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Local heating networks supply urban neighbourhoods and communities with heating and cooling. They can be fed from different sources and have different temperatures. In this article, we present the different network architectures of local heating networks and highlight their advantages and disadvantages.

We have already reported on ice storage systems in this blog. Back then, we looked at large underground anergy storage systems that supply building complexes such as schools or entire neighbourhoods on a seasonal basis. Now there are new developments on the market that are of interest to owners of detached houses and apartment blocks and make ice storage heating in conjunction with a heat pump attractive even where space is limited. 

The construction industry in Germany is currently struggling with a shortage of skilled workers, difficulties in procuring materials and the interest rate situation - this is slowing down the speed of renovation and construction processes. In addition, the long planning and approval phases play a crucial role in why construction takes so long in Germany. The multitude of regulations and non-standard requirements in Germany's federal system further slows down the process. A simplification and reduction of bureaucracy in the processing of building applications would certainly be desirable.

In the course of the energy transition, heat pumps are becoming the standard for heat supply in private homes and especially in new buildings. They are installed as a decentralised supply solution in the consumer's own front garden or basement. 
High capacity heat pumps are a lesser-known variant. They are used for economical and emission-free heating and cooling in municipal infrastructure, industry and large residential, commercial and business buildings and are installed centrally.

Over the next few years, cities and local authorities in Germany will be obliged to draw up a municipal heating plan and develop climate-friendly, local heat sources in order to integrate them into the heating infrastructure. 
In the search for productive sources, wastewater is increasingly becoming the focus of attention. Especially in densely populated cities and urban centres. Wastewater has a temperature of between 10 and 20 degrees Celsius in the sewer and is available in abundance throughout the day when heat (or cold) is needed. Around ten billion cubic metres of wastewater flow through the German sewer system every year.

Thermal bridges ( also called cold bridges) are all spots in the building through which more heat is lost from the inside to the outside than through the surrounding areas. Heat is therefore lost more quickly there than in other parts of the building. In our blog post, we describe how thermal bridges affect energy efficiency, what their consequences can be and what measures you can take against them during construction and renovation.

At the end of May 2023, the three millionth PV system was registered with the German Federal Network Agency. According to the German Solar Industry Association (BSW Solar), this means that over 70 gigawatts of capacity have now been installed in Germany. 
In this context, PV systems that are mounted vertically on façades, balconies and fences also play a role, albeit a smaller one. These have recently been gaining in significance and are being discussed as an alternative or additional surface to conventional roof installations.

Urban heat transition, of course! But sources for heat pumps are often scarce, especially in inner cities. The building stock is densely packed and usually has several storeys. What could be more obvious than to use the building skin itself as a source? In her dissertation, our colleague Dr.-Ing. Lotta Koch investigated the efficiency of façade collectors made of high-performance concrete UHPC.

In the context of renovating older buildings, one increasingly stumbles across the term "serial retrofitting". But what is actually meant by this? And why is it so important to know this term?
We provide a definition and give an overview of the requirements for funding according to German BEG WG.

Buildings protect users from cold, damp and heat. Summer heat protection is an issue that is becoming increasingly important in Germany due to climate change and the resulting longer periods of heat.  If summer heat protection is inadequate, unpleasant heat can quickly develop inside the building during the warmer months of the year, which can affect the well-being and health of the occupants and users. Indoor temperatures above 25-27° C must therefore be avoided.