The living lab Climate-Energy-Water serves to demonstrate structural measures in existing buildings in the context of water-sensitive cities and the energy transition. The necessary structural measures and their synergetic couplings are to be exemplarily implemented, investigated and independently evaluated at the TU Berlin’s hydraulic engineering hall. A central concern is to present the results of the long-term monitoring to all visitors online and directly on site.

In addition to its function as a learning and teaching laboratory, city authorities, real estate industries, interested experts and laities can learn on site how existing buildings and neighborhoods can be transformed to have a positive impact on climate: By using photovoltaics on roof, front and window surfaces, energy is generated regeneratively locally in the existing building and net energy demand of the building is reduced. The building’s water management is sustainable. Rainwater is actively managed locally and not discharged into the sewer system, reducing pollutant loads to urban waterways. Front greening and technical systems on the building enable the storage and use of precipitation water. It is used as service and cooling water. The necessary storage and irrigation systems, such as pumps, valves, control electronics and sensors, are supplied regeneratively by the photovoltaics on the building. Building shading and transpiration cooling by vegetation and rainwater management increase climatic resilience and reduced cooling and heating demand leads to CO2 savings. Valuable ecosystem-relevant habitats are created on the building and in the neighbourhood through the increased greening, contributing to the increase and appreciation of biodiversity. In designing and setting up the living lab, we draw on the results and experience of research projects such as Vertical Green 2.0 and BlueGreenStreets.

 Idea sketch for the real lab, graphic: Kluge and Nehls

Thematic approaches:
#WaterSensitiveCity #EnergyTurnaround #OpenData

Spatial approaches:
#Buildings #Quarter #Campus Charlottenburg

Partner:
TU Berlin (Department Ecohydrology)  – Dr. Thomas Nehls, Dr. Björn Kluge, Prof. Dr. Eva Paton + Rietschel Institut – Dr. Stefan Brandt + Centre for Technology and Society – Dr. Gabriele Wendorf + District of Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf of Berlin, Environmental and Nature Conservation Office – Dr. Ulrich Heink