F&L: What do you think needs to be done in the medium term?
Lamia Messari-Becker: First: Diversify the energy transition, because wind and solar power alone will not meet the energy needs of the fourth most industrialized country on earth. There must be other options, such as geothermal energy, biomass, solar thermal energy. Second, the energy grid must be expanded and high-performance storage infrastructure with associated storage capacity must be developed. Third, there is a need to reduce bureaucracy and speed up approval procedures for energy projects. Fourth: When it comes to fusion technologies, you should rely on your own power sources, not despots. This is also a bitter lesson of this crisis. In general, a more coherent energy policy is needed. What can’t be: phase out coal, but happily import coal from Russia. No natural gas production in this country, but natural gas in large quantities from Russia. This is definitely not fracking gas, but now from the USA with a sometimes worse CO2 balance than coal. Abandon nuclear power here, but use nuclear power from France. Our electricity network is connected throughout Europe. Abandon CCS (carbon capture and storage) technology here, but look for contracts in Norway. This inconsistency, as we can see, has very short legs. We need to diversify our energy system, make it renewable and storable, and match outputs with inputs.
F&L: How ambitious are goals without limiting limited resources such as staff?
Lamia Messari-Becker: Unfortunately, they do. The construction industry can become an obstacle to all climate protection goals. Energy-efficient renovation of the building stock, development of renewable energy sources, modernization of our infrastructure and the creation of resource-efficient and affordable housing are expected, to name just a few.
F&L: Could a less-than-ideal building fabric be compensated for by tailored behavior? And conversely, can’t a sustainable building also suffer from consumer behavior?
Lamia Messari-Becker: You raise a very important point. I believe that demolition and new construction are not inherently greener when you consider that the energy for production, transport, storage, sale and disposal (“grey energy”) and CO2 emissions are tied to the existing building. However, many regulations often make it difficult to properly develop, modernize and transform an existing building. This is why we need reforms, a conversion law and a culture of conversion that unlocks the potential of the existing building. And yes, a sustainably designed and built building can regularly miss its actual energy performance due to user misbehavior. Here, too, the idea that the relationship between “building, users, environment, resources” must be consistent is basically correct. An extremely energy-efficient passive house requires very “active” users who use the house according to its energy concept.
