September 2023 /
One of the events that were implemented within the Czech national implementation plan was a summer school that took place on 13-15 September 2023 in South Bohemia. It is an annual event for Czech technical university (CTU) students, organised in cooperation with Society of Environmental Engineering – Czech representative in Rehva and ASHRAE associated member. This year the topic was Modern trends in HVAC for zero-emission buildings and the principles of the circular economy. Participating students are coming from the “Buildings and Environment” and “Intelligent Buildings“ study programs, taught at Faculty of Civil Engineering Czech Technical University in Prague.
The three days were full of presentations and practical workshops on the topic slightly aimed at the building services area. Presentations were carried out by the academic staff and PhD students of Department of building services and indoor environmental engineering (at CTU) and INCIEN and by the speakers coming from different companies. As the topic of circular economy is not yet fully experienced, it was a challenge also for all the speakers. However, everyone took up the subject with honour and finally there were benefits not only for the students but for everyone including all the participating companies. Part of the program were four workshops, where students were working in five groups. In the first workshop the task was to assemble the air ducts using two different assembly procedures. The second workshop was devoted to installation of heating pipes. During the third workshop the students recognized the pipeline materials as part of the orientation run.
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The final workshop included the design concept of a real multifunctional building (offices, business premises, fitness, restaurant). The students with the help of the experts present designed energy concept, water management concept and measures for the whole building – everything in accordance with the principles of circular economy. In the final presentation, each group had to present and defend its proposal. Although the topic of the circular economy was new to many students, they performed their task surprisingly well. In the end, we perceive as very beneficial the involvement of companies that also had to adapt their contributions to the topic of the circular economy and thus discover a possible new direction in their field.
