With the shortage of heating oil in European countries this year, a new startup is helping cut both heating costs and CO2 emissions with a new cladding for multistory buildings.
Ecoworks, a Berlin-based startup is to renovate apartment buildings in the German city of Bochum, giving them a tailored wooden “second skin” to make them more energy efficient.
The project by Ecoworks reflects the growing demand for climate-friendly and energy-saving renovations in response to Germany’s energy crisis that has caused a surge in heating costs.
Buildings account for 35% of total energy consumption in Germany, Europe’s biggest economy, where almost a third of its 19.25 million residential buildings have the lowest and next to lowest rankings on energy efficiency, a study by the GdW housing and real estate association showed in February.
“Normally such projects take 6 to 9 months. In our case, it takes 15 weeks,” Emanuel Heisenberg, the CEO of Ecoworks.
By using cellulose for insulation and wood for the outer facades, the company says its renovations are CO2-neutral.
“You cannot tear down all the houses and build them new with cement with steel. It’s just well above our carbon budget. So you have to build with renewable materials such as wood,” Heisenberg said.
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Gary Fleisher is the Editor in Chief of Modular Home Source and Offsite Builder. Email at [email protected]
Gary Fleisher, Editor in Chief of Offsite Construction Magazine
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