The German H4.0E partner, European Institute for Innovation (EIfI-Tech), was in Schwäbisch Gmünd yesterday to discuss the future of this energy efficient Zero Energy Home (ZEH) pilot city.
The pilot in Schwäbisch Gmünd, located in southern Germany, demonstrates a home energy storage system linked to RES and its effect to produce affordable ZEH, facilitated through smart use of 4.0 techniques. These 4.0 digitisation techniques allow for efficient planning of a high-quality industrially pre-manufactured wooden frame / solidwood elements coupled to energy technology with time efficient craftsmanship. In turn, this leads to greater innovation and sustainability with less C02 in the life cycle process, as well as reduced costs to the end user.
Director of the EIfI-Tech, Chris Ashe, headed to the German H4.0E local stakeholder meeting in Schwäbisch Gmünd.
The focus of the German pilot is to provide more sustainable & affordable student housing options in Baden-Württemberg, Germany—specifically in the city of Schwäbisch Gmünd. EIfI-Tech therefore met in the Schwäbisch Gmünd City hall with local decision makers and stakeholders to discuss potential pilot locations and potential challenges in the selection process, as well as any technical details and implications of connecting student homes with 100% renewable energy. A project timeline was also drawn up, taking into account the needs of the stakeholders and the city inhabitants. Environmental consideration regarding maintaining the heritage were at the forefront of discussions also.
Madeline Langlois (EIfI-Tech), alongside Panjörg Salzmann of local stakeholder EnergyTube.
Constant communication with local stakeholders and decision makers, who are engaged with and passionate about the city of Schwäbisch Gmünd, on these topics is vital to project pilot success. Importantly, a successful project will provide an increase in living standards and a smaller carbon footprint for the students;n addition to the other H4.0E pilots and, ultimately, North West Europe as a whole. The EIfI-Tech will extract what they have learned from the local stakeholder meetings and apply this insight to ensure a successful German H4.0E pilot and a low-carbon future for North West Europe.
