ECO +: Towards positive environmental impacts of quarters

Faced with the burning ecological issues of our time, we can no longer be satisfied with minimizing the negative impact of our building activities. Rather, we need to pursue the fundamental and visionary goal of positive buildings and neighborhoods and accelerate environmental change in the building sector. The ECO+ research project is based on the concept of "Regenerative Design". This is characterized by a more flexible planning approach with the aim of achieving positive environmental impacts and seeing buildings as part of the surrounding nature. "Positive building" and the concept of Regenerative Design we understand in particular as a way of thinking that goes far beyond the shifting of system boundaries and is based on a holistic view of the world, where in a holistic approach man and his actions are seen in relation to nature. In this context, the term ECO+ encompasses ecological, economic and social aspects. 
The research project will be linked to a practical project, a new neighborhood near Bamberg, and implemented with practical partners. In close coordination between the researchers and the planning participants of the practical project, implementation strategies for building with positive environmental effects for the fields of action material, energy, water, green, society and mobility will be integratively developed and prepared with regard to transferability to other projects.

Research questions

- What does positive building mean in the fields of action material, energy, water, green, society and mobility? 
- How can positive building be affordably implemented on new residential construction projects? 
- Which design parameters and parameters are relevant for this?
- What do concrete planning and implementation strategies look like and which methods can be used to evaluate the fields of action?
- How can the integration of the implementation strategies into the planning process and transferability to other construction projects be ensured?

Project funding and run-time

01.10.2022 – 30.09.2024

Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (DBU)
Stiftung Bayerisches Baugewerbe

Coordination and contact

Technical University of Munich, Institute of Energy Efficient and Sustainable Design and Building

Arcisstr. 21
80333 München

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Werner Lang, sekretariat.enpb.bgu[at]tum.de
Dr.-Ing. Michael Vollmer, michael.vollmer[at]tum.de
Kathrin Theilig, kathrin.theilig[at]tum.de

Cooperation partners

Technical University of Munich, Professorship for Green Technologies in Landscape Architecture

Technische Universität Dortmund, Juniorprofessur Ressourceneffizientes Bauen

Öko Bau GmbH