Speech title: Building stock transformation to sustainability through activation of the building envelope
Biography:Tobias Pröll is chemical engineer by education and professor for Energy Technology and Energy Management at BOKU University, Vienna, since 2013. Ongoing research focuses on thermal fuel processing, fluidized bed systems, emerging CO2 capture technologies, and energy efficiency increase in buildings and industry by heat integration and active waste heat utilization using heat pump systems. He is experienced in process modelling and design and in fluidized bed system design and operation. Tobias obtained a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the TU Wien in 2004 and a venia docendi in Chemical and Energy Engineering at the Faculty of Technical Chemistry of TU Wien in 2012, where he was responsible for the Research Group on Zero Emission Technologies. As an engineer, Tobias is increasingly concerned that the development of technical solutions for averting the climate crisis will not suffice as long as there are no economic and political framework conditions in place that would turn net zero solutions into a business case. In his perspective, the decisive questions are: How can we effectively steer our economy toward net zero, and how to obtain democratic support for this?
Abstract: The transformation of the existing building stock is important for reducing fossil fuel dependency and greenhouse gas emissions. However, conventional retrofitting approaches often fail to unlock the full efficiency potential of renewable heating and cooling technologies. The keynote will present the approach developed in the project Sani60ies, which demonstrates how façade‑integrated thermal activation can convert residential buildings into low‑carbon, low‑temperature energy systems while populated by residents.
At the core of the concept is a heat distribution system embedded between the existing exterior wall and new thermal insulation, enabling buildings to be supplied with low‑temperature heat ideally suited for efficient heat pump operation. This configuration simultaneously provides a sustainable cooling option, reduces heating flow temperatures, and relieves existing radiators—thereby addressing both social constraints (minimal disruption to residents) and technical requirements (improved heat pump performance).
The keynote will share insights from the first demonstration building in central Vienna, in operation since 2023 and located in walking distance to the conference venue. The findings illustrate how façade‑integrated thermal activation can become a scalable pathway for decarbonizing existing urban housing stock, enabling climate‑neutral heating and cooling while preserving affordability, comfort, and architectural integrity.
Speech title: Linking Water Quality Monitoring, Data Science, and Environmental Engineering Education
Biography: Ulrike Gayh is a Professor of Environmental and Process Engineering and serves as Dean of the Master’s program Water Technology at the School of Technology and Architecture at SRH University. Her research focuses on innovative water technology solutions aimed at preventing and mitigating local and regional water conflicts.
She conducts extensive international research collaborations, including long-standing cooperation with colleagues from the University of Novi Sad. Together, they founded the initiative Democratia-Aqua-Technica, which has evolved into a global network dedicated to developing innovative technical concepts for sustainable water resource management.
Within the framework of sustainable water management, her research addresses water pollution, water quality, wastewater management, and environmental education. A key focus of her work lies in the investigation of micropollutants and the development of processes for the treatment and purification of contaminated water. She places particular emphasis on nature-based treatment approaches, such as constructed wetlands.
In addition, Professor Gayh collaborates with researchers in data science to explore the potential of AI-supported tools for water monitoring and water management. Her broader research interests include water protection strategies and the application of digital tools in the water sector.
Beyond academia, she is actively engaged in educating children and raising public awareness about the importance of water as a vital and limited resource.
Speech title: Potential for electricity savings by reducing potable water consumption on a city scale
Biography: Prof. Enedir Ghisi obtained his PhD in Civil Engineering from the University of Leeds, in the UK, in 2002. He is currently a full professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, located in Florianópolis, southern Brazil. So far, he has edited 10 books, published 15 book chapters, 198 conference articles and 217 journal articles. He has concluded the supervision of 20 PhD and 43 master's students. Currently, he supervises 4 PhD and 6 master's students. His research topics are thermal performance of buildings, energy efficiency in buildings, lighting, sustainability, building simulation, life cycle assessment, water consumption and rainwater harvesting in buildings. In studies carried out at Stanford University since 2020, Prof. Enedir Ghisi was recognised as one of the 100,000 most influential scientists in the world for the whole career and also for 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2019.
Abstract: The subject of this presentation is water-energy nexus, focused on electricity consumption in water supply and sewage systems. Water and energy consumption are directly related. Water supply and sewage systems consume about seven percent of all electricity produced in the world. Energy is required at all stages of water cycle, for water withdrawal, for its treatment and distribution to population and for wastewater collection and treatment. So the objective of the study was defined as estimating the potential for electricity savings in municipal water supply and sewage systems, resulting from the reduction of potable water consumption in residential, public and commercial buildings in Joinville. Joinville is a city located in Southern Brazil. The average annual rainfall in the last twenty years in Joinville is 2410mm. More than 32 GWh/year are consumed in the water supply and sewage systems of Joinville, and this represents 12.5% of the municipal utility's total expenses. Therefore, there is potential for reducing electricity use and utility's expenses when decreasing potable water consumption in buildings in Joinville. Four types of buildings were assessed: single-family residential, multi-family residential, public and commercial. The strategies considered to promote water savings in buildings were: replacement of toilets, greywater reuse, rainwater harvesting and the combination of these three strategies.