Young academics of the HAWK in Holzminden receive Energy Award

Student research project on sustainable housing

Silvana Küsel wrote her thesis on sustainable building. In line with the curriculum of the degree program "Green Building - Building Technology, Energy Efficiency, People and the Environment", the objective was to construct a building shell based on natural resources that exhibits a positive effect on people's health.

Low-energy production was stipulated and students were tasked with drawing on renewable energies to the greatest extent possible. Silvana Küsel explains that: "The Green Building course of study conveys a holistic approach to viewing and evaluating a building. It provides the opportunity to plan a green building concept while taking into account all the trades involved."

Master’s thesis on ultra-filtration system for drinking water

In his master's thesis for the degree course "Energy-Efficient and Sustainable Construction," Axel Schmidt examined the economic viability of an ultra-filtration system for drinking water in building technology. His thesis examines how efficient integration of renewable energy in the treatment of drinking water – along with improved sector coupling – can be achieved through a more economical use of heat pumps. "I was happy to seize the opportunity to present my master's thesis to a jury panel of experts and also make the results available to a wider public," Axel Schmidt remarked. "Especially since such an award is much valued by potential employers and the prize money defrays my expenses."

The jury honored the theses with prize money of 1500 euro each. "The Energy Award enables the building of networks between universities of applied sciences and art and universities in this region. At the award ceremony, I was able to share and exchange ideas with the other prize winners, jury members and people from the audience," said Silvana Küsel. Axel Schmidt added:"This recognition demonstrates that even small, local contributions to the energy turnaround can be recognized and financed by society. I welcome this because every contribution counts and young academics are encouraged to take their ideas to the wider community."

Six papers on different subject areas

Altogether three separate papers and three project groups earned awards. The other winners completed their papers at the Technische Hochschule Ostwestfalen-Lippe and the University of Paderborn. Their papers cover a wide range of topics related to today's energy sector, with a special focus on electromobility, climate-neutral housing and resource conservation.

This is already the 19th time that Westfalen Weser Energie has presented the Energy Award. With this award, the Paderborn-based municipal energy service provider supports and promotes young scientists in East Westphalia-Lippe and the Weserbergland region. The universities and institutes that took part in the competition are remarkable for their degree programs’ high level of practical relevance and the close links they forge with the economy through research projects and theses, which are often realized in cooperation with regional businesses. A total of 9000 euro in prize money was awarded.