SOLARbrunn

Within the scope of the present project pupils of the Higher College of Engineering (HTL) Hollabrunn developed recommendations for the conversion of an existing building into a “Green Building” (Johnston & Gibson, 2008). The object chosen for this purpose was a municipal building in Hollabrunn, already fulfilling “low-energy standards”: the “Landeskindergarten Robert Löfflerstraße 7”.

When intending to create a “Green” (or sustainable) building ecologic, economic, and social aspects have to be combined, sustainable solutions cannot be scaled down to technical solutions that only reduce the amount of energy needed within a building. True sustainable solutions must respect economic and ecologic considerations as well as the needs and comfort of the users.

Therefore, the focal question of the project was how approaches to solutions change if not only technical possibilities are considered, but also economic considerations as well as the user’s quality of life. For achieving the thereof derived objectives the first ever full collaboration of all four departments of the HTL (electronics, electric engineering, mechanical engineering with a focus on environmental technology, engineering management) was established. In the context of the HTL-diploma the pupils dealt with these issues in a collaborative research process. They were not only supported by their teachers but also by an interdisciplinary team of researchers - a physicist, and a physics’ education expert, both of the University of Vienna, a social anthropologist of the Umweltdachverband, as well as teacher students majoring in physics.

For evaluating the present status of the Kindergarten building concerning indoor environmental quality and energy use, technical, economic, and social data were collected in the period from fall 2014 to spring 2016. During the data acquisition phases the pupils were introduced to appropriate research and evaluation methods while applying their knowledge on measurement techniques and instruments. Information provided by the users concerning daily use of the building and the facilities as well as (potential) difficulties were used for the design of the measurement procedures. Based on the collected data the pupils developed possible measures for optimization: raising thermal comfort within the building (active / passive cooling, green wall), using photovoltaics, and improving energy management processes. The final version of possible measures for optimization were presented to all project members as well as regional policy makers, thus enabling a discussion concerning the feasibility and expected costs of implementing these measures.

The project demonstrates the focal importance of (potential) users and the municipality members in the development process of sustainable technical solutions: in the planning and building process, but also for the commissioning, maintenance and management of the technical devices. Besides, for a successful process communication on eye-height is important while at the same time keeping in mind questions of hierarchy and power-relations.

Social aspects are vital for the success of sustainable technical innovations. This leads to a series of interesting possibilities for vocational schools educating future engineers: The focus of education has to be extended to discussing social practices which arise by using these technologies, which could also change the masculine connotation of engineering. Engineering could become attractive for a larger group of young people, especially for young women. Given such an organisational development, HTLs could also become drivers of regional sustainable development and future engineers could find interesting job opportunities in the region.

The following crucial aspects for steering a successful research process were identified: linking sustainability with gender and power perspectives, including laypersons and the users' behavior and needs, and applying socio-scientific methods in addition to scientific methods. It was the precondition for a smooth common learning process of the actors from science, education, politics, and practice. Thus, reflecting the mechanisms of gender and power relations might also be the precondition of a change in energy politics.

For delivering the experiences gained amongst teachers and for stimulating sustainable optimization of buildings in Austrian municipalities a series of teaching and learning materials were developed: teaching environments for „photovoltaics“, „indoor environmental quality and comfort in buildings”, training courses about energy and sustainability for teachers and teacher students, a manual for stakeholders intended for use in other Austrian communities that are interested in „greening a building“.