Architecture and Energy: dasHAUS

Acclaimed Energy Efficient Building Pavilion, dasHAUS,

Announces Final North American Tour Stop in Denver

DENVER – The final stop of the North American dasHAUS tour, an innovative solar energy and green building exhibit from Germany, will shortly commence in Denver. The German American Chambers of Commerce have announced the dasHAUS tour will make its last stop on the 14-city tour, which began in October 2011, at the Denver Sustainability Park, 2500 Lawrence Street from October 14-23.  The pavilion is an internationally acclaimed exhibition that demonstrates advanced renewable energy and energy efficiency solutions from Germany, educating the community and opening a dialogue among industry professionals. 

“Through its commitment to the development of renewable energy and energy efficiency, Germany has emerged as a global leader in advanced and sustainable building design,” says Mark Tomkins, Vice President of the German American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest (GACCoM). 

“On this side of the Atlantic, the city of Denver has taken on a leadership role in this area.  With our partner and local host, the Colorado Renewable Energy Society, our goal is to foster an international dialogue and know-how exchange on energy efficiency and renewable energies between Germany and Denver. The dasHAUS project is the perfect platform and rallying point for that exchange.”

dasHAUS is an integrated, multifaceted structure that demonstrates real-world technologies and solutions for meeting ultra-low energy building standards. It draws inspiration from the Technical University of Darmstadt’s 2007 and 2009 first-place entries in the Solar Decathlon, an international solar house competition presented by the US Department of Energy. 

“dasHAUS offers compelling proof that we can improve the comfort and affordability of our homes even while reducing the demands that those homes place on our energy and natural systems,” says Jerry Tinianow, Chief Sustainability Officer for Denver. “dasHAUS will serve as an inspiration to Denver as it works to foster sustainability by moving to a more affordable housing system in which the full cost of home ownership – including the energy cost – can come within reach of all of our residents.”  

Several special events and presentations will be part of the dasHAUS pavilion, featuring presentations by thought leaders on sustainability, green building and new methods of integration for ultra-low energy buildings.

Visitors of dasHAUS can learn about a multitude of sustainability technologies including:

• Thin film photovoltaic roof, facade and louvered panel systems
• Heat-recovery climate control and ventilation systems, Passive House Standard triple-pane windows
• Solar-powered LED lighting systems and high-efficiency appliances
• Vacuum insulated panel systems
• VRLA battery systems
• Advanced wall construction materials and methods

For more information on dasHAUS including an up-to-date schedule of events, visit http://denver.dashaustour.com/. 

dasHAUS is a traveling pavilion, a North American tour and an ongoing international dialogue about advanced technologies for home construction and solar energy use. The purpose – to share German innovations that have achieved sustainable construction and operational energy savings. Attendees will represent leading organizations and businesses in building materials, architecture, engineering, renewable energy and energy efficiency, as well as university representatives and public officials.

The German American Chambers of Commerce (GACCs) is one of the largest bilateral trade organizations worldwide. With 2,500 member companies and office locations in Atlanta, Chicago and New York as well as branch offices in Houston, Philadelphia and San Francisco, the GACC offers experience in facilitating connections and services between German industry and its partners in the U.S. 

For more information about the German American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest and its 800+ members, visit http://www.gaccom.org/