Enlarge: Technology Showcase East China - LUTHER Design

Within the last 40 years, Shanghai has exponentially grown into one of the largest cities in the world. Especially at the beginning of this phase, many factories and office buildings have been constructed in a simple, fast, but not energy efficient way. The original building of this showcase was completed in the 1980’s as a factory and was converted into an office building in 2013. The LUTHER Design office, located in the main building serves as a first example for the application of modern energy-efficiency standards in old buildings. It has been renovated in line with the passive house standards and certified by the Passive House Institute.

The project shows that with the rich experience and proper supporting products, a high standard of energy saving could be achieved even in the existing building originally built with lower standards. This specific building has relatively complex geometry and structure, so it was a great challenge to achieve the passive house renovation standard (EnerPHit). The passive-house renovation is achieved through several criteria including a powerful HVAC system, high-quality construction materials and specific design. German products and technologies like Heinz Keller GmbH adhesive and sealing tapes, were used to achieve the airtightness of the passive house unit. With the usage of ebmpapst radial fans, the ventilation system reached more power and better distribution of the room temperature.

Currently the designers are hoping that this pilot project will trigger further renovation efforts in other units of the building and that the whole office complex can be transformed into a modern and energy efficient space step by step.

About the Energy Efficiency Award

The Energy Efficiency Award 2020 – East-China was organized by the German Industry & Commerce Greater China in Shanghai (AHK Greater China Shanghai) in September 2020.

In order to illustrate the successful implementation of German technologies, products, and services in construction projects in East China, five examples were awarded and presented to a broad public audience. The selected reference projects show innovative German energy efficiency technologies, e.g. in the field of isolation, heating, and heat recovery, as well as the use of planning, architecture, and engineering services from Germany. All projects are results of fruitful cooperation between German companies or institutions and their Chinese partners.

On September 16th, 2020, the awarded projects have been published with videos and presentations of the project representatives at a hybrid event in the office of the AHK Shanghai and broadcasted worldwide through the internet.

The Energy Efficiency Awards are part of the German Energy Solutions Initiative of the German Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy to recognise the positive impact German energy efficiency technologies have on China’s efforts to become more energy efficient.