E.ON Energy Research Center Building of RWTH Aachen University

The building apart from being a lot bigger than the other two demonstration buildings is also challenging thermally due to its multifunctionality, having both office and conference spaces as well large laboratories which need to be appropriately climatized. In this case, a good energy performance has to be assured by a modern building-technology portfolio: gas-powered heat pump technology in combination with a geothermal field, low-temperature surface heating and cooling including concrete core activation, ventilation with heat recovery and a sorption supported climatization concept. In addition the building has installed: a photovoltaic array and a heat-recovery system for the server rooms. In winter the excess heat from the server rooms can thus be used to heat the office and conference spaces.

This building involves a significant number of energy technologies. In such non-traditional buildings good performance is achieved with a combination of energy-technologies and advanced control strategies. This is expected to be the most challenging case for the PEBBLE framework.

Exterior photos