Better insulation – consequences for nature
Greenery-covered buildings with facade-integrated nesting aids
The parking lot at Pfaffenwaldring is swarming with bees
When man and nature live together and both benefit from it
The IABP scientists always keep in mind the interaction of man and nature – an approach that is also socially accepted, explains Head of Institute Prof. Philip Leistner: “People’s acceptance of this development is definitely there, as our surveys have shown.” Pia Krause, M. Sc., Meier’s colleague, pursues the same objective with her research on the interaction of trees in front of buildings and the respective indoor climate. Ideally, trees help reduce interior energy consumption and improve the carbon footprint while preserving wildlife habitat.Ein Jahr lang wird Meier die Ansiedlungen beobachten und dabei bauphysikalische Messungen vornehmen. Wichtig sind vor allem Temperatur und Feuchtigkeit, auch mit Blick auf die späteren menschlichen Nachbarn auf der Innenseite der Fassade. Die Gebäudebeheizung im Winter soll ebenfalls simuliert werden. Energieeffiziente Wände und Dächer werden mit dem Angebot an die Tiere in Einklang gebracht. „Es soll für Mensch und Tier angenehm sein“, betont Meier.
Islands of green in the city
If the greenery around and on, for example, large university buildings is included, then “stepping stones” for animals and plants can be created even in cities: Some animal species and plant seeds cannot overcome a large-scale concrete wasteland, but if they repeatedly find islands of green, so-called stepping stone biotopes, then they can spread and mix the gene pool. In this way, rare species can be preserved. “You can achieve so much with small islands of green,” Meier says. Among other things, she is involved in the Girls Day, where she passes on her enthusiasm. She also emphasizes the relevance of environmental education for children to reduce alienation from nature. Lastly, she gives us a piece of advice for home use: “Just leave the flower stalks after flowering - many insects retreat into the stems to hibernate inside them. It doesn’t always have to be tidy, sometimes clutter can be a habitat.”
Contact | Linda Meier, M. Sc.; Institute for Acoustics and Building Physics (IABP), Pfaffenwaldring 7, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany; +49 711 685-65629, Fax: +49 711 685-66583, |
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