Osnabrück/Tübingen. According tothe Federal Environment Agency, approximately 86 million metric tons of construction debris and waste are generated annually at construction sites in Germany. These materials often end up in landfills. However, this results in the loss of valuable resources. The solution: high-quality recyclingOptocycleSustainabilityDBU Green Startup FundingHeinrich Feeß GmbHStartup funding from theDBUCement: Cement is a binding agent made from limestone, clay, and other mineral substances. Among other things, it is used in the production of concrete and mortar. – the most important component of concrete – accounts for eight percent of total global greenhouse gas emissions. Berding: “Anything that contributes to reducing emissions therefore already has a major impact on climate protection.” However, a circular economy only works “if the secondary raw materials are of the same quality as those from new production. Optocycle can take exactly this step with a scalable, optimized prototype.”
an initiative of the Danube University Krems
At the annual “Forum Building Science” of Danube University – University for Continuing Education Krems, current project results and activities from the research and teaching areas of the Department of Building and Environment at Danube University Krems will be presented and discussed next Friday, May 6, 2022. In four blocks, the topics “Building and Climate”, “Heritage and Society”, “Heritage and […]
At the annual “Forum Building Science” of Danube University – University for Continuing Education Krems, current project results and activities from the research and teaching areas of the Department of Building and Environment at Danube University Krems will be presented and discussed next Friday, May 6, 2022. In four blocks, the topics “Building and Climate”, “Heritage and Society”, “Heritage and Environment” and “Heritage and Economy” will be examined in different facets. The event will take place in hybrid form for the first time
The Department of Building and Environment and its partners will once again be presenting current projects and research results at the “Forum Building Science” symposium at Danube University – University for Continuing Education Krems in 2022. This year, the forum will take place for the first time in hybrid form (online and in the Audimax of the University for Continuing Education Krems). The focus is on.
In four blocks, the topics “Building and Climate”, “Heritage and Society”, “Heritage and Environment” and “Heritage and Economy” will be examined in different facets. Each thematic block consists of presentations and a concluding discussion. Current discussions, such as in the lecture “The European city under the consequences of climate change” by DDr. Dr.h.c. Pierre Laconte, Foundation for the Urban Environment, Brussels. Andreas Salvador Habsburg-Lothringen (The International Traditional Knowledge Institute Foundation (ITKI) Austria) and Univ.-Prof. Dr. sc. techn. Dipl. Arch. ETH Christian Hanus (Department of Building and Environment, University for Continuing Education Krems). About the “Center for Renewal Louka – Sustainable Future of Architectural Heritage” will speak Ing. arch. Iveta Ludvíková, city architect of the city of Znojmo (CZ), Ing. arch. Vratislav Zíka, Faculty of Architecture, Brno University of Technology (CZ) and Darya Haroshka, MSc (Center for Architectural Heritage, University of Continuing Education Krems).
The “Accademia Vicino” in Accumoli
The focus is also on the “Accademia Vicino”, an initiative of Danube University Krems, which, together with other European research institutions in Accumoli with the “Scuola di Ricostruzione”, is dedicated to topics such as the earthquake-proof reconstruction of historic buildings. This also includes the revitalization of the social, cultural and economic structures in Accumoli.
Since its foundation, the Department of Art, Education and Architecture has been characterized by its focus on current socially relevant issues, combining expertise in ecology, economics and culture to develop sustainable architecture and living spaces “The development of new paradigms in the entire field of building culture is at the heart of our research activities. In doing so, we focus less on predetermined solutions and more on situation-specific goals,” explains Univ.-Prof. Dipl. Arch. ETH Dr. Christian Hanus. Special areas of expertise include daylight planning, the energy efficiency of old buildings, the protection of cultural assets in accordance with the 1954 Hague Convention and the valuation of listed buildings.
30 km/h zone on Maybachufer in Berlin. Photo: Wolfraum Däumel via https://www.suwolf.de, Copyright: CC BY-SA 3.0 DE
The 30 km/h zone in urban areas could become a reality. Which roads are affected? How can you suggest roads yourself? What are the advantages and disadvantages of the 30 km/h zone? What is “forever <30”? Everything you need to know.
Seven cities want 30 km/h zones throughout the city
Since 2021, seven German cities have been campaigning for 30 km/h zones throughout the city. Aachen, Augsburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Hanover, Leipzig, Münster and Ulm want to reduce the speed limit across a large area as part of a pilot project. Speeds of 50 km/h will then only be permitted on a few main roads. The cities want to use this initiative to bring about a change in the law. The initiative is supported by Agora Verkehrswende and the German Association of Cities.
“After the federal elections, we want to create a regulation in the short term that will enable local authorities to decide flexibly and objectively on a speed level that is appropriate and compatible with the city in the entire inner-city road network.” Back in July 2021, the initiative declared its intention to bring about an amendment to the Road Traffic Act. This would allow cities to set a 30 km/h speed limit on a large scale in the future.
The seven pioneering cities emphasize that this is not an initiative against motorists. Rather, the extended 30 km/h zones are intended to benefit the residents of the respective municipalities. “The efficiency of traffic is not restricted by a 30 km/h speed limit, but the quality of life is noticeably increased,” says a statement from the cities.
The advantages of 30 km/h zones
There have long been 30 km/h zones in German city centers and near schools and kindergartens. These are intended to make the roads safer for pedestrians and cyclists. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 1.3 million people worldwide die in road traffic accidents every year. This number can be significantly reduced by slowing down. And drivers are also safer when driving at 30 km/h.
The zones with lower speeds also have the advantage of reducing traffic noise and air pollution. In cities such as Frankfurt am Main, driving bans have already been discussed in order to reduce high levels of nitrogen pollution. Emissions can already be significantly reduced at 30 km/h.
A few steps have already been taken abroad: since the end of September 2021, a 30 km/h speed limit has been in force on the majority of Parisian roads. 59% of Parisians support this speed limit. In Spain, around 80 percent of all urban areas are 30 km/h zones. Here, the maximum speed depends on the number of lanes. On single-lane roads without markings in the middle, only 20 km/h is permitted.
The idea behind 30 km/h zones
30 km/h zones are supported by many organizations, but also by residents and environmentalists. In Germany, it is currently still necessary to justify a deviation from the usual 50 km/h in the city. It is therefore usually only possible to reduce the speed in residential areas and for child and noise protection. Many 30 km/h zones are short or only apply at certain times.
According to Deutsche Umwelthilfe, this is not sufficient to achieve the positive effects of these zones on traffic flow, mobility behavior, environmental impact and accident figures. The organization is therefore calling for a 30 km/h speed limit in built-up areas throughout Germany.
Umwelthilfe points to the positive figures from other European cities, where up to 70 percent fewer accidents per year have been recorded since the introduction of 30 km/h zones. The World Health Organization also advocates a 30 km/h speed limit in all cities and villages around the world in order to protect human lives.
With the “Always under 30” initiative, Deutsche Umwelthilfe offers materials and support for local authorities that want to introduce 30 km/h zones. 140 municipalities in Germany have already joined forces to form an alliance. Together, they are calling on Federal Transport Minister Wissing to give them more room for maneuver. This would allow local authorities to impose a 30 km/h speed limit on main roads. So far, however, there have been no changes to the road traffic regulations regarding 30 km/h zones.
Background: Under 30 since 1979
30 km/h zones are used in Germany to calm traffic. According to “Vision Zero”, people are significantly less likely to die in a collision at 30 km/h than at 50 km/h. The aim is to reduce the number of traffic fatalities in Germany to zero.
The first traffic-calmed zone in Germany was created in Hamburg’s Lindenallee in 1979. In this 30 km/h zone, sidewalks and roads were also combined, parking zones were set up and greened swerves were built. The nearby city center of Buxtehude became the first major 30 km/h zone in Germany in 1983. Other cities such as Munich and Cologne followed suit.
Today, Freiburg is one of the most active cities in the field of road safety and environmental friendliness. With a pilot project, the city wants to demonstrate how 30 km/h could work throughout the city. In the spirit of the mobility transition, Freiburg is also encouraging other cities to join the initiative of Agora and the German Association of Cities.
Read more about the traffic turnaround and the future of cycling in Germany here.