The sector's leading industrial association

Manufacturers of high-efficiency systems for heating, hot water provision, ventilation and air-conditioning in buildings are organized in the Federal Industrial Association of Germany House, Energy and Environmental Technology (BDH). These manufacturers produce modern wood, oil and gas-fired boilers, heat pumps, solar installations, ventilation systems, control and regulation mechanisms, radiators and panel heating/cooling systems, burners, heat stores, heating pumps, flue systems, storage tanks and other ancillary components. They generate a turnover of 13 billion Euros and employ some 67,000 staff worldwide. Because of the relative high investment in Research and Development - an annual figure of around 468 million Euros - the member companies of the BDH enjoy a leading position in international markets and are technologically ahead of the field. 

Fuels in flux

Responsibility for the environment, the efficient use of scare energy resources as well as rising energy prices have caused public interest to focus more strongly on energy-efficient systems and the use of renewable energies in the heating market. By modernizing the way energy is used in the existing building stock with energy-efficient heating and ventilation systems, combined with renewable energy sources, very considerable savings in energy and potential reductions in CO_² can be achieved. The energy efficiency of the existing building stock is around 50 %, according to information supplied by the European Union (source: Green Paper on "Energy Efficiency or Doing More with Less"). So buildings consume twice as much energy as is technically feasible. 

Double strategy: efficiency and renewable energies

Responsibility for the environment, the efficient use of 40% of Europe's energy consumption is accounted for by the building stock. A good 85% of that serves to heat the building and to provide hot water. This, in turn, corresponds to around a third of the total energy consumption in Europe. Increasing the efficiency of existing installations in buildings can achieve energy savings of 30% and more. In order to meet the targets set, the quota of modernisation work needs to be doubled. Alongside these measures fossil fuels should be gradually squeezed out by increasing use of renewable energies. With this strategy, the proportion of biofuel in the heating market should be boosted by at least 10%. At the same time, the modernization rate for thermal insulation of building envelopes should be increased. 

In's current projects include improving access to the Russian, Ukrainian, Chinese, Indian and North American markets. In opening up the Russian and Ukrainian markets, the BDH is working closely with Messe Düsseldorf, Messe Leipzig International, the Association of the German Trade Fair Industry - AUMA and the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology. The BDH presidency is held by Klaus Jesse, managing director of Vaillant Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, with Mr. Andreas Lücke acting as the association's General Executive Manager. 


Contact:
Federal Industrial Association of Germany House, Energy and Environmental Technology (BDH)
Frankfurter Str. 720–726
51145 Cologne
Germany

Phone: +49 2203 93593-0
Fax: +49 2203 93593-22
E-mail: info@bdh-koeln.de 
Internet: www.bdh-koeln.de