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Interview with Prof. Thomas Auer: How Climate Positive Engineering changes the building industry
The certificate program “Climate Positive Engineering” will start for the first time at the Technical University of Munich in October 2021. Prof. Thomas Auer holds the professorship for Building Technology and Climate Responsive Design. He and his team were in charge of developing the continuing education course. In an interview, he explains how the approach of climate-friendly construction will fundamentally change planning processes and what role the latest technologies will play in this.
The decarbonization of the building sector is a major task – and certainly a challenge – for public institutions, but also for companies. How can this be mastered?
There is certainly no one all-encompassing solution for a complete decarbonization of the building sector, nor are there any simple answers. Rather, it is a complex system. The current building stock poses the greatest challenge. Transformation requires a whole range of measures: The complexity at hand requires in-depth knowledge on the part of the planners – architects and engineers. A transformation will inevitably change the built environment; therefore, an understanding of building culture is essential for the successful integration of possible measures.
How can the new certificate program “Climate Positive Engineering” support this?
On the one hand, the further education program conveys the state of the art and science with regard to possible measures for an effective reduction of CO2 emissions from buildings. The starting points are diverse: In addition to a basic understanding of comfort and aspects of building physics, supply variants are considered. One focus is on CO2 balancing. On the other hand, we convey in the program the ambivalence regarding aspects of building culture.
The linking of user comfort and engineering, embedded in a transformation that includes building culture aspects in the consideration – that is what is special about our program.
Image: Alnatura Campus/PK Odessa, Lanz/Schels
What aspects does Climate Positive Engineering encompass in your view?
In climate-appropriate construction, i.e. Climate Positive Engineering, local potentials form the basis for passive building operation; I see mechanical systems more as supporting. This way of looking at things changes the methodology of planning. In traditional building services planning, winter and summer, the extremes, form the basis for planning, whereas in Climate Positive Engineering, the time between the extremes suddenly has the greater relevance – due to the focus on quality of accommodation and energy consumption.
What role do technical applications and tools play in Climate Positive Engineering?
A basic technical understanding forms the basis for decarbonizing the building sector. Therefore, both a consideration of technical systems and simulation tools are elementary. This is not an end in itself; rather, such a basic understanding forms the foundation for a development of conceptual strategies.
What is your vision for the building and construction industry in 10 years?
I am afraid there is no short answer to this, no one-liner and no simple headlines – even though some people often suggest this. Primarily, the industry must be aware of and face up to its social responsibility. Everything must be questioned, starting with the supposed expectations of comfort, as well as the design and technical solutions that go with them. Above all, the use of raw materials must be more strongly considered; a consideration that takes into account the entire life cycle – including deconstruction.
For more information on the Climate Positive Engineering certificate program, click here.
Prof. Thomas Auer holds the professorship of Building Technology and Climate Responsive Design at TUM (image: Silicya Roth).
