Glossar

From an Ecological Point of View - that is: minimising energy consumption by insulation, reduction of carbon dioxide emission by utilising solar energy and lumber, application of environment-friendly material for insulation, repair measures and modernisation measures.

Emissions: Combustion of energy resources creates pollutants as well as H20 and COs, which are not counted as pollutants; within waste gas and exhaust fumes, all these substances enter into the atmosphere. The most significant pollutants in waste gas are: CO (carbon monoxide); NOx (nitrogen oxides), N2= (bi-nitrogen monoxide); SOx (sulphur oxides); dust (= fine substance particles); soot (= unburned, almost pure carbon), CxHy (hydrocarbons). Combustion waste containing chlorine (e.g. PVC) aromatic hydrocarbons can occur (PAK, PCDD, PCDF), some of them being extremely toxic, mutagenic (= influencing genes), and causing cancer.

Final Energy: The final energy from providing space heating equals the thermal energy requirements, i.e. the calorific value of fuels, being greater than the effective energy by such amount of energy as is lost during energy transformation in the heating system (the higher the efficiency degree of the heating system, is the lower the energy loss).

Transformation Energy Loss: Each energy transformation is accompanied by energy loss. In every part of the process chain, heat creation O heat transport O heat release, heat flows towards the desired useful application and some heat is lost. At the kettle, it is mostly waste gas loss (heat content of waste gas being led outside across the grill; the lower the waste gas temperature and the smaller the air surplus in combustion, are the smaller the losses); to a lesser degree, losses occurring from kettle surface to boiler room. These are often called "radiation losses", although the greater part of these losses result from heat release by convection (kettle surface O room air) and only a small part are caused by radiation (the lower the waste gas temperature and the smaller the air surplus in combustion, are the smaller the losses). While the burner is off, there are additional inner cooling losses, as the chimney draft causes constant fresh air suction through the kettle. Upon starting the burner, air pre-flow also causes higher losses. During heat distribution as well as during heat release, heat can be lost, i.e. not be applied towards room heating. Dominating factor for this kind of losses are mainly better or worse thermal insulation of (water)pipes or (air)channels, their respective location in the building and the type and fixing of applied heating surfaces (heat accumulation in radiator mixers leading to increased transmission losses; "downward" loss from floor heating, etc).

European Thermie-Program: The European Commission supported the application of innovative technology for exploitation of solar energy and energy conservation under a special program "Thermie". Assistance is still being awarded, although the programs are restructured now and again. Current information is available under www.cordis.lu.

Fossil Fuels and Renewable Energy Sources: Renewable energy sources are water energy, wind energy, solar energy and bio-mass. Although bio-mass (e.g. lumber) is consumed during utilisation, it grows back within two or three generations. In contrast, fossil fuels such as oil, are counted as non-renewable energy sources. Even though the basis of oil is also bio-mass, the time frame of creation spans millions of years. Renewable energy sources are COs-neutral and do not further the greenhouse effect. The use of non-renewable energy sources negatively influences world-wide climate by CO2 emissions.

General Reconstruction means to reconstruct a building over-all. Measures are not specifically defined, but Reconstruction mostly comprises heating and facade, and often, the roof. Over-all reconstruction is a convenient opportunity to introduce ecological measures. To achieve energy conservation and reduction of carbon dioxide, it is insufficient to insulate the facade, basement ceiling and top floor ceiling. A better insulated building requires lower heating capacity, thus allowing the kettle to be of lesser dimensions, thereby rendering energy supply more efficient and further increasing energy conservation. Changing the energy source (e.g. from oil to gas, or -better yet- to lumber chips and wood pellets) further reduces CO2 emissions. In many cases, water can be led into a hot water kettle heated up by solar panels on the roof. This further improves the CO2 balance of Reconstruction. Conditions are favourable when roof and heating system need renewal, anyway.

HTS-Level: Informationen zum Ausbildungssystem in den Niederlanden siehe "Endbericht Quintec"

Kohlendioxid (CO2): Das ungiftige Gas ist ein natürlicher Bestandteil der Atmosphäre und entsteht bei allen Verbrennungsvorgängen und als Stoffwechselprodukt von Menschen, Tieren und Pflanzen. Durch die pflanzliche Photosynthese wird Kohlendioxid mit Wasser zur organische Verbindungen und Sauerstoff umgewandelt. Durch Industrie, Hausbrand und Straßenverkehr hat sich der Kohlendioxidgehalt der Atmosphäre drastisch erhöht, wodurch es zu einer Erwärmung der Erdatmosphäre kommt (Treibhauseffekt). Individuell anwendbare technische Maßnahmen zur Emissionsbeschränkung wie beispielsweise Filter oder Katalysator gibt es für Kohlendioxid nicht. Die einzig wirksame Reduzierung der CO2 -Emissionen ist die Verringerung des - fossilen - Energieverbrauch.

MTS-Ausbildung: For information on the education system in The Netherlands, see "quintec Final Report".

Sustainable Development: The term "sustainable development" indicates an economy not strictly focusing on growth but building up ecologically and socially agreeable structures, thereby being able to survive, in the long run. The "Brundtland Report" states this definition for sustainable development: "Sustainable development is a development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."

Effictive Energy: Effective energy is the energy providing the desired energy service, e.g. room heating. The service room heating can be provided by various energy sources (final energy). In the context of room heating, the effective energy corresponds to the thermal energy requirements (the amount of energy required for heating-up the building).

Eco-balance: In an eco-balance environmental effects of products, processes, services, etc. are observed and evaluated over their entire life-span, i.e. from exploitation of raw materials up to waste disposal, or - in other words - from cradle to coffin. Such over-all description comprising more than partial aspects intends to prevent environmental problems from merely shifting from one environmental medium to another (e.g. from air to soil) or from production to waste disposal.

Ecological Evaluation: Key data, serving for quantitative description of environmental effects. A factual balance lists all input- and output-items. Each item of the factual balance can be correlating to various environmental problems (e.g. sulphur dioxide emission corresponding to the environmental problem "acid rain"). The key figure intends to express this correlation. Since ecological potentials, in most cases, study only one specific environmental problem (e.g. "GWP, Global Warming Potential" for the probable influence of an atmospheric emission on the greenhouse effect, "ODP, Ozone Depletion Potential" as an indicator for the destruction of stratospheric ozone), various ecological potentials must be referred to in estimating an accumulated effect.

Polystyrene Panels: Thermal insulation panels are made of polystyrene with the application of propellants. It is important which propellants are applied: If the substance is hundred- or thousand time more active regarding the greenhouse effect than CO2, the greenhouse gas-reducing effect of the thermal insulation is reduced, proportionately. Another key factor is the way of mounting the panels on the wall: If they are glued on, an inseparable substance compound occurs creating hazardous waste to be disposed of at high cost in the future. Polystyrene is made based on mineral oil. Therefore, this insulation material must be rated in respect of the environmental impact caused by world-wide exploitation and processing of mineral oil (soil contamination by leakage of pipelines, loss of income of indigenous peoples resulting from contaminated rivers, health damages by combustion, ...).

PUR (Polyurethan): Polyurethane is made from di-isocyanides and polyolene. During the long process chain, a variety of toxic substances is applied. Two of them - phosgene and methylisocyanate - gained tragic recognition from the chemical accident in Bhopal, India, with 3,000 dead and 200,000 injured. Another substance used in PUR-production is TDI contained in so-called soft foams, which is rated by the U.S. environmental authorities as one of the most toxic chemicals of all. It belongs to the group of toxic isocyanides affecting the lungs and being among the strongest man-made allergy-causing substances. Equally problematic is its disposal: Additive substances, released in the waste disposal sites can contaminate ground water, the waste incineration plant creates toxic gases. Polyurethane is used as insulation material with the best rating among all insulation materials. It is also used for glue, varnish, and synthetic fibres.

PVC (Polyvinyl chlorid): The mass-produced synthetic material PVC is one of the most controversial materials. Because of its wide range of applicability, very good workability, and low-cost production it is presently found everywhere. On the other hand, its production causes strong environmental impact - chlorine chemistry and numerous toxic pre- and side-products (vinyl chlorine is hepatotoxic, mutagenic, and carcinogenic), emission of additional substances and disintegration products causes environmental and health hazards, and difficult disposal on waste disposal sites and incineration plants (emission of hydrochloric acid vapours during incineration) must be taken into consideration. For many sectors of PVC application there are now alternative materials, mostly still more expensive.

Transparent Thermal Insulation (solar elements) works like a traditional thermal insulation reducing energy loss through walls from inside to outside. Additionally, solar elements lead sun radiation from outside to inside, through the wall into the room, improving the building's energy balance.

Environmentally Compatible Color Systems use water as dissolvant instead of volatile hydrocarbons (organic dissolvants based on mineral oil). reduction of organic dissolvants not only improves the environmental evaluation but also relieves workers during processing. Other environmentally agreeable colour systems are made from plants. These systems contain organic dissolvants. Although they are made from plants and therefore environmentally agreeable, but with regard to health hazards, protective measures similar to those applied in processing common systems containing dissolvants must be observed.