Fourth Transnational Meeting

In Germany I was several times. For this visit I was looking forward, since the program was really interesting from vocational and also cultural sides. The visit fulfulled my expectations since I could see the training center for building reconstructions and system of passive house. I met with new technologies and normatives and sequences, calculations necessary to set the energy efficiency. Organisation of activities and their carrying out was on very high level. I appreciate the exchange of experience between the partners from the other countries. I would like to thank the organisers and we look forward to our final meeting in Slovakia.

Gabriel, Regionálna rozvojová agentúra Turiec, Slovakia

I was looking forward to go to Germany, I had the opportunity to see before a training center for constructions and household energy technologies, so I wanted to see more in Zella-Mehlis. We traveled by car for almost 9 hours and it was nice to finally see our project colleagues at the accommodation. The dinner was quite light, since it was Sunday so we went to closeby pub/restaurant to have a short discussion. The BSC Gaestehaus is very nice accommodation for students, but very clean nice and we were welcomed by very friendly landlord. In the morning after nice breakfast we met the partners and by minibus we went to BTZ Rohr-Kloser where we first had a session about German history of DEA and also brief discussion regarding certificates and trainings. I learned there are 2 main normatives that cover the energy efficiency of buildings - the DIN 4701 a "small norm" and DIN 18599 "full norm" that both cover EPCs for also innovative tehcnologies in buildings. After discussion we went downstairs, where we could see many renewable energies in practice. First the solar heating, and next to it solar cooling with Brome, for me new concept. Also we checked out the building simulations of many situations in practice where we could touch the materials and see compositions of walls etc. Especially we liked the air exchange unit looking like radiator but very efficient in recuperation and fresh air changing. I would like to add this institute is inspiration for us to do this in Martin, Slovakia in next few years together with local VET technical school. After the lunch of Szegedin goulash, knoedel or Tortellini (international meals :)) we went to Suhl museum of Motorbikes Simson, where the director of museum told us many interesting historical facts about the Simson factory, as a head constructer engineer he spent there 30 years and was quite sad about factory closing donw in 1990, the same year their bikes won the World Enduro Championchip. He also gave us very nice tour around, with very special and expensive(!) exhibits like Simson Supra A that was absolutely amazing and huge! And I was surprised that one of the other cars had value 500.000€ Also they had room of prototypes and we could see from 80s a production model of electrobike that you could charge from household socket! But since it was 2000DM more expensive than regular model people didnt want it too much. The museum was very interesting and I would like to thank our hosts for organizing the visit. After that we went to accommodation and had a dinner with partners in the evenning. The next day after breakfast we met with partners in meeting room, where Fergal welcomed us with review of agenda and we started with presentations of Country reports from all partners. We were interupted by call to lunch, that was at BSC center up the hill, just few minute walk. After lunch we finished the presentations, discussed details about Slovak meeting in Bratislava and Martin and worked on division of the main report and who will compile what section. We finished by distributing all tasks among partners equally so that all will contribute to the final Partnership DEA report in time. We said goodby to leaving partners and I am looking forward to the Slovak meeting, we are hosting in July!

Martin, Regionálna rozvojová agentúra Turiec, Slovakia

This was my first time to take part in this meeting and I had possitive exceptation about it. We left Martin at 10 o'clock and we arrieved to the point of meeting - Zella-Mehlis at 8:00 p.m. It was long, but very creative "working" journey, because we were talking about many topics and about project, our goals and visions... When we came to Gästehause of BSC we met some of project partners outside. We were tired after travelling so we went to sleep. Next day-11.5.2015 we spent in great, effecient and useful way. We wisited "profesional training and technology centre Rohr-Kloster" where we could see new materials, techniques, processes and we get a lot of new information How to build buildings ( residential, non-commercial, commercial) to improve their energy effecienty and we have discussion about EPC led by local German experts. With my colleagues - Martin and Gabriel we discussed how to use and implement all this new knowledge in practice. It is good motivation to think about all received information. After lunch I loved to museum of vehicles. We get very interesting lecture about history of Samson motorbikes and vehicles (history of the company). The same day in the eveninig we met together after end in restaurant and we discussed about national differencies, our activities, changes, ideas... Next day- 12.5.2015 we have reporting meeting and great lunch in BSC canteen. Generaly I can say I spent very useful and nice time here with great people and I left With lot of new informations and i hope we can bring all new knowledges to our region.

Dusana, Regionálna rozvojová agentúra Turiec, Slovakia

The fourth project meeting took place in Zella-Mehlis, Germany, 11th – 12th May 2015. The attendees from Austria were Christoph Holzner and Johannes Kohlmaier. On the morning of the first day of the meeting the project group visited the BSC and the Kloster Rohr, were we got some valuable insights in the energy efficiency and construction of the buildings. In the afternoon we visited the automotive museum in Suhl. Also there the topic energy efficiency was an issue, when we compared the fuel consumption of some oldtimers (cars and motorcycles), which is up to 20l/100km, or race cars from the 30s and 50s with nowadays fuel-efficient vehicles. The day ended up with some interesting discussions on several project related topics (sustainability, CSA, IBU etc.) and intensifying the network among the project partners.

The second day was dedicated to the (organisational) project work. Presentations of the country reports were the first point. The comparison of the different country specific situations (legal framework, training, practical work) of the work of DEA and their work on EPCs gave a good overall picture. A lot of similarities, but also some contradictions were discovered. That was followed by an overview about the upcoming tasks till the next project meeting and for the final report. The main tasks will be the compilation of the final project report out of the country reports. All the questions regarding mobilities, certificates, organisation and administration of the final meeting were clarified. After a visit to the BCS (including lunch), the meeting was closed in the afternoon and partners started their travel back home.

CPC, Austria