BIBM Newsletter January 2012
ECONOMIC PERSPECTIVES
- On 31 January 2012 Eurostat released the figures for unemployment for December 2011. The euro area seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 10.4% in December 2011, while the EU27 unemployment rate was 9.9%, both unchanged compared with November 2011.
European Commission – Press Release
- According to monthly economic climate report, released on 30 January, the European Commission states that the Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI) rose by 1.2 points in the EU and by 0.6 points in the euro area in January, to 92.8 and 93.4, respectively – the first pick-up in sentiment since March 2011. The sentiment increased the most in UK (+5%) and decreased the most in France (-2.1%). The Business Climate Indicators (BCI) rose as well.
European Commission – Press Release Economic Sentiment
European Commission – Press Release BCI
- On 30 January 2012, Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Union published the Quarterly Sector Account for the third quarter of 2011. The Account shows that the Business investment rate rose to 21.1% in the euro area and up to 20.5% in the EU27. However, the Business profit share down to 38.5% and 37.8% in both zones respectively.
European Commission- Press Release
- On 19 January 2012, the European Commission published the economic outlook for EU industry. The industry outlook down by 1% and business confidence declined as well. The decrease due to the euro area debt crisis, which have negatively affected investments and economic prospects.Output in the construction sector remains close to its cyclical trough: a limited recovery in civil engineering works (roads and bridges etc.) has been offset by continued weakness in house building.
European Commission- January report 2012
- On 17 January 2012, Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Union released figures concerning the annual inflation rate in the Euro area. The figures shows that the inflation rate is 2.7%, decreased in the last month of 2011, compared to 3% in November 2011. The highest rate was observed in the housing sector (4.9%), followed by transport (4.3%).
European Commission
- According to the SME (small and medium businesses) performance review, released by the European Commission on 16 January 2012, 85% of net new jobs in the EU between 2002-2010 were created by small and medium businesses (SMEs). Furthermore, the annual employment growth for small and medium enterprises was 1%; higher than for large enterprises with 0.5%. The study has shown that new firms (younger than five years) are responsible for an overwhelming majority of the new jobs.
- On 10 January 2012, the European Commission released the Employment and Social Situation Quarterly Review for December 2011. The review shows that after the moderate increase in the middle of 2011, the employment rate is down again. The employment is expected to decrease in the tertiary sector, while EU firms’ employment expectations remain broadly optimistic in industry, but stubbornly pessimistic in construction.
European Commission
- According to the Press Release published by Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Union on 5 January 2012, the industrial new orders rose by 1.8% in euro area and by 0.5% in EU27 in October 2011 compared with September 2011. Manufacturing order rose in five countries and fell in twenty-one. The highest increase were registered in Germany (+5.5%), the United Kingdom (+2.9%).
CONSTRUCTION SECTOR
- On 18 January 2012, Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Union released a study on the Construction output. According to the study, the construction output increased by 0.8% in euro area and by 0.4% in the EU27 in November 2011, compared with October 2011. However, In October, production fell by 1.4% in the euro area and by 0.9% in the EU27.
Eurostat-Press Release
LIVE FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION
- The Energy Efficiency Directive is currently under discussion in the European Parliament, during the first reading procedure. The directive is considered to help to achieve the Europe 2020 energy and CO2 emission targets. A study made by the German banking group Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau in conjunction with the Jülich Research Center confirms that investment in energy efficient construction will generate additional revenue and create jobs in middle-term. The analysis shows that public investment in the promotion of energy-efficient construction and refurbishment in 2010 generated 400-500 % in revenue for public authorities while reducing expenditure on unemployment and social benefits. KFW Bank – Press Release
- As part of the EU policy on Corporate Social Responsibility, on 10 January 2012, the European Commission announced partners for business and human rights projects. Partners in charge of building the capacity of small and medium-sized enterprises in the field of human rights are expected to produce a human rights risk-mapping for SMEs and to prepare a practical guide to human rights for small businesses.
- On 3 January 2012, European Commission’s Staff Working Paper on Materials Roadmap Enabling Low Carbon Energy Technologies was published. The Materials Roadmap includes materials research and innovation activities to advance energy technologies for the next 10 years. In particular, the paper presents energy-efficient materials for buildings technologies aims at reducing the energy consumption of buildings over their entire lifetime.
- Denmark took over the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union on 1st January 2012. The Work Programme of the Presidency is devised around four main themes: social responsibility, economic growth, environmental protection and global security. The Presidency aims at pursuing the economic recovery of Europe well taking into account environmental factors and paralleled by a reduction in carbon emissions. Furthermore, energy efficiency and the creation ‘Green Europe’ are the main priorities for the upcoming six month.
Priorities of the Danish Presidency of the Council of the European Union
NATIONAL AWARD WINNERS
In this new section, BIBM will present national award winner buildings from all over Europe.
In this edition, you can learn more about a competition in the field of thermal activation of concrete components.
The International Innovation Award „Heating and cooling with concrete” was organized by the concrete marketing organisations of Germany, Switzerland and Austria in 2010, with the cooperation of the Austrian Federal Ministry for Transportation, Innovation and Technology; the Austrian Society for Environment &Technology and the Austrian Construction Technology Platform. 63 projects from Austria, Germany and Switzerland met the requirements, such as energy efficiency, progressive solutions, thermal activation of concrete etc. Finally four buildings were chosen as exemplary projects:
Category Single Family House – „Haus Natol“(Austria)
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Builder: |
Natalie and Oliver Strigl, Karrösten |
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Architecture: |
mohr steger architektur, Wien |
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Building physics: |
Herz & Lang GmbH, Weitnau |
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Building company: |
STRABAG AG, Innsbruck |
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Energy storage and Ventilation: |
Energy Consulting and Process Development Company |
Category Multi-family House – B35 (Switzerland)
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Builder: |
Hansjürg Leibundgut, Zürich |
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Architecture: |
agps.architecture zürich |
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Building physics: |
Amstein + Walthert AG, Zürich |
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Building company: |
Emch AG, Winterthur |
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Energy storage and ventilation: |
Amstein + Walthert AG, Zürich |
Category Office Building Energy base“(Austria)
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Builder: |
Agency for Economy, Wien |
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Architecture: |
Pos architekten schneider ZT KG, Wien |
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Building physics: |
IBO – Austrian Institute for Building Biology and Ecology, Wien |
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Building company: |
ARGE Strabag/Swietelsky |
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Energy storage and ventilation: |
Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT), Wien
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Balanced Office Building” (Germany)
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Builder: |
Joint propriety owners Schurzelter Str. 27, Aachen |
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Architecture: |
Hahn Helten + Assoziierte, Aachen |
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Building physics: |
Vika Ingenieur GmbH, Aachen |
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Building company: |
Derichs u Konertz GmbH u Co KG, Aachen |
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Energy storage and ventilation: |
Vika Ingenieur GmbH, Aachen
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AGENDA
FEBRUARY
6 February 2012
BIBM Directors meeting and Communication Commission
Ulm, Germany
16 February 2012
ECP Board meeting
Brussels, Belgium
22 February 2012
BIBM Technical Commission
Brussels, Belgium
23 February 2012
CEN/TC 229/WG 4
Brussels, Belgium
24 February 2012
CEN/TC 229/WG 1
Brussels, Belgium
27 February 2012
BIBM Environment Commission
Brussels, Belgium
28 February 2012
Workshop on PCR
Brussels, Belgium
29 February 2012
CEPMC General Assembly
Brussels, Belgium
MARCH
20 March 2012
BIBM Product Group Pipes
Milan, Italy
28 March 2012
Meeting BIBM-CEMBUREAU Presidents
Brussels, Belgium
APRIL
3 April 2012
BIBM Product Group Hollowcores
Brussels, Belgium
13 April 2012
European Construction Forum
Brussels, Belgium
17 April 2012
BIBM Board meeting
Brussels, Belgium
26-27 April 2012
CEN/TC 229 Plenary Meeting
Venice, Italy