ökosan – modernisation-initiative East Styria

Despite a various number of arguments for retrofitting our building there are still only few realized projects, which show the advantages of high-quality retrofitting.

Therefore the project ökosan–modernisation-initiative East Styria was started in 2005 coordinated by AEE INTEC.

Objective:

The main objective focused on initiating showcases to encourage more responsible persons to carry out high-performance retrofitting.

Means:

Within this initiative, widespread service packages for builders and decision makers had been offered. The scope of the service packages ranged from a review of the existing building stock and the elaboration of detailed retrofitting studies to the monitoring and evaluation of the implemented retrofitting measures.

Awareness rising:

Simultaneously the project ökosan.net initiated wide-spread public relations measures, know-transfer-events and information activities. The international conference ökosan´09 is originated from the start-up event ökosan´05. Now this symposium is hosted by the AEE INTEC biannually and attracts more than 400 experts from all over the world.

Results:

The support of decision makers and responsible persons brought out results like:

• 40 large-volumed buildings within the region of East Styria were investigated (approx. 90.000 m² gross floor area)
• 18 high-performance retrofitting projects (already realised or still under construction) with 45.000 m² retrofitted gross floor area show :
  
  – An average minus of 70% of energy use for heating and minus 75% CO₂-emissions
  – A reduction of 410.000 kg of CO₂ – emissions annually
  – An increased quality of the indoor living quality
  – A turnover from fossile fuels to renewable energy sources

Additionally it was possible to set impulses for:

• The awareness for high-quality and sustainable retrofitting
• To increase the reputation of the region East Styria as a thematic leader in sustainable retrofitting

Summary:

The final event and presentation of the results was arranged on 18th of Nov. 2009 in Graz. Under the title “Retrofitting offensive: economic viability and quality – a conflict?” the event focused on discussing the final results and showing further conclusions for future´s effort.

Now – after the end of the official life-span of the project – the shining examples should motivate further decision makers. Therefore the AEE INTEC designed a brochure with 16 ökosan-retrofitting-projects. It is essential to convince the persons responsible for the property management of the advantages – not only in gaining long-term affordable running-costs but also in increasing property market values and reaching enhanced indoor living quality.