A new technology competence centre is due to be built in Istanbul / Turkey, on the behest of an initiative tabled by Rehau (Rehau / Germany; www.rehau.de), the German Energy Center & College (GECC, Paderborn / Germany; www.g-ecc.de) and Yildiz Technical University. The goal of the project, supported by the German investment and development society, Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft, is to foster international cooperation and training in energy-efficient technologies for the use of renewable energies. The relevant agreement was signed at the end of February 2013.

Over the course of the last few years, Turkey has passed a number of ambitious climate protection laws aimed at fostering energy savings. The new competence centre will constitute a training and information platform aimed at meeting rising demand for educating specialists in the field of housing technology. A permanent exhibit at the site showcases the latest technologies to improve energy efficiency and the use of renewable energies, mostly from the housing sector. Rehau says the exhibit emphasises in particular the interconnectedness of the solutions displayed with the system in general.

Rehau and its German partners will supply the equipment and know-how for the centre, including energy and water distribution systems, ventilation technology, flow technology, insulation techniques for windows, ceilings and walls, sensory systems, heat pumps as well as technical household goods – all of which are used for training purposes. The theoretical training, set in a university framework, is to be complemented by practical experience. The centre will be modelled on the German example, while taking account of the special needs of the Turkish training situation. The plans include a training course to become a German building energy manager.