Energy Management in Buildings

Careful use of energy and resources represents a technical, economic and ecological challenge as well as being one which is important for survival and which can only be mastered by highly qualified engineers. A significant percentage of the energy used nationally is consumed in buildings, which means there is considerable potential for savings and a corresponding need for responsible behaviour. Energy Management in Buildings, in conjunction with Supply Engineering and Technical Building Services, is a very predominant, strong and growing sector with a long-term demand for graduates. They are responsible for the energy-efficient supply of buildings with heat, air, cold and other media. The focus lies on the important interaction between the building as a structure and the technical facilities. Important concepts are comfort in the building, energetic, functional and economic aspects, as well as the best possible integration of regenerative energies, whereby the entire life cycle of a building is taken into consideration. In addition, the Energy Management in Buildings course also deals with aspects of Technical Building Management. Close co-operation with industry, institutions and research facilities ensure that the contents of the course are optimally adapted to current practice.

• Objectives an special features 
• Employment opportunities for graduates 
• Course structure 
• Prcactiel focus of the course 
• Possibilities for further qualifation in an master degree course 
• Admission conditions 
• Application procedure 
• Advice for students 

 GET_BAchelor_2008.pdf
 

 GET_Flyer_Internet.pdf
 

Objectives an special features

The Energy Management in Buildings course is a sound and respected engineering course. It is characterised by the acquisition of solid basic technical knowledge, by relevant and application-oriented technical specialisation, by a strong practical emphasis, as well as by the teaching of key interdisciplinary competencies. An increasing degree of independence and scientific approaches are taught in practical and project work. In order to make a practical term possible, a standard course duration of seven terms has been chosen. The course is complemented by external seminars, lectures, excursions and study trips.

1. Standard course duration of seven terms with high level of praktical content
2. Qualification as Bachelor of Engineering
3. A practical term as important prepatration for the employment market
4. 15 places per year
5. Thorough training and work in small groups
6. Excellent contacts to academic staff, open laboratories
7. Special induction and orientation seminars at the beginning of the course
8. Bachelor thesis in co-operation with industry
9. Subsequent Master courses

Employment opportunities for graduates

Graduates in Energy Management in Buildings are traditionally employed in engineering offices, industrial enterprises, authorities, institutions, energy utilities as well as in firms of contractors. Whilst in the past most graduates worked in planning, consulting, assessment and building supervision in engineering offices, the present trend is towards more opportunities in industrial and supply companies. Tasks cover, amongst others, project work, design construction, research/development, product management as well as technical marketing. The demand for graduates of the course is greater than the number of students. This trend will continue as a result of the shortage of engineers and growing demand from the economy. Potential employers present their demand and their requirements to the University and the students at regular intervals. In general, there is an exceptionally broad range of employment opportunities both in terms of type of employer as well as of job content. After the Bachelor qualification, various Master courses are available to graduates both at Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences as well as other universities.

Course structure

The Bachelor Degree course in Energy Management in Buildings lasts seven terms. The first three terms predominantly contain subjects covering basic technical knowledge in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Electrical Engineering, Technical Design and Technical Thermodynamics. Students acquire the ability to apply these core disciplines to specific topics in the further duration of the course. In the course of the next three terms, students are put in a position where they are able to design, put into operation and run equipment in the areas of heating, air-conditioning and ventilation, gas and sanitation, integration of regenerative energy as well as of technical facility management, on the basis of more specialised course content. This includes skills in the fields of load calculation, component design, design of heating systems, heat transfer, pipeline calculation and energetic evaluation of buildings and facilities as well as automation engineering and software applications. A core element is project planning examples from these areas. The sixth term is devoted completely to practical work, where the knowledge acquired so far is applied in practice and consolidated. Skills in methodologies, presentation techniques and technical management are also taught, as well as interdisciplinary expertise.

Prcactiel focus of the course

In order to prepare students for their later profession in a targeted manner, extensive practical work and exercises are foreseen in the course which are taught in small groups. Students are thus given a direct insight into practical tasks and problem-solving approaches which they can consolidate at the University through their own experiments and project work. Students then get further to grips with interrelationships in the working environment through the integration of the practical term, which is completed in co-operation with an industrial enterprise, and through the Bachelor thesis, which in turn is also frequently compiled in an industrial enterprise. Activities running parallel to the course, such as lectures with external experts, presentations, excursions, study trips and external seminars, for example on facility planning and operation, CAD applications and other topics, round off the curriculum. Each student has the opportunity to complete further practice-oriented or specialised courses via a free choice of lectures etc. selected as compulsory course options.

Possibilities for further qualifation in an master degree course

The Bachelor qualification entitles the graduates to undertake a subsequent Master degree. This is possible either directly after the first degree or else after a certain period of time in a profession. Thus one of the objectives of the Bachelor degree is to qualify students for further courses and to lay the necessary theoretical foundation for this. A Master course with a strong economics focus is therefore available in particular for Bachelor graduates of the Energy Management n Buildings course at Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences, which offers a further qualification for technical management tasks.
Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences also offers Master degree courses in ”Process Engineering and Energy Technology” and ”Automation Engineering”. A Master degree course at another university or other higher education institution at home or abroad is naturally also possible. Having completed the Master degree, the graduate is equipped for a more highly qualified occupation and for scientific work.

Admission conditions

Students wishing to be admitted to the course must have an entrance qualification which permits admission to an university degree course. Information about the possibility of special admission conditions can be obtained from the Admissions Office of Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences. The Energy Management in Buildings course primarily addresses: Secondary school pupils with a qualification equal to the German Abitur, applicants with a subject-specific school-leaving certificate permitting admission to a university degree course with an education in an area of construction of heating systems, construction of ventilation systems, gas and water installation, electrical engineering, electronics, amongst others, and others.
European and US American school-leaving certificates are generally recognised. School-leaving certificates from other countries must be submitted for prior checking to the ASSIST office. Further information can be found under www.uni-assist.de.
In addition, very good knowledge of German (B2) and good knowledge of English are expected. No English language certificate is required. A practical internship prior to the course is recommended for those applicants with no previous relevant education. After admission to the course, introduction and orientation seminars are held at the beginning of the first term to facilitate a smooth start and to get to know get each other.

Application procedure

To apply for the Energy Management in Buildings course, applicants must complete in full the relevant application form and either submit it in person or send it by post together with all the necessary documents before the closing date to the Admissions Office of the University. Closing dates for applications, forms and other deadlines are published on the University’s homepage or can be obtained from the Student Counselling Centre. 15 course places are available per year. No admission restrictions are currently foreseen. In addition to their application to the University, interested applicants from abroad should pay attention in good time to immigration regulations. Further information can be obtained from the German Embassy in the respective countries (www.auswaertiges-amt.de).

Advice for students

The Central Student Information answers general enquiries about the course. Contact:

The Admissions and Examination Office is responsible for questions about admission requierments. Contact:

Questions about course content should be addresset to: