Goethe University Frankfurt is one of Germany’s largest universities and aims to make a consistent shift toward sustainability in the coming years. This is because universities and colleges in Hesse account for nearly half of the CO2 emissions generated by the state government of Hesse. The energy efficiency retrofit of the Biocenter on the Riedberg Campus demonstrates how existing buildings can be successfully transformed into more sustainable structures.
The Riedberg district is home to Goethe University’s natural sciences campus. At its heart is the Biocenter, comprising seven buildings spanning approximately 71,000 square meters. Since the 1990s, students have been able to complete internships here in laboratories, measurement rooms, and offices, as well as advance their research – for example, in the fields of pain processing or Alzheimer’s research. However, the Biocenter's outdated ventilation systems were previously responsible for more than 80% of the facility’s heat consumption and over half of its electricity consumption – amounting to energy costs in the single-digit millions per year. Together with Siemens and other project partners, Goethe University developed a comprehensive plan to modernize the building’s HVAC systems to improve energy efficiency. The goal is to reduce energy costs and CO2 emissions and to contribute to greater sustainability.

Together with its project partners for electrical installation and ventilation technology, Siemens developed a comprehensive concept for the energy-efficient modernization of the Biocenter. The team is now modernizing the HVAC systems and control and measurement technology in the seven buildings in phases. They used Desigo PXC automation stations and adapted the input and output modules to the current TX-IO standard. To ensure demand-based exhaust airflow, the project team equipped the special exhaust fans in the laboratory fume hoods with EC motors and motors that have variable-frequency drives. Thanks to the demand-based control strategies for the supply and exhaust air systems, combined with occupancy sensors in the laboratories, the air change rates can adjust to actual room requirements. For example, this setup enables automatic nighttime reduction or a reduced air change rate for the ventilation systems. The team also integrated the newly installed heat recovery system into the existing Desigo building automation system via a BACnet connection, rounding out the modernization concept. They complemented the energy efficiency modernization with a customized service package and professional energy data management.