Climate Action 2010-2011

SPECIAL FEATURE | Evonik Industries
With the ceramic separator, Evonik has considerably improved the performance
and safety of lithium-ion battery cells.
of Germany’s existing housing stock and equip new
buildings with modern, energy-efficient facilities.
An innovation in modernising old properties:
the ‘three-litre house’
The ‘three-litre house’ – named after the automotive
industry’s attempt to build a super-efficient, ‘three-litre
car’, burning just three litres of fuel per 100km – is the
result of an exciting pilot project undertaken by Evonik in
Düsseldorf. The company has transformed an apartment
block into one of the most energy-efficient buildings
in Germany. Advanced building technology, smart
ventilation, heat recovery and photovoltaic technology
combine to bring energy savings of nearly 90 per cent for
tenants, year after year.
The comfortable residential complex consists of 24
housing units built between 1964 and 1969 which look
no different from others of their kind. But behind the
renovated exteriors lies a sophisticated energy generation
and utilisation concept that drastically reduces CO 2
emissions.
The residential buildings form part of an Efficient
Homes project initiated by the German Energy Agency
(dena) in collaboration with the German Federal
Ministry of Transportation, Construction and Urban
Development. The special feature of the three-litre house
model is that, in addition to investing in insulation and
passive windows, Evonik has developed a completely new
building technology.
The refurbishment was completed last year with its
own mini combined heat and power plant. The heat and
power plant supplies the building centrally with heat and
hot water. Tenants can then set the temperature in their
housing units as they wish.
The primary energy requirement has been reduced from
286 kilowatts per hour (kWh) per square metre per year
to just 36.2 kWh. The three-litre houses from Evonik are
among the most energy-efficient, low-energy houses in
all of Germany.
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From research lab to market place
Evonik has established the Eco² Science-to-Business
Centre under the auspices of our strategic research
and development entity, Creavis Technologies and
Innovation. The Centre is dedicated to interdisciplinary,
cross-sector collaboration with university researchers,
suppliers and customers along the entire value chain. The
aim is to build up a competency network geared towards
the energy efficiency megatrend and climate protection to
turn visions into marketable, future-oriented products.
Evonik’s cutting-edge products demonstrate the
central role industry plays as the creator and enabler of
smart solutions for the global climate and population
challenges that lie ahead. To make further progress in the
development of new technologies and raising efficiency,
we need a strong and successful economy. Above all,
a broadly based, research-oriented manufacturing
sector is the vital prerequisite for a green economy.
Unfortunately, the correlation between a competitive
industrial base, employment and prosperity on the one
hand and the necessary innovations in the development
of new environmental technologies is often not presented
transparently enough.
An innovative corporate culture, an holistic approach
to the issues affecting society, and business practices that
create value are the keys to our success. Without value
creation, current and future challenges cannot be solved.
However, value creation requires space for development
and a reliable framework. That is particularly true for
long-term investment decisions. Unilateral regional
regulations distort the market and do not serve the
interests of global climate protection or sustainable
industrial development.
Whether Germany experiences a power shortage in
2020 or not, the ambitious climate goals of the German
government will remain: To reduce CO 2
emissions by 40
per cent by the year 2020, and to increase the share of
power generated by combined power and heat to 25 per
cent, and by renewable sources to 25 to 30 per cent by the
year 2030. It is in this context we are developing solutions
that contribute to safe and sustainable energy supply–
solutions that, like the three-litre car and the three-litre
house, pave the way to the ‘three-litre society.’
We believe in leading by example and drive forward
energy efficiency in our own production processes
through an intensive process of continuous improvement.
Supported by internal management and process
experts, we are working towards ways to bring sustained
improvements in operational excellence across all sites
and business units.
Evonik Industries AG
Rellinghauser Straße 1-11, 45128 Essen
Germany
Tel: +49 201 177-01
Fax: +49 201 177-3475
Email: info@evonik.com
Website: www.evonik.com
www.climateactionprogramme.org