Tag: Forschung

Researchers develop scenarios for Biel hospital site

A new study by the Institute for Settlement, Architecture and Construction at Bern University of Applied Sciences provides initial impetus and possibilities for the further development and valorisation of the vacant hospital site in Biel’s Beaumont district. With the planned relocation of the Biel hospital centre to Brügg, one of the central development focal points for the coming years will be created there.

According to a press release, the aim was to create a solid knowledge base on which architecturally sound and sustainable decisions can be made. A participatory approach allowed the needs and expectations of the population and relevant interest groups to be taken into account. Their opinions, demands and visions were collected through workshops, surveys and discussion rounds.

As the study shows, there is the possibility that the site could become a place with a variety of uses that enriches the neighbourhood and becomes accessible and attractive for the entire urban population: “A variety of building types, for example, could enable a broad spectrum of uses, forms of housing and living spaces,” the press release states. “However, as the students’ work shows, the possibilities for valorisation and development of the site are almost limitless.”

This independent research work by Bern University of Applied Sciences will now be made available to the city of Biel as the planning authority and Spitalzentrum Biel AG as the landowner for further work. In the next step, both will commission a feasibility study.

March 2024
This wall paint cleans itself and breaks down harmful substances

Researchers at the Vienna University of Technology have developed a wall paint that cleans itself through exposure to sunlight and can chemically break down pollutants from the air. It is common knowledge that wall paints get dirty quickly and need to be replaced regularly. In addition, we are still struggling with air pollutants in our interiors. The need to renew paint regularly is at odds with sustainable living and environmental principles. The research team from the Vienna University of Technology and the Università Politecnica delle Marche in Italy has developed a solution to this problem: A wall paint that cleans itself under the influence of sunlight and can also break down air pollutants.

Nano titanium oxide particles enable new breakthroughs
Many people dream of a wall paint that cleans itself. This dream could now finally become a reality. The key to this groundbreaking innovation lies in the integration of specially modified titanium oxide nanoparticles into the paint. These tiny particles utilise the catalytic power of light to not only attract pollutants from the air, but also effectively break them down. This not only keeps the air cleaner, but the wall colour also retains its beauty and purity over a longer period of time. “For years, people have been trying to use special wall paints to purify the air,” explains Prof Günther Rupprechter from the Institute of Materials Chemistry at TU Wien. “Titanium oxide nanoparticles are particularly promising here, as they can bind and break down a variety of pollutants.” The pollutants that can be removed include household chemicals or emissions from building materials and furniture. Until now, conventional titanium oxide particles had to be activated with UV light in order to develop their cleaning effect – a requirement that is difficult to fulfil indoors. The research team has succeeded in modifying the particles so that they can already be activated by the broader spectrum of visible sunlight. This was achieved by adding phosphorus, nitrogen and carbon to the titanium oxide particles, which enables them to break down pollutants even without direct UV irradiation.

March 2024
The CO2-neutral future as a common goal

The collaboration between Zimmermann and Ackermann aims to explore innovative ways of utilising the atmosphere as a resource. Empa and Eawag are working together to develop technologies that effectively bind CO2 and thus contribute to decarbonisation. Despite the high expectations and pressure to deliver solutions, both recognise an urgent need to act and are optimistic that they can make a significant contribution.

Research and cooperation as the key to success
The research institutions rely not only on their internal expertise, but also on cooperation within the entire ETH Domain and with international partners. The aim is to develop practicable solutions to the climate crisis by pooling knowledge and resources. Eawag, which specialises in water research, and Empa, which focuses on materials science, complement each other perfectly in their efforts to promote both climate adaptation and climate protection.

Future-oriented projects and technologies
From the development of negative emission technologies to the exploitation of new energy sources from CO2, researchers are working on projects that will enable a long-term change towards a sustainable society. The initiatives include both the improvement of existing technologies and research into innovative approaches to reducing CO2 from the atmosphere.

The various “pillars” of the concept are currently being developed, such as the extraction of CO2, its chemical conversion and, finally, technologies to produce value-adding materials in which the carbon is bound in the long term. The first projects for negative emission technologies are already under development at Empa, such as insulation materials made from biochar and types of cement that absorb CO2 during the setting process instead of releasing it. Further initiatives are to be launched next year. Ms Zimmermann herself would like to launch a wood topic based on her research background. Initial discussions between various stakeholders have begun.

Funding and support for the research initiatives
Funding for the ambitious projects is secured from various sources, including grants and contributions from the participating institutions. The aim is to use the research work to support not only Switzerland but also the global community in the fight against climate change.

Switzerland as a pioneer in climate protection
Thanks to its favourable framework conditions, Switzerland continues to be an international leader. It is ideally positioned to develop technologies and concepts and to apply and market them internationally. This increases the competitiveness of Swiss industry and makes a valuable contribution to global climate protection.

You can find the full interview at this link. https://www.empa.ch/web/s604/mining-the-atmosphere-interview-tanja-zimmermann-martin-ackermann

March 2024
Revolution in descaling technology

The build-up of limescale in appliances that work with hot water is a challenge that should not be underestimated, both in households and in thermal power stations. The conventional removal of limescale deposits is often laborious and, in the case of large systems such as power plants, involves considerable costs and energy losses. Researchers at ETH Zurich have now presented a pioneering technology that has the potential to provide a comprehensive solution to this problem.

The scientists have developed an innovative limescale-repellent hydrogel coating that uses a microscopic ribbed structure to prevent the adhesion of limescale. This structure, modelled on shark scales, reduces the direct contact of limescale crystals with the surface, making it more difficult for them to deposit. Tests have shown that up to 98 per cent of limescale deposits on a surface treated in this way can be avoided.

This breakthrough in material technology is not only able to increase the efficiency of heat exchangers in power plants, but also to extend the service life and functionality of household appliances. In addition, the environmentally friendly hydrogel offers a biocompatible and chemical-free approach to limescale prevention.

The developers have deliberately chosen not to patent and have made their findings public, encouraging the application of this pioneering technology in the property sector and beyond. This openness could significantly improve the efficiency of building operation and management by providing a simple and sustainable solution to a widespread problem.

February 2024
Integration of photovoltaics in building façades

The German government has set itself the goal of drastically increasing the share of solar energy in energy consumption by 2030, which is only possible by utilising innovative technologies and tapping into new PV potential. A key element of this strategy is the effective utilisation of building façades for photovoltaics. Despite the obvious benefits, the potential of façade PV has so far remained largely untapped, mainly due to the challenges of cost, complexity and aesthetics.

To overcome these hurdles, the Center project, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection and coordinated by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE, brings together the expertise of leading industrial companies and research centres. The aim is to develop practicable and cost-efficient standard solutions for the integration of photovoltaic systems into building envelopes. This initiative promises to remove the technical and economic barriers that stand in the way of the widespread use of façade PV.

Successful examples of the integration of PV into building façades, such as the town hall in Freiburg and the OWP 12 office building in Stuttgart, already demonstrate the potential of this technology. These projects demonstrate that PV elements not only contribute to electricity generation, but can also offer other benefits such as sound insulation, weather protection and climate regulation within the buildings.

The centre aims to deliver ground-breaking results within the next two years and plans to publish its findings in the form of a VDI guideline. This should promote the use of building-integrated photovoltaics and make a significant contribution to achieving the German government’s climate targets. The participation of experts from all areas of the solar industry and the construction sector underlines the holistic approach of the project, which aims to accelerate the solarisation of the building envelope and thus take a decisive step towards a more sustainable future.

February 2024
EPFL researchers make electricity from glass panes

Scientists at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne(EPFL) have developed an innovative way of producing photoconductive circuits. These are printed directly onto a glass surface using an ultra-fast femtosecond laser. This new technology is translucent and requires a single material. It could one day be used to generate energy, according to a press release from EPFL.

What happens when tellurite glass is exposed to femtosecond laser light? This is the question that Gözden Torun from the Galatea Laboratory at EPFL, in collaboration with scientists from Tokyo Tech in Japan, was trying to answer in her dissertation when she made a discovery that could one day turn windows into light sensors made from a single material, according to the press release.

By studying how atoms in tellurite glass rearrange themselves when exposed to fast pulses of high-energy femtosecond laser light, scientists discovered the formation of nanoscale crystals of tellurium and tellurium oxide, two semiconductor materials, etched into the glass exactly where the glass had been exposed. An important discovery, a semiconductor material exposed to daylight can generate electricity.

“Since tellurium is a semiconductor, we wondered whether it was possible to print permanent patterns on the surface of tellurite glass that could reliably induce electricity when exposed to light, and it turned out that yes,” Yves Bellouard, director of the Galatea laboratory at EPFL, is quoted as saying. “An interesting aspect of this technique is that no additional materials are needed in this process. All you need is tellurite glass and a femtosecond laser to produce an active photoconductive material.”

February 2024
Corentin Fivet becomes the new head of the Smart Living Labs

Corentin Fivet will take over as head of the Smart Living Lab at the Fribourg branch of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne(EPFL) in spring. He has been a professor at EPFL since 2016 and, according to a press release, has developed pioneering methods for the reuse of concrete slabs, walls and beams made of wood or steel. The Smart Living Lab celebrates its tenth anniversary in 2024.

When Fivet took up an assistant professorship at the EPFL in Fribourg, his field of research was still in its infancy, according to the press release. “It was easy to review the literature, as hardly anything had been published,” he is quoted as saying. At that time, the reuse of load-bearing structures was not as widespread as it is today. And the Smart Living Lab itself was also in its early stages. The Smart Living Lab is a joint initiative of three Swiss universities – EPFL, the School of Engineering and Architecture Fribourg(HEIA-FR) and the University of Fribourg.

“We now have around a dozen research groups that have achieved numerous successes – including some that have been recognised internationally. My appointment as academic director of the centre marks the beginning of the next phase,” Fivet is quoted as saying.

Fivet will take over as Academic Director of the Smart Living Lab on 1 April 2024 and will work alongside Martin Gonzenbach, who will continue as Operational Director. Fivet will continue to pursue the Smart Living Lab’s goal of serving as a catalyst for sustainability and well-being in the built environment, according to the press release. One of its first goals will be to expand the centre’s training courses for architects, civil engineers, construction managers and property managers.

January 2024
Long-term cost benefits and environmental friendliness of heat pumps

The decision to replace or renew a heating system is a long-term investment. Many consumers focus mainly on the initial installation costs, but often neglect to calculate the total costs over the life cycle of the heating system. In a new study, researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE have analysed the costs of various heating technologies in existing residential buildings over a period of 20 years. They took into account future energy prices and the development of CO2 prices. Their conclusion: heat pumps and district heating are not only more climate-friendly, but also cheaper than gas heating in the long term.

The study focused on existing residential buildings and took into account the subsidies that came into force on 1 January 2024 as part of the Building Energy Act (GEG) and the funding guideline “Federal funding for efficient individual building measures”. The researchers assessed the costs of replacing heating systems and analysed the emissions of various technologies.

“When investing in a new heating system, all expected costs, in particular the energy costs including the CO2 price component, should be taken into account over the entire life cycle,” explains Robert Meyer from Fraunhofer ISE. According to the study, switching to heat pumps or district heating also results in a positive cost balance for old buildings.

The study showed that heat pumps in single-family homes are not only more environmentally friendly, but also more economically advantageous. The use of photovoltaics for self-consumption can further reduce overall costs. Even in apartment blocks, switching to heat pumps or district heating is more cost-effective than a new gas heating system.

The study included various heating technologies such as gas condensing boilers, air source heat pumps (with and without photovoltaic systems), geothermal heat pumps, pellet heating systems and district heating. The researchers recommend providing consumers with transparent information on expected emissions and energy prices, including CO2 prices, to facilitate decision-making.

January 2024
AQUA4D has been treating water for 20 years

The Valais-based water treatment specialist Planet Horizons Technologies is presenting the seventh generation of its AQUA4D water management system to mark the 20th anniversary of its launch, according to a press release. AQUA4D was first launched in September 2004 by the company based at the Ecoparc de Daval in Sierre in the canton of Valais. The latest product generation is the result of extensive research and innovation aimed at optimising water management in various sectors, according to the press release.

“From Daval Ecopark, we continue to develop, test and assemble our products dedicated to the protection of water pipes in Switzerland and the optimisation of irrigation around the world,” the press release continues. “Thanks to in-house manufacturing at our Swiss headquarters, we can fully control our production processes and ensure optimal quality and efficiency,” said Nicolas Masserey, Production Manager at AQUA4D.

Planet Horizons Technologies has equipped more than 100 public buildings in Switzerland with its sustainable AQUA4D water treatment system. The innovative technology can also be used to improve the water quality of hospitals and schools. The technology utilises electromagnetism using a patented method to remove limescale deposits and protect against corrosion and bacteria. The system can be used primarily in old buildings with long-standing pipework and in areas with high levels of limescale in the water. This not only improves the quality of drinking water, but also reduces maintenance and servicing costs.

With experience from more than 5,000 systems installed in 45 countries, the company says it is also finding increasing favour in Switzerland.

January 2024
Communities can strengthen Alpine destinations

Community building is an approach that can be used to minimise seasonal fluctuations in Alpine destinations and combine tourism with living space, Andermat Swiss Alps AG explains in a press release. Together with Bregaglia Engadin Turismo and the Graubünden University of Applied Sciences, it has launched a research project funded by Innotour to explore ways of building resilient communities. The research partners have now presented their initial findings in a recent report.

In the report, communities are understood as networks with a group identity. In mountain regions, they form in different compositions of locals, second home residents, guests, employees and employers. According to the researchers’ findings, three areas are crucial for the development of communities. Firstly, the understanding of identity at the centre of each of these communities. The second and third areas are collective experience and structure.

According to the press release, building and expanding resilient communities is time-consuming and costly. The communities “require coordination, maintenance and moderation, which in turn emphasises the targeted activation of individual community members”.

January 2024
Ein Pionier in der Nanotechnologie zur Energiegewinnung

Im Zentrum dieser bahnbrechenden Forschung steht die Verbindung von Thermodynamik und Quantenmechanik, um durch Nanotechnologie effiziente Energiesysteme zu entwickeln. Der Wissenschaftler, der sich dieser Herausforderung stellt, ist bereits seit zwölf Jahren im Bereich der Quantenelektronik tätig und hat seinen Fokus auf die Umwandlung von Abwärme in elektrische Energie gerichtet. Seine Arbeit mit Graphen-Nanobändern, einem Material aus einer einzelnen Schicht von Kohlenstoffatomen, verspricht neue Wege in der Energiegewinnung.

Die Qualität seiner Forschung wurde bereits mit prestigeträchtigen Auszeichnungen wie dem ERC Starting Grant und einem Eccellenza-Professorenstipendium des Schweizerischen Nationalfonds gewürdigt. Der Forscher, der sowohl eine Forschungsgruppe an der Empa leitet als auch Assistenzprofessor für Quantenelektronik an der ETH Zürich ist, hat seine akademische Laufbahn an der TU Delft begonnen und sich stets für konkrete Anwendungen der Physik interessiert.

In seinem Labor an der Empa erforscht er die Anwendung von Graphen-Nanobändern, die an der Empa unter der Leitung von Roman Fasel hergestellt werden. Die spezifischen physikalischen Eigenschaften dieser Bänder sind entscheidend für ihre Nutzbarkeit in einer Reihe von Quantentechnologien. Eine bedeutende Entdeckung seiner Gruppe war, dass die Quanteneffekte dieser Bänder auch bei -23°C noch weitgehend erhalten bleiben, was die Möglichkeit ihrer nwendung bei Raumtemperatur in Aussicht stellt.

Die Technologie, an der der Wissenschaftler arbeitet, befindet sich noch in der Entwicklungsphase, und die Herausforderungen in der Nanofabrikation sind gewaltig. Trotzdem ist sein Ziel, die fundamentalen Grundlagen für die Anwendung dieser fortschrittlichen Technologie zu schaffen und damit ihren praktischen Einsatz in der Zukunft zu ermöglichen. Seine Forschung könnte letztendlich dazu beitragen, den Stromverbrauch elektronischer Geräte zu reduzieren und einen wesentlichen Beitrag zur Energieeffizienz zu leisten.

January 2024
Implenia and Empa join forces for CO2-negative building materials

As Empa ‘s realisation partner,Implenia is building the Beyond Zero Unit in Empa’s NEST building in Dübendorf, the construction and real estate company based in the Glattpark district of Opfikon announced in a press release. The new unit will be used for research into CO2-reduced and CO2-neutral building materials. The Beyond Zero Unit will be integrated into the middle level of the NEST research and innovation platform.

“We are delighted that Implenia is able to enrich the great research and innovation platform NEST with a new unit as a partner,” said Jens Vollmar, Head Division Buildings at Implenia, in the press release. “As a leading Swiss construction and real estate service provider, we are thus jointly providing important insights for the future, CO2-reducing construction and operation of buildings and infrastructure.” Implenia intends to use the knowledge gained from the Beyond Zero Unit for its own developments and planning.

The new unit in the NEST building is not the company’s first collaboration with the research institute. “Implenia has realised pioneering sustainable buildings on the Empa Campus in Dübendorf, most recently a laboratory and office building and the first car park in hybrid timber construction in Switzerland,” explains Empa Director Tanja Zimmermann. “The fact that Empa and Implenia are also working together in research into innovative building materials with this new partnership and are investigating promising applications over a longer period of time on our NEST platform promotes the direct transfer of sustainable innovation into practice.”

January 2024
Empa researches the recycling of plastic slats

Carbon fibre reinforced plastic lamellae (CFRP lamellae) are among the building materials that have not yet been reintroduced into the material cycle, Empa explains in a press release. Its researchers from the Mechanical Systems Engineering department want to remedy this situation. A corresponding research project has already found a sponsor in a foundation not named in the press release.

The process of reinforcing bridges, car parks, building walls and ceilings made of concrete or masonry using CFRP lamellas has already been developed at Empa by its former Dübendorf director Urs Meier, according to the press release. “By significantly extending the service life of buildings and infrastructure structures, CFRP lamellae make an important contribution to increasing sustainability in the construction sector,” Giovanni Terrasi, Head of Empa’s Mechanical Systems Engineering research department, is quoted as saying. “However, we now also need to find a way to continue using the CFRP louvres beyond the service life of these buildings.”

The first step is to develop a mechanical process that allows the lamellae to be detached from the concrete without causing damage. The researchers then want to process the demolished CFRP into reinforcements for prefabricated components. The first object the group has in mind is reinforcements for railway sleepers made from recycled concrete. This means that the “supposed waste material could play a new role in Swiss infrastructure”, writes Empa.

January 2024
ABB invests 500 million euros in electrification

ABB and the European Investment Bank(EIB) have signed a financing agreement for a loan totalling 500 million euros, ABB announced in a press release. The Zurich-based technology company intends to use the funds to develop semiconductor-based circuit breakers, environmentally friendly switchgear and technologies to improve efficiency and automation in buildings. The funds will be channelled into corresponding research by ABB in Switzerland, Germany, Italy, the Czech Republic, Finland, Norway, Poland and other European countries.

“Electrification is crucial in the fight against climate change,” EIB Vice-President Ambroise Fayolle is quoted as saying in the press release. “With our loan to ABB, we are supporting a company with a long history of developing electrical products and a strong commitment to promoting practical solutions that make the European economy greener.”

The new power distribution solutions are intended for use in functional buildings, industrial operations and microgrids, for example. The development and commercialisation of technologies is a high priority in ABB’s growth strategy. Last year, the company invested around 1.67 billion dollars, or around 4 per cent of its consolidated sales, in research and development.

December 2023
Implenia wins two building construction projects in Germany

Implenia has landed two major building construction projects in Germany, the Opfikon-based construction and real estate company announced in a press release. Implenia will be realising two further sections of the BERLIN DECKS city campus in Berlin-Moabit in cooperation with Dressler Bau GmbH. In Essen, developer TÜV NORD Immobilien GmbH & Ko. KG has commissioned Implenia to construct an office building in Essen. The volume of the contracts for Implenia is estimated at EUR 100 million.

BEOS AG is realising a research and media quarter in Berlin. Implenia has already been awarded the contract for the first two construction phases. According to Implenia, sustainability plays a major role in the realisation of the project. Among other things, the company uses Lean Construction to optimise the construction process and use of resources.

“We would like to thank BEOS for the long-standing partnership and the new contract,” Matthias Jacob, Country President Germany at Implenia, is quoted as saying in the press release. “The trusting cooperation is characterised by a shared entrepreneurial spirit and the commitment to continue to drive forward and successfully realise a demanding and forward-looking project such as the BERLIN DECKS, even in challenging times.”

The office building with adjoining workshop and high-rise car park in Essen will be realised as part of the further development of the Technologiepark Nord in Essen-Frillendorf. Implenia is also focusing on sustainability here. The buildings will be designed for energy efficiency and connected to a district heating network. Photovoltaic systems will be installed on the roofs.

October 2023
Empa researches clay as a sustainable building material

Clay releases significantly less CO2 than concrete, explains the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research(Empa) in a press release. Ellina Bernard from Empa’s Concrete & Asphalt Laboratory in Dübendorf and the Chair of Sustainable Construction at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich is working to establish clay as a sustainable alternative to concrete. Their project is supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation(SNSF) with an Ambizione grant.

Clay is found in different geological compositions all over the world. The sustainable building material could replace concrete in non-load-bearing structures as well as in load-bearing walls of residential buildings. For large-scale use, Bernard and her team want to define standards for composition and mechanical strength. On the other hand, additives must be found that increase the load-bearing capacity of the material. Conventional cement is currently still used here, but this pushes the ecological footprint of clay “back into the red zone”, Empa writes.

Bernard, in collaboration with geologist Raphael Kuhn, has found a promising approach in magnesium oxide. In initial laboratory experiments with clay formulations, a compressive strength of up to 15 megapascals was achieved, Empa informs. Clay with added cement achieves up to 20 megapascals.

October 2023
Heating control from Yuon Control saves 20 percent energy

The Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts has proven that the Yuon ONE heating control system from the start-up Yuon Control from Oberburg reduces the consumption of heating energy by an average of 20 per cent. Yuon Control and the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts are working on a project to lay the foundations for efficient and intelligent control for heating systems, according to a media release. It is being funded by the Innosuisse Innovation Promotion Agency.

Yuon Control AG says it has developed Yuon ONE, a predictive, self-learning heating control system that helps to heat more intelligently and save costs. It is thus also able to optimise the utilisation in district heating networks.

The Assessment research group, led by Professor Dr Philipp Schütz at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts’ Competence Centre for Thermal Energy Storage, tested this in seven buildings in the Bern and Lucerne regions, ranging from only moderately insulated houses from the 1970s to modern Minergie houses. The heating was regulated alternately for a fortnight with the Yuon control device and with a traditional control device without optimisation. The test persons turned off the heating via the Yuon app during absences. This increased the savings to as much as 23 per cent, they say. At the same time, a reduction in CO2 emissions was observed in all building types.

According to the study, Yuon ONE is suitable for new and old buildings, regardless of the type of heating and the age of the building. Machine learning-based software takes into account the respective building characteristics such as thermal capacity, passive solar yields and tightness. “The innovation is that the system automatically learns the behaviour of the building, its thermal properties,” Dr Sebastian Hersberger, co-CEO of Yuon, is quoted as saying. In addition, the system incorporates the weather forecast from MeteoSwiss.

September 2023
Venture Kick supports Borobotics with 150,000 Swiss francs

Borobotics from Winterthur has received 150,000 Swiss francs from Venture Kick for the further development of its innovative drilling robot after reaching the third stage of the programme. In response to the problem of the previously energy-intensive and expensive drilling of holes for geothermal probes, Borobotics is revolutionising geothermal heating processes with a drilling robot that can work in up to 90 per cent less space and at significantly lower cost, according to a media release.

In addition to the high costs and large space requirements, previous methods bring disadvantages such as energy intensity, inaccuracy, noise pollution and landscape destruction, according to the release. Borobotics describes its development as “an earthworm-like robot that moves vertically into the earth” without a rig or drill pipe. It is intended to enable a much wider spread of geothermal heating.

Borobotics emerged from a research project at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences, according to the release. The start-up wants to invest the 150,000 Swiss francs in several drilling tests of its robot in order to be able to present a functioning prototype at the geothermal energy trade fair GeoTHERM 2024 in Offenburg during demonstration drillings on 29 February and 1 March 2024.

September 2023
Zum umweltfreundlichen Spital mit «Best Practices»

Im Gesundheitssektor wurde der Umweltaspekt bisher oft vernachlässigt. Das Forschungsprojekt „Green Hospital – Ressourceneffizienz bei Schweizer Spitälern“ hat dazu beigetragen, das Bewusstsein für umweltrelevante Prozesse in Schweizer Spitälern zu schärfen. Im Rahmen des Nationalen Forschungsprogramms „Nachhaltige Wirtschaft: ressourcenschonend, zukunftsfähig, innovativ“ (NFP 73) wurde eine Liste von praxisorientierten Maßnahmen veröffentlicht, um Spitäler in ihrer Nachhaltigkeitsstrategie zu unterstützen.

Die Studie, geleitet von Matthias Stucki am ZHAW-Institut für Umwelt und Natürliche Ressourcen, hat ergeben, dass insbesondere die Bereiche Wärme, Catering, Gebäudeinfrastruktur und Medikamente für den Großteil der Umweltbelastung durch Spitäler verantwortlich sind. Aber auch andere Faktoren wie Stromverbrauch, Abfallmanagement und die Verwendung von medizinischen Produkten spielen eine Rolle.

Die aus der Studie abgeleiteten „Best Practices“ wurden aus einer Vielzahl von Literaturquellen und Praxisbeispielen zusammengestellt. Diese Massnahmen zielen darauf ab, die Umweltauswirkungen bei gleichbleibender Qualität der Gesundheitsdienstleistungen zu minimieren. Dabei wurde besonderer Wert auf die Auswahl von Maßnahmen mit hoher Klimarelevanz und großer Umsetzbarkeit gelegt.

Insgesamt zeigt die Studie, dass die größten Chancen für eine Verbesserung der Umweltbilanz in der Konstruktion von langlebigen und ressourceneffizienten Gebäuden, der Nutzung erneuerbarer Energien und der Einführung von pflanzenbasierten Gerichten im Verpflegungsangebot liegen.

Dieses Forschungsprojekt stellt einen wichtigen Schritt dar, um die schweizerische Krankenhauslandschaft nachhaltiger zu gestalten und setzt einen Meilenstein für zukünftige Initiativen in diesem Bereich.

September 2023
Quantum technology from carbon

It is promising, but also perplexing and confusing: quantum technology is expected to provide us with technological breakthroughs in the coming decades, such as smaller and more precise sensors, highly secure communication networks and powerful computers that can help develop new medicines and materials, control financial markets and predict the weather in the shortest possible time.

For this, we need so-called quantum materials: substances that exhibit pronounced quantum physical effects. One of these is graphene. This two-dimensional structural form of carbon has unusual physical properties, such as extraordinarily high tensile strength, thermal and electrical conductivity. If one restricts the already two-dimensional material even more spatially, for example to a narrow band, controllable quantum effects arise.

This is precisely what Mickael Perrin’s team is exploiting: In the Empa laboratory “Transport at Nanoscale Interfaces”, headed by Michel Calame, scientists in Perrin’s team are researching graphene nanoribbons. “Nanoribbons of graphene are even more fascinating than graphene itself,” explains Perrin. “By varying their length and width, as well as the shape of their edges, and by adding other atoms to them, you can give them all kinds of electrical, magnetic and optical properties.”

Real precision work – down to the atom
Research on the promising ribbons is not always easy. The narrower the band, the clearer its quantum properties – but the more difficult it is to control a single band. But this is precisely what is needed to understand the special features and possible applications of this quantum material in detail.

In a new study recently published in the journal Nature Electronics, Perrin, Jian Zhang and their team have succeeded for the first time in making electrically conductive contact with individual long, atomically precise graphene nanoribbons. No trivial task: “A graphene nanoribbon that is only nine carbon atoms wide measures just one nanometre in width,” says Zhang. To contact individual ribbons, the researchers used equally small electrodes: carbon nanotubes with a diameter of just one nanometre as well.

The precision that is indispensable for such an experiment already begins with the starting materials. The researchers obtained the graphene nanoribbons from Empa’s “nanotech@surfaces” laboratory under the direction of Roman Fasel, with whom they have been working for a long time. “Roman Fasel and his team have been working on graphene nanoribbons for a long time and can synthesise many different types of them with atomic precision from individual starting molecules,” explains Perrin. The starting molecules came from the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research in Mainz.

If you want to advance the state of the art, interdisciplinarity is key. Thus, different international research groups were involved in the study, each with their own area of expertise: the carbon nanotubes were produced by a research group at the University of Beijing, and Empa scientists worked with researchers from the University of Warwick to interpret the results. “A project like this would not be possible without cooperation,” Zhang emphasises.

Contacting individual ribbons with the nanotubes was a challenge for the researchers. “The carbon nanotubes and the graphene nanoribbons are grown on separate substrates,” Zhang explains. “First, the tubes have to be transferred to the experimental substrate and contacted with metal electrodes. Then we cut them using high-resolution electron beam lithography to separate them into two electrodes each.” Finally, the tapes are transferred to the same substrate. Precision is essential here: Even the slightest rotation of the substrates can prevent successful contact. “Access to a high-quality infrastructure at the “Binnig and Roher Nanotechnology Center” at the IBM research centre in Rüschlikon was crucial for testing and implementing this technology,” says Perrin.

Dreams of the future
The scientists confirmed the success by measuring charge transport. “Quantum effects are usually more pronounced at low temperatures, which is why we carried out the measurements at temperatures close to absolute zero in a high vacuum,” explains Perrin, while also mentioning a particularly promising property of graphene nanoribbons: “Thanks to their extremely small size, their quantum properties are very robust. We expect them to still be detectable even at room temperature.” According to the researcher, this could allow us to develop quantum technologies that do not require an elaborate cooling infrastructure.

August 2023
Wüest Partner receives Great Place to Work certification

“We are very pleased about the Great Place to Work certification. Commitment, mutual appreciation and trust have always been part of our corporate culture. The award reflects our ongoing commitment to a strong workplace culture in which our employees can develop their full potential,” says Patrik Schmid, CEO at Wüest Partner.

The Great Place to Work certification is based on the Trust IndexTM, a standardised and internationally recognised survey instrument. Between June 2022 and the beginning of July 2023, Wüest Partner employees in Germany and Switzerland were surveyed on 60 statements regarding workplace culture. The topics of the survey included trust in managers, team spirit, appreciation, respect and identification with the company. The final evaluation is based on the Trust IndexTM score, which is calculated from the average agreement with all standardised Trust IndexTM statements.

Wüest Partner Germany achieved an impressive Trust IndexTM score of 79 per cent, Wüest Partner Switzerland even 86 per cent. These excellent results underline Wüest Partner’s commitment to creating a positive and trusting working environment in which employees feel valued and supported.

“Our employees are Wüest Partner’s most important asset. In a highly competitive labour market, it is important to position ourselves as an attractive employer and to set ourselves up optimally for the future. This also includes investing in a good corporate and workplace culture. The award is therefore an additional motivation for all of us to continue on our chosen course,” says Marion Fürbeth, Head Group HR at Wüest Partner.

August 2023
Dormakaba is a practice partner in EU research on building management

The European Union is funding the openDBL (Digital Building Logbook) research project to improve building management. A total of 13 partners from eight European countries are involved, according to a media release. The only partner from practice is the Rümlang-based company dormakaba, which specialises in access management for buildings. The other partners are research institutes, administrations and companies from the IT sector.

The initiative will streamline building maintenance, improve data accessibility and promote sustainable practices, according to the release. The researchers have already held their second working meeting. It took place on 18 and 19 July at dormakaba’s headquarters in Ruemlang. “With our expertise and innovative solutions, we will help pave the way for standardised approaches and the revolutionisation of building operations,” dormakaba project coordinator Kai Oberste-Ufer is quoted as saying.

The project, which has a budget of 4.5 million euros, aims to transform the management and retrieval of building data by developing a new type of digital logbook, according to the statement. This will serve as a central platform to store and manage information, including construction details, maintenance records and operational data such as air quality. The logbook will be equipped with open interfaces.

The Europe-wide pilot tests of the 13 partners from Estonia, Germany, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Poland, Romania and Spain are coordinated by the research and technology organisation CETMA.

August 2023
Lasers enable internet backbone via satellite

The backbone of the internet – the so-called backbone – is formed by a dense network of fibre optic cables, each of which transports up to more than a hundred terabits of data per second (1 terabit = 1012 digital 1/0 signals) between the network nodes. The continents are connected through the deep sea – and that is enormously expensive: a single cable through the Atlantic requires investments of several hundred million dollars. The specialised consulting firm Telegeography currently counts 530 active submarine cables. And the trend is rising.

Soon, however, this expenditure should no longer be necessary. Scientists at ETH Zurich have demonstrated optical terabit data transmission through the air in a European Horizon 2020 project together with partners from the space industry. In future, this will make it possible to establish much cheaper and also much faster backbone connections via satellite constellations close to the earth.

Challenging conditions between Jungfraujoch and Bern
However, the project partners did not test their laser system with a satellite in orbit, but with a transmission over 53 kilometres from Jungfraujoch to Bern. “Our test distance between the High Alpine Research Station on the Jungfraujoch and the Zimmerwald Observatory of the University of Bern is much more demanding from the point of view of an optical data transmission than between a satellite and a ground station,” explains Yannik Horst, the lead author of the study and a researcher at ETH Zurich in the Institute for Electromagnetic Fields headed by Professor Jürg Leuthold.

The laser beam had to move all the way through the dense, near-ground atmosphere. In the process, the manifold turbulences of the air gases above the snow-covered high mountains, the water surface of Lake Thun, the densely built-up agglomeration of Thun and the Aare plain influenced the movement of the light waves and thus also the transmission of information. The extent to which this flickering of the air, triggered by thermal phenomena, disturbs the uniform movement of light can be seen by the naked eye on hot summer days.

Satellite internet uses slow microwave radio
Internet connections via satellites are nothing new. The best-known current example is Elon Musk’s Starlink constellation, which uses more than 2,000 satellites orbiting close to the earth to bring internet to almost every corner of the world. To transmit data between satellites and ground stations, however, radio technologies are used that are much less powerful. Like WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) or mobile radio, they work in the microwave range of the frequency spectrum and thus with wavelengths of a few centimetres.

Optical laser systems, on the other hand, work in the near-infrared light range with wavelengths that are around 10,000 times shorter and only a few micrometres. As a result, they can also transport correspondingly more information per unit of time.

In order to obtain a sufficiently strong signal at the receiver over long distances, the parallelised light waves of the laser are sent through a telescope that can be several dozen centimetres in diameter. This wide beam of light must then be aimed as precisely as possible at a telescope at the receiver whose diameter is in the order of magnitude of the received light beam.

Turbulence cancels out the modulated signals
In order to achieve the highest possible data rates, the light wave of the laser is also modulated in such a way that a receiver can detect several distinguishable states per oscillation. This means that more than one bit of information can be transmitted per oscillation. In practice, different heights (amplitudes) and shifts of the phase angle of the light wave are used. Each combination of phase angle and amplitude height then defines a different information symbol. With a 4×4 scheme, 4 bits per oscillation can thus be transmitted and with an 8×8 scheme 6 bits.

The changing turbulence of the air particles now causes the light waves to travel at different speeds inside and at the edges of the light cone. In the detector of the receiving station, this causes the amplitudes and phase angles to add or subtract each other to false values.

Mirrors correct the wave phase 1500 times per second
To prevent these errors, the French project partner supplied a so-called MEMS chip (micro-electro-mechanical system) with a matrix of 97 movable mirrors. The mirror movements make it possible to correct the phase shift of the beam on its cutting surface along the currently measured gradient 1500 times per second.

This improvement was essential to achieve a bandwidth of 1 terabit per second over a distance of 53 kilometres, as Horst emphasises.

New, robust light modulation formats were also used in the project for the first time. They massively increase the sensitivity of the detection and thus enable high data rates even under the worst weather conditions or with low laser powers. This is achieved by cleverly coding the information bits to properties of the light wave such as amplitude, phase and polarisation. “With our new 4D-BPSK modulation format (Binary Phase-Shift Keying), an information bit can still be correctly recognised at the receiver even with a very small number of only about four light particles,” Horst explains.

Overall, the specific competences of three partners were necessary for the success of the project. The French aerospace company Thales Alenia Space masters centimetre-precise targeting with lasers over thousands of kilometres in space. Onera, another French aerospace research institute, has the expertise in MEMS-based adaptive optics, which has largely eliminated the effects of air flicker. And the most effective modulation of the signals, which is essential for a high data rate, is one of the specialities of Leuthold’s research group.

Easily expandable to 40 terabits per second
The results of the experiment, presented for the first time at the European Conference on Optical Communication (ECOC) in Basel, are causing a sensation worldwide, says Leuthold: “Our system represents a breakthrough. Until now, it was only possible to connect either large distances with small bandwidths of a few gigabits or short distances of a few metres with large bandwidths using free-space lasers”.

In addition, the performance of 1 terabit per second was achieved with a single wavelength. In a future practical application, the system can easily be scaled up to 40 channels and thus to 40 terabits per second using standard technologies.

Additional potential for the new modulation format
However, Leuthold and his team will no longer concern themselves with this. The practical implementation in a marketable product will be taken over by the industrial partners. However, the ETH scientists will continue to pursue one part of their work. In the future, the new modulation format they have developed should also increase bandwidths in other data transmission processes where the energy of the radiation can become a limiting factor.

July 2023
Armasuisse builds alpine small wind solar plant in Surselva

Armasuisse Immobilien, part of the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport(DDPS), is testing with partners from Swiss industry and research how wind and sun can be used in the Alpine region to generate electricity locally. According to a media release, the construction permit for a test facility at the La Stadera site in the Surselva region in the canton of Graubünden has been granted. Construction work will begin in August and the test plant is scheduled to go into operation in autumn 2024.

The plant combines the generation of electricity through the use of wind energy and the use of solar radiation through photovoltaics. The test facility consists of a small wind turbine and bifacial (double-sided) photovoltaic modules that will be combined. The project was approved as part of the military plan approval procedure, the Federal Council‘s statement said. The wind turbine will be installed from August 2023. The photovoltaic modules arranged around the wind turbine will follow by autumn 2024 and complete the test facility.

By the end of 2025, the test facility should provide data so that the efficiency of the new type of construction can be estimated more precisely. The expected energy yield is around 60 megawatt hours per year. According to the statement, this corresponds to the electricity consumption of around 15 Swiss households. The evaluation of the data by the end of 2025 will form the basis for the decision on whether to implement a final expansion with a total of nine small wind solar plants at the site.

A solar prototype already installed in La Stadera by the Swiss system supplier Turn2Sun from La Sagne NE has already been successfully supplying electricity since winter. The solar prototype is also equipped with double-sided photovoltaic modules.

June 2023
Plant-based insulation as a CO2 sink?

The building sector is responsible for 40% of global energy consumption, 30% of greenhouse gas emissions and 36% of waste in the EU. Energy efficiency measures have reduced emissions in operations. Material production remains an underestimated source. “Grey” emissions from modern buildings are comparable to operational emissions. Building materials that sequester CO2 over the long term reduce the ecological footprint.

How CO2 can be sequestered in the long term
Empa is developing new insulation materials for buildings that can sequester CO2 in the long term. Plant waste products from agriculture and forestry are processed into insulating materials and fixed during a heat treatment. This “plant carbon” remains fixed during the life of the building and can be directly introduced into fields when the building is deconstructed, where it increases the fertility of the soil and remains stable. This is in contrast to other building materials, such as wood or cellulose insulation, which release the stored CO2 when they rot or are thermally recycled.

Physicist Wernery from Empa is conducting research with his group and the ZHAW on insulating materials made from plant carbon. The insulation material must be thermally insulating, fireproof and suitable for later use as fertiliser. Plant carbon insulation could improve Switzerland’s CO2 balance by a good 1% by replacing insulating materials such as EPS or mineral wool with plant carbon. This would save half a million tonnes of CO2 equivalents annually by avoiding emissions from the production of conventional insulation materials and by storing CO2 in the plant carbon over the long term.

Financial support – from several sources
Wernery receives financial support for his promising concept from funding institutions such as the Minerva Foundation, the ETH Board and the Swiss Federal Office of Energy. The climate fund from the Winterthur municipal utility has made a contribution to the development of the basic principles, which comes from voluntary contributions from customers who purchased two centimes per kilowatt hour of electricity.

June 2023
ETH fire simulator tests timber construction elements

Researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich have developed a new type of fire simulator. According to a media release, the oven, designed by the Institute of Structural Analysis and Design at the Department of Construction, can simulate a wide variety of fire situations. The knowledge gained from the tests should help to expand the use of wood as a sustainable building material.

The stove is intended to support sustainable timber construction, which is becoming increasingly attractive in Switzerland. Since 2015, multi-storey buildings have also been legally permissible. High-rise buildings made of wood with a height of up to 108 metres are being planned. Fire protection is all the more important here.

The stove is a metal cube reinforced with steel beams with a combustion chamber that is one metre high, one metre wide and just under 1.7 metres long. It is fired by ten gas burners, half of which are mounted on each of the two long sides. They can heat the oven to over 1400 degrees. Several cameras outside the combustion chamber record the tests and the composition of the fire gases can also be analysed.

“We can precisely adjust the temperature in the kiln and likewise the oxygen content,” Andrea Frangi, professor of wood construction and head of the simulation project, is quoted as saying in the press release. “The kiln allows us to simulate different fire courses and test their effect on the wood structures.” Wooden components can be loaded with up to 50 tonnes during the test. The development costs for the simulator amounted to 2.5 million Swiss francs.

June 2023
NEST receives aviary for drone research

A DroneHub is being set up on the NEST. As the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research(Empa) illustrates in a short video, it resembles an aviary. On a floor space of 90 square metres, a construction of metal tubes and mesh forms a cage with a height of up to eleven metres. According to an Empa release, the final construction will provide test environments for three research fields.

For the first, 3D printing in flight, an experimental wall with interchangeable modules will be used to develop drones that fly and carry out inspection and repair work vertically. “The drones can, for example, detect and repair cracks without the need for elaborate scaffolding or endangering the safety of people,” explains Mirko Kovac, the head of Empa’s Sustainability Robotics research laboratory and director of the Aerial Robotics Lab at Imperial College London.

The second application area, robotic environmental sensing, focuses on the interaction between drones and the environment. “You can place targeted sensors in nature and read the data with regular flights,” says Kovac. This is “very relevant” especially for energy plants such as wind turbines or dams, but also for collecting climate data in impassable and wide-open spaces.

The third research area wants to develop rules and technological standards for the coexistence of robots and humans, for example for interfaces between buildings and flying robots. This concerns, for example, landing sites on or near buildings or the positioning of charging stations.

May 2023
ETH and Siemens research CO2-free buildings

With the Zero Carbon Building Systems Lab(ZCBS Lab), ETH has put into operation an experimental research facility that it describes as “groundbreaking”. There, systemic aspects of materials, energy and human users for the decarbonisation of buildings are to be investigated on a 1:1 scale and under a wide range of environmental and climatic conditions.

Siemens has packed this two-storey building with state-of-the-art digital building technology solutions, according to its media release. In the test cells, climate chambers and modular test rooms, active and passive technologies for energy supply, automation and air conditioning of buildings are researched under a wide range of environmental conditions.

The ZCBS Lab was initiated by Arno Schlueter, ETH Professor of Architecture and Building Systems. The lab is closely linked to other innovative groups of the Institute of Technology in Architecture at ETH Zurich, such as the Robotic Fabrication Lab or the Immersive Design Lab.

The “highlight of the new ETH facility” is what the press release calls a room with a so-called solar emulator. Here, in addition to temperature and humidity, solar effects can be simulated during the course of the day. Such a research facility is unique in the world, according to Siemens.

“With our building management system, the foundation has been laid to further develop the existing ETH systems as needed and to connect them in the future to the open digital building platform Building X, which is part of Siemens Xcelerator,” Matthias Rebellius, CEO of Siemens Smart Infrastructure, is quoted as saying. Siemens has already been funding the ETH Sustainable Building Technologies professorship since 2009.

April 2023
New process enables individual design of bricks

Keller Unternehmungen, based in Pfungen, and the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts(HSLU) have developed a process for customising bricks. It allows builders and architects new design options in series production for the visible surface of the bricks, according to a media release.

According to the new process, the natural irregularities of historic bricks in texture and colour are brought to bear. This means that the uniqueness of a stone can be used specifically to design a façade.

“Our goal was to revive and complement these deviations, which have largely disappeared in modern brick production,” project manager Cornelia Gassler is quoted as saying.

With the cooperation of an interdisciplinary research team consisting of product designers, mechanical engineers and architects, modular tool attachments for the design of the brick surface were thus created. “The production of bricks is a technique that is thousands of years old,” Gassler continues. “Our approach, with its technically simple attachments, reflects that, but at the same time can be controlled very precisely thanks to modern digital control.”

In modern industrial brickmaking, uniformity is usually sought in bricks. Cornelia Gassler initially questioned this in her Master’s thesis in 2018 and received the Master of Arts Design promotional award from HSLU for it. In 2019, this developed into the research project ExxE, funded by Innosuisse, the Swiss Agency for Innovation Promotion, in cooperation with Keller companies.

The new designs are now available under the kelesto Signa brand from Keller Systeme AG.

April 2023
Innovations and challenges – windays 2023

After the pandemic-related online event two years ago, it was possible to shake hands again at the Bieler Kongresshaus. Well over 300 professionals took advantage of the opportunity to cultivate their network. The focus of the windays was on the trade exhibition and, above all, the exciting presentations.

Energy, ventilation, comfort
In the first presentation, National Councillor Priska Wismer discussed how politicians want to make the Swiss building stock more sustainable. By 2050, it should consume only half as much energy as it does today. This will only be possible with a significant increase in energy efficiency, as the centrist politician explained.

Kristina Orehounig from Empa presented the great importance of windows for energy-efficient renovation. Her research clearly shows that building envelopes are not only important for energy efficiency in winter. Due to climate change, heat protection in summer plays an increasingly important role. This topic was also taken up by Julia Bachinger from Holzforschung Austria. She presented 10 golden rules that make “cool rooms through cool windows” possible. A central point here is correct ventilation, which is also important for many other areas, as Julian Wenzel (Maco) and Beat Frei from the engineering firm Frei Wüst Expert pointed out in their presentations. According to SIA 180, a ventilation concept is mandatory today. When asked who is responsible for this in renovations, Beat Frei replied: “The window installer, but he often doesn’t know.”

Window installation
In the installation section, Michael Lerch from 4B showed that windows are getting bigger, heavier and more complex. Often, even the insertion of the elements on the construction sites is an elaborate challenge. Most of those involved are aware that installation does not work without perfect planning. But at least as important is the implementation, which depends heavily on the personnel deployed. Dominik Sieber (SFS) emphasised in his presentation that two thirds of complaints are directly or indirectly related to the installation.

One idea to simplify window installation is elastic bonding to the wall. Peter Schober reported on the investigations of Holzforschung Austria on this topic. With bonding, one can combine fastening, insulating and the connections on the outside and inside in one work step. However, specially modified adhesive systems and the corresponding application aids are needed. Peter Schober estimates that such systems could be on the market in two to five years.

Thechallenge of a lack of skilled workers
Since the pandemic, the shortage of skilled workers in the construction industry has become even more acute. Tom Sahli, an expert in personnel recruitment, showed in his presentation that for many employees the values of a company are clearly more important than the technical issues of the job. The younger generation’s ideas have also changed significantly in various other areas. Basically, companies today apply to potential employees, not the other way around.

A panel discussion on the same topic produced some exciting approaches. Nicole Wenger, for example, described how her company, Wenger Fenster AG, now allows part-time work in all areas, including assembly. The company also employs people with disabilities.

Markus Stebler explained that at his company, Stebler Glashaus AG, peers from the future team conduct the job interviews. The HR managers join them later.

In his small company in Reitnau AG, Heinrich Hochuli relies on continuing to employ his own apprentice carpenters after they have completed their apprenticeship. As a representative of the Association of Master Carpenters, he also pointed out the projects that the VSSM is launching to counteract the shortage of skilled workers.

Human resources expert Tom Sahli recommended that companies continue to develop their existing employees. Due to the full order books and the lack of resources, this is difficult, but worthwhile in any case.

Sustainability
Hansueli Schmid from Lignum spoke about the life cycle assessment of windows. Up to now, there has been little demand for precise values in window construction. However, this could change in the foreseeable future if ecological criteria become relevant when awarding contracts. BIM could act as a solution provider here.

The presentation by Gerald Feigenbutz, from the Quality Association for Plastic Window Profile Systems, also dealt with ways to more sustainability. His organisation is striving to further increase the proportion of recycled material in plastic windows. At the moment it is 25%. The decisive factor for the recyclability of the products is that they can be easily separated into the materials used at the end of their service life. This process must already be taken into account during development.

Digitalisation
Two examples showed how much potential the use of simulations offers. Karim Ghazi Wakili from the Bern University of Applied Sciences BFH presented hygrothermal simulations of terrace connections. And the female duo Vasiliki Gkesouli/Julia Hauth presented the project “Glass rebate bonding for plastic windows”. They used FEM models and DIC technology for their development. This not only saved them a lot of time and money, they were also able to benefit from the high reliability of modern technology.

Nikita Aigner came up with an exciting practical example. Together with a team from BFH, he digitised and automated the renovation of windows in architecturally valuable buildings. The process begins with taking measurements at the construction site. Based on the data collected there, a robot can take over the tedious manual work of glazing and milling.

Outlook
The windays are held every two years. The next windays will take place on Thursday, 3 April and Friday, 4 April 2025.

April 2023