half of the conference dome was occupied by Industrial Exhibition with several companies that presented state of the art in their field ob interest. Practically all EE and RES technologies have been presented from leading Slovenian and European industries.

22./23.9.2007
Stadsskogsdagarna in Alingsås/Sweden
On September 22-23, the event Stadsskogsdagarna took place at the REBECEE site Stadsskogen. Over 4.000 people came to see how the new residential area is progressing. All building companies involved in the project were there to present their sites to potential clients and future residents. It was estimated that 75% of the visitors came from outside Alingsås and from the whole Gothenburg region.

REBECEE joined Stadsskogsdagarna and presented the project to the public. It was received with great interest. A brochure on energy efficiency in Stadsskogen was handed out. Many people showed their interest in Alingsåshem who are building rental apartments in passive house technique. Together with the REBECEE stand were also the municipal companies Alingsås Energi and FABS.

18.9.2007
Study visit from Moldavia in Alingsås/Sweden
On the 18th of September a group from Moldavia visited REBECEE Alingsås. They learned about the municipal work in the areas of planning, environement and energy. Study visits were made to the REBECEE site Stadsskogen and to the bio mass power plant. REBECEE project leader Mr Bo Norling was in charge of the study visit.

13.9.2007
Sunny day in Alingsås/Sweden
On the 13rd of September, an information event about solar energy took place in Alingsås. The day was divided in two parts: During the afternoon the target group was politicians and municipal servants. In the evening a seminar was organised open to the public. A small exhibition was organised in the assembly hall where the lectures took place.

10.9.2007
Information day at pre school in Alingsås/Sweden
On the 10th of September, 70 people participated at the information day at the pre school site in Stadsskogen. The workshop was aimed at all actors involved in the building process as well as the future tenants. Experts from SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden lectured on the importance of quality assurance in the building process. Also participating were students from RE schoool Alströmergymnasiet. This workshop was the start for the training of the builders.

30.8.2007
www.rebecee.si online
Slovenian local website of REBECEE has launched in the end of August. For more information please visit www.rebecee.si.

13.8.2007
Refurbishment works at Steletova 8
Refurbishment works on multi apartment building at Steletova 8 in Ljubljana started on 13 August 2007 and will be completed before the end of September.

29.6.2007
First topping-out ceremony of the InBA Kiel
The new building on the corner Rathausstrasse / Kleiner Kuhberg is taking more and more form. The topping-out ceremony was held on 29.06.2007.

The access balcony in Rathausstrasse was glazed in the meantime. The qualities of this form of accessing apartments are recognisable in this building: Rathausstrasse with its heavy traffic is not heard; moreover, wide, generous gangway in front of apartments resembles a winter garden
There is also a surprise behind the building. Orientated to the south-east, protected, 450 qm large inner courtyard offers this place such peace, which could not have been expected here at all.
In future residents shall live close to the centre, use the infrastructure of Kiel downtown and relax alone or together in the garden of the inner courtyard.

27.6.2007
Energy efficient building and modernisation – the future task of Kiel’s craft guilds
On Wednesday, the 27th of June 2007 numerous representatives of the craft guilds and companies were welcomed by mayor Todeskino and Mr. Laloi of Fair Play Heating.

The climate protection representative of the federal state capital Kiel, Mr. Koopmann reported about energy efficient building, financial support and the pilot scheme before Mrs. Dr. Husmann presented the innovative building exhibition und potentials for the craft guilds. In a mutual talk about the chances and potentials of the innovative building exhibition in Kiel 2008 it was agreed to sensitize people during joint events, like the solar days of Kiel, for the construction of energy efficient houses and the use of regenerative energies. The actual exhibtion will take place in september 2008 in Kiel.

18.6.2007
B.A.U.M. e.V. becomes the new partner of REBECEE
On the 18th of June 2007 the German Environmental Management (B.A.U.M. e.V. - Bundesdeutscher Arbeitskreis für Umweltbewusstes Management e.V.) and ZEBAU GmbH signed a cooperation contract for the the EU project REBECEE.

By signing the contract, B.A.U.M. e.V. will contribute an important part to the european network. Being an official supporter now it will also point out to the many market partners the potentials of the eastern european markets for renewable energies and energy efficiency in the building sector. "With B.A.U.M. e.V. ZEBAU GmbH wins a great partner for international public relations" welcomed chief executive of ZEBAU GmbH and REBECEE coordinator Peter-M. Friemert his counterpart of B.A.U.M. e.V. Prof. Dr. Maximilian Gege. Both partners will launch joint initiatives for REBECEE within the next weeks.

18.6.2007
REBECEE partner of EPBD Buildings Platform
REBECEE is the latest partner of the EPBD Buildings Platform. The EPBD Buildings Platform is a European Commission initiative in the framework of the Intelligent Energy - Europe (2003-2006) programme, which provides information services for practitioners and consultants, experts in energy agencies, interest groups and national policy makers in the European Member States for helping the implementation of the European Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD).

EPBD Buildings Platform online: www.buildingsplatform.eu.

13.6.2007
Swedish delegation tour in Hamburg

Parallel to the REBECEE-project of the EU, representatives of the construction industry from Alingsås and Göteborg visited Hamburg to inform themselves about energy efficient building und the use of renewable energy sources. During the visit of the area of the European Solar Building Exhibition (EUSolEx) in Heimfeld and the Pinnasberg special attention was paid to passive houses and their technologies. The swedish guests were especially interested in the inhabitants experience of operating a passive house. Their knowledge will be used to apply the passive house technologies on new projects in Sweden.

13.6.2007
REBECEE newest member of Sustainable Energy Partnership
On behalf of the European Commission, REBECEE is invited to join the Sustainable Energy Europe 2005-2008 Campaign (www.sustenergy.org). Set in the context of the EU’s commitment to change the landscape of energy, Sustainable Energy Europe 2005-2008 has been launched for a period of four years and will contribute to the achievement of EU energy policy goals and targets in the fields of renewable energy sources, energy efficiency, clean transport and alternative fuels.

One of the key instruments within the Sustainable Energy Europe Campaign will be the Sustainable Energy Partnership, designed to actively involve and promote a wide range of sustainable energy projects and programmes. By incorporating these initiatives into a common dissemination action, the aim is to ensure greater visibility and more efficient spread of know-how on sustainable energy implementation at a European level.
The Sustainable Energy Partnership will provide a highly-visible and prestigious mark of European excellence and, by joining the Campaign in this way, Partners not only express their commitment to change the landscape of energy in Europe, but will benefit from participation in a substantial European network, representing main energy actors that are currently engaged in a wide range of sustainable energy programmes or projects across Europe.
More information on www.sustenergy.org.

5.6.2007
InBA Kiel 2008 – Support opportunities for energy efficient building schemes
On Tuesday, the 5 th of June 2007 the user forum for support opportunities for energy efficient building schemes took place in Kiels city gallery.
Financial support in form of low interest loans or grants are often the deciding factor for the use of particularly energy efficient building types and technologies in new buildings or modernisations.

After a welcome word by Dr. Gabriela Husmann (EU-direction authority, state capital Kiel) and Mrs. Heidrun Buhse (ministry of the interior Schleswig-Holstein) different speakers reported about current support opportunities for new building and modernisation schemes in Schleswig-Holstein. Some of those were the programs of the KfW-Bank (credit institute for rebuilding), the model project DENA (German Energy Agency) low energy house and the Schleswig-Holstein-Fonds.
The reports were supplemented by the presentation of the climate protection objectives of the state capital Kiel with the climate protection fonds as a further support instrument. The prospect for chances and possibilities with the innovative building exhibition in Kiel 2008 focused the attention on the realisation of concrete building projects and their presentation in September 2008. At the end of the forum the questions of the over 50 participants could be answered and it was possible exchange experiences.

4.6.2007
Third REBECEE-Newsletter online
Newest REBECEE-Newsletter with some reports of the latest project meeting in Alingsas/Sweden and the successful progress of the current local projects is available at the Download-section.

28.-31.5.2007
Delegation from Estonia and Latvia visits REBECEE Alingsås
Between the 28 th and the 31 st of May, a delegation from Valga/Valka visited REBECEE Alingsås. Valga/Valka is situated on the boarder between Estonia and Latvia. Valga is on the Estonian side and Valka is on the Latvian side. The two towns are closely linked together and for this study trip they received a grant from the Nordic Council.

The delegation consisted of five people working with housing and development in the local authorities of Valga/Valka. Alingsås organised a study tour during three days. They were informed of the REBECEE project and they visited the two building sites where the REBECEE exhibition will take place in 2009. During one day they were the guests of passive house architect Hans Eek, who showed them the passive houses in nearby communities Lindås and Frillesås.
During their study visit in Alingsås they were also told about the strategic environmental work of the municipality. Environmental Director Mr Bo Norling organised a study visit to the local water sewerage plant to compare with the newly built plant in Valga. Administrative Director Mr Kjell Hult presented the city planning in Alingsås and made a guided tour to different building sites. The delegation also learned about the international project Lights in Alingsås and the urban lighting strategy used in city planning. The study tour also included the Educational Centre of Alingsås.
Valga local authorities are planning to renovate the first preschool in Estonia using passive house technique and this was their reason for coming to Alingsås. Since the municipal company FABS are involved in a similar project in Alingsås, there was much to talk about. Alingsås Municipality is hoping to continue the exchange of experiences with Valga/Valka since the towns have much in common. When welcoming the Baltic guests to Alingsås, Municipal Commissioner Mrs Ingegerd Löfqvist made a speech hoping for further cooperation and good relations.

11.+12.5.2007
Second REBECEE-Meeting in Alingsås -
successful progress of local projects
The second meeting of the EU-project REBECEE (Renewable Energy and Building Exhibitions in Cities of Enlarged Europe) took place in Alingsås, Sweden on may 11 th-12 th, 2007.

All the project partners could announce successful progress in the realisation of local projects. The representatives of Alingsås presented to all the partners the new construction area with building sites for a passive house kindergarten and sites for up to 100 detached houses build according to passive house standards, the residential area Brogården with planned refurbishment with passive house components and existing biomass power plant that it is to be extended with CHP.
Kiel could announce the participation in the project of the new development area Steenbeker Weg beside known objects sports hall Schilksee, „Living and Working at Rathausturm“ and refurbishment measures in Bräutigamweg.
Tender offer for two Slovenian refurbishment projects in Ljubljana is almost finished; construction permit for the new building object Polje 2 with 183 units is expected in the end of 2007.
Tallinn was confident to be able to organise building exhibition in Pärnu in 2008 and in Tallinn in 2009 - 2010.
Vilnius is planning to built a block of flats according to REBECEE criteria, Sofia will plan the refurbishment area Zona B-5 within the framework of REBECEE in cooperative proceeding and Riga has got the goal to position the theme of energy efficiency in the realisation of the project „Riga’s House“ of the Latvian Chamber of Craft and Technical University of Riga with help of REBECEE.

Further agenda item was devoted to feasibility studies, which were prepared for building areas and projects. They were presented in detail and transferability of decision making process from technical, financial and ecological standpoint was discussed.
After introductory speech by ZEBAU GmbH the project participants began the discussion of „Barriers against RES“, which are manifold and differ internationally. Its summary and specification shall be comprised in respective studies.

Before the beginning of the administrative part of the meeting on the second day, the Swedish hosts used the opportunity to show Alingsås from its most beautiful side: in a cottage on lake shore the day came to an end with Scandinavian buffet and music of duos from the music school of Alingsås. The special highlight was violin play by architect Hans Eek.
The next meeting with focus on „Quality Assurance“, „Barriers against RES“ and „Analysis and Evaluation“ shall take place in Ljubljana on November 8 th-9 th 2007.

7.5.2007
Start of Building Process for preschool in Alingsås
The building process for the preschool in Stadsskogen started on May 7th when a group of children took the first cuts with their spades. It is to be finished in the beginning of 2008 when about 100 children will move in.

The preschool is unique in Sweden since it is the first school ever to be built as a passive house. It will give the children a good environment to be active in and it will heavily reduce the operating costs. Even if it will cost more to build with passive house technique, it will be cost effective in the long run. And not at least, it will be good for the environment.
When building with passive house technique it is important that all actors involved are well educated, so that there are no mistakes in the process. Both the builder and the future tenants will be educated in the frame of REBECEE.
A study has been made in cooperation with the Technical University of Lund and architect Hans Eek that shows that the energy from the tenants will cover half of the energy demand. One child is equal to one 60 W lamp. The school will be built with good insulation and minimal heat loss, using the passive house criteria.

20.-22.4.2007
Successful REBECEE participation at Alingsås Building Expo
During the weekend of April 20-22 REBECEE took part in the yearly Building Expo in Alingsås. 12 000 people visited the Expo and many showed great interest for the REBECEE project. One of them was Mrs Lena Ek, Member of the European Parliament, who held the opening speech. She encouraged all people to visit the REBECEE part of the Expo and to be pride that Alingsås is investing in such an important project. She also invited the REBECEE project to visit the European Parliament and present its findings. We are happy to announce that Mrs Lena Ek is now the official patron for REBECEE project in Sweden.

The REBECEE part of the Building Expo included several different stands. REBECEE was presented with a brochure and with a news programme from the future, which was very popular. The municipal housing company Alingsåshem presented their unique renovation project at Brogården, the municipal company FABS showed drawings of the passive house preschool in Stadsskogen and the municipal energy company presented their investments in wind power and district heating produced from renewable energy. The partnership for Stadsskogen had arranged guided tours with busses that parted for Stadsskogen every half hour.

One very appreciated part of the REBECEE stand was the part where our partner companies presented different products. This enabled the visitors to see for themselves the technique behind the passive houses. Among the products were windows, insulation, heat exchangers and energy-efficient refrigerators. We were pleased to have the following nine companies joining our exhibition: Sjömarkens Isolering, Elektrolux/Elkomfort, Gustavsberg/Vårgårda, REC Indovent, T-emballage, SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden, Sundolitt/Vårgårda, Nordan and Foamglas. In charge of this section was passive house architect Hans Eek who had a busy weekend answering questions from a curious public.

13.+14.4.2007
REBECEE and InBA Kiel 2008 at 11th International Conference on Passive Houses in Bregenz/A

6.4.2007
Second REBECEE-Newsletter online
Newest REBECEE-Newsletter with project informations and reports about the visit of Swedish Prime Minister and some fair attendances is available at the Download-section.

27.-31.3.2007
REBECEE at MEGRA International Fair
Fair MEGRA is the biggest National Building Industry Fair that is taking place every year at Gornja Radgona, on their fair facilities. The fair was attended by 435 companies from 20 countries and the fair programme lasted for 8 days. There were many workshops and conferences organised on various subjects. The focus of this year event was RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES.
Association of public tenant flats organisations (funds, investors, non profit organisations, operation companies...) organises every year a workshop on current issues on this field. The title of this years' workshop was "Flats, Citizens and State".
In the workshop programme Tonka Grgic and Bojko Jerman presented project REBECEE and in this way the project was for the first time presented on official way, it was a kind of media kick off of the project in Slovenia.
After the workshop the Slovenian partners visited the fair and made many contacts with bigger companies that are seen as possible project partners. In next few months REBECEE Ljubljana plans to make an intensive PR campaign to assure appropriate quantity and quality of project partners for the REBECEE programme. They are optimistic as concrete projects give good basis for inclusion of companies that can take part into project realisations.

23.3.2007
InBA Kiel 2008: first Projects and Partners determined!
The Innovative Building Exhibition Kiel 2008 (InBA) takes place in September 2008 on various sites in Kiel. New construction and modernization projects with CO2-neutral heating supply will be presented. During the Exhibition flat building projects, as well as detached houses, commercial buildings or public buildings can be visited.

Mayor Peter Todeskino and Peter Friemert, the general manager of REBECEE, presented first projects of the InBA to the public. At the moment the new building of the sports hall Schilksee, the project Living at Rathausturm as well as modernization project in Bräutigamweg count to the projects. The premium sponsors Sun Energy GmbH (Photovoltaic units) and REHAU AG + Co (polymer production) present themselves as partners of the InBA in the city hall of Kiel on Friday, March 23th.

more information about the projects here.

22.3.2007
REBECEE Ljubljana visits Vienna to see multi storey passive houses
"As Public Building Fund of the Municipality Ljubljana decided to develop several new social apartment buildings in passive or low energy standard, their executive staff accepted invitation of the REBECEE coordinator to pay a visit to three buildings already developed and being in operation in Austria, in Vienna.
Tonka Grgič invited also representatives of National Building fund (partners of REBECEE project) to join the excursion and two people from the Ministry also attended the excursion to Vienna. In order to give first hand information to designers, the excursion was also attended by architects, working on passive living units and designers from city urban planning department.
Our visit was planned and realised with the help of the representatives of Building of Tomorrow and Erabuild project and technical experts and investors. Special thanks to Christiana Hageneder and Sophie Fromwald that made organisational efforts and assured that we were accompanied by most relevant people when visiting three locations.
First we visited Student Dormitory building at Molkereistrasse 1, 1020 Vienna. It is seven storey passive house building with 278 single rooms, built in 2005. The energy demand is up to 12,5 kWh/m2y with active surface of 6.338 m2. There is a ventilation unit with heat recovery for each 2 units, heating with electric heaters and preheating of external air with earth heat exchanger. Designers apply many vertical openings to lead and disperse natural light to all floors into interior part of the building where there are staircases and kitchen windows.
Than we moved to Utendorfstrasse 1140 Vienna, where we visited social passive house construction with 39 units. These units correspond to international passive house building standard and simultaneously these units were developed at very low construction costs. The heat demand is lower than 15 kWh/m2y. The ventilation system is centralised and mounted on the roof. Preheated is realised through earth heat exchangers and additional heating with electric heating coils integrated into ventilation system.
The last building we visited was tenant apartment complex in 1110 Vienna, Pantucekgasse 14. The building complex consists of 114 accommodation units and many community rooms, it has overall usable surface of 9.900 m2 and heat demand of 7,3 kWh/m2y. We saw good quality building details and were pleased by the overall composition and organisation of the space. All units have individual ventilation systems with heat recovery and heat pump heating and cooling unit." ( Tonka Grgic, Local Coordinator)

21.-23.3.2007
REBECEE at Renew Europe - Symposium in Hamburg

16.3.2007
First REBECEE-Newsletter online
First REBECEE-Newsletter with project informations and first local reports is available at the Download-section.

13.3.2007
Energy efficient buildings - Gothenburg conference
Alingsås Municipality participated on March 13 in a conference titled Energy efficient buildings - new market and business opportunities. The Managing Director of the municipal housing company Alingsåshem spoke about the REBECEE project Brogården. She emphasized how important it is to take into consideration the different needs of the residents when building with energy efficiency. Administrative Director Kjell Hult, executive office of Alingsås Municipality, participated in a panel discussion on how to diminish the energy consumption in buildings with half of what it is today. He stressed the importance of the municipalities and the responsibility of planners in this process.

5.3.2007
Swedish Prime Minister visits REBECEE Alingsås

The Prime Minister of Sweden, Mr Fredrik Reinfeldt, visited Alingsås on the 5th of March this year. The objective of his visit was to learn more about the passive house technique used by the municipal company Alingsåshem when renovating the apartment houses at Brogården. Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt was also informed about other building projects within the frame of REBECEE.
The renovation of Brogården will diminish the energy consumption with half of what it is today. There are 400 000 apartments in Sweden from the 1970s built in the same way as the apartments at Brogården. Renovating these apartments with the technique used by Alingsåshem would mean great energy savings.
On the day after the visit to Alingsås, Mr Reinfeldt travelled to Britain to meet with Prime Minister Tony Blair. During a working lunch they discussed climate and environmental issues, ahead of the EU summit in Brussels on March 8-9, where these issues are expected to take centre stage.
The Swedish Government recently launched an initiative to broaden the debate on climate and sustainable environment with research institutes, business and politics. A seminar on the 7th of March represented a starting-point for this Commission for Sustainable Development.

15.1.2007
www.inba-kiel.de online
First local website of REBECEE, website of the Innovative Building Exhibition Kiel (InBA) 2008, has launched in the end of january. For more information please visit www.inba-kiel.de.