The International Trade Fair for
Building and Construction Technology opened today in Berlin, Germany
at the Messe Berlin conference grounds. With 810 exhibitors from
18 countries the conference was officially opened by German Minister
for Traffic Construction and Urban Development , Wolfgang Tiefensee.
“North American standards for green construction are low, and we
need to develop German green label standards that are quality based
and high. We need to think of construction more strategically in the
country and developing standards that other countries wish to use.
Our goal should be to become exporters of our construction knowledge
and products. We need to develop a Culture of Construction, not just
building,” he said.
German Minister for Traffic Construction and Urban Development - Wolfgang Tiefensee
Tiefensee would further point out that
construction is a platform upon which many partners participate. He
pointed out that the German government is providing about Euro 9.4
billion per year directly to support construction initiatives and
that a further Euro 5.4 billion is also supporting infrastructure
protection and urban renewal across the country – totalling Euro 15
billion annually in support of the German construction industry.
Regional construction in Germany.
Recently, in Brussels the European
Union announced their 20-20 policy on carbon emissions – a 20%
reduction by 2020. For Germany, Tiefensee estimates that will
translate into a framework that will deliver nearly Euro 50 billion
in saved costs, which, again for the country, will need to be derived
from savings in building efficiencies (40%) and transport (30%).
National campaign for heat efficiency.
These are remarkable estimates and provide a clear glimpse into the
levels of efficiency that the construction industry will be expected
to support in the years ahead. Already Euro 1 billion is being
invested to upgrade older buildings in the country through
renovation. Overall net efficiency should result in a saving of 1
million tonnes of carbon dioxide per year.
The priorities for the German
construction industry are:
-- climate related
efficiency
-- improved construction methods and
types
-- balancing the social and people
dimension in development
Heat loss scanning.
In Germany the construction industry
employs nearly 3.5 million people and provides 13.2% of the countries
GDP. But there are looming problems on the horizon including a severe
shortage of skilled labour, estimated at 40,000 people.
Additionally,
it was mentioned that institutions are closing and that needs to be
reversed, as Gernot Schaefer, president of the German Construction
Association mentioned.
Flexible solar panel roofing.
Solar powered car.
This
book is “directed to cartographers rendering terrain properly.”
And, “he who mistakes the goal will never find the path,” as the
author points out.
I spent some time on the exhibition
floor, covering about half of it in the first day. The array of
products and services is large. From CAD data handling systems for
Building Information Management (BIM) to solar cars and new
construction materials.
I'll report on more of the conference later
this week after the seminar sections and further tours of the
exhibition.
The International Trade Fair for
Building and Construction Technology opened today in Berlin, Germany
at the Messe Berlin conference grounds. With 810 exhibitors from
18 countries the conference was officially opened by German Minister
for Traffic Construction and Urban Development , Wolfgang Tiefensee.
German Minister for Traffic Construction and Urban Development - Wolfgang Tiefensee
Regional construction in Germany.
National campaign for heat efficiency.
Heat loss scanning.
Flexible solar panel roofing.
Solar powered car.