FACTOR FOUR - Microclimatic shell for buildings

Microclimatic shell for buildings A Mediterranean climate in the Ruhr district! A new wood-and-glass construction stands at the site of the former Mont Cenis coal mine in Herne-Sodingen. Its vast interior accommodates the Further Training Academy of the North Rhine-Westphalian Ministry of the Interior, a hotel, a restaurant, a library and a community centre. The temperatures inside the structure are distinctly Mediterranean and allow all the buildings there to be made of wood, which involves substantial savings compared to building in an exposed location. The glass skin of the structure reduces the energy requirements of the institutions within and therefore lowers greenhouse gas emissions. The buildings are heated mainly using methane from the former mine. Long unused, this gas from the shafts and tunnels below is an economically viable source of energy. The microclimatic shell is also the world’s largest building-integrated solar power station, producing 750,000 kWh of energy per year - twice the requirement of the buildings inside. What is special about this model is the combined use of coal mine gas (methane), renewable energies and heat recovery in connection with direct benefits for quality of life. This stimulates urban and economic development in the region, and the concept can also be easily transferred to similar locations. Read more...
Factor-four effects
	Reduces emissions of greenhouse gases
	Increases share of renewable energy sources
	Recycles land
	Saves water
	Saves energy
	Low transport demand
	Long life-span
	Protection against noise
	Economic viability
	Promotes urban and economic development
	Increases quality of life
	Creates a positive image




Contacts Akademie Mont Cenis Further Training Academy of the North Rhine-Westphalian Ministry of the Interior Fortbildungsakademie des Innenministeriums des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen Mont-Cenis-Platz 1 44627 Herne Tel. +49-(0)2323-965-0 Fax +49-(0)2323-965-1199 poststelle@fah.nrw.de http://www.fortbildungsakademie.nrw.de For questions on FACTOR FOUR Dr. Raimund Bleischwitz Tel. +49-(0)202-2492-256 raimund.bleischwitz@wupperinst.org

The Further Training Academy of the North Rhine-Westphalian Ministry of the Interior at the site of the former Mont Cenis mine (Source: www.route-industriekultur.de)