How can sustainable construction succeed? What role does energy efficiency play for companies? What challenges do we face? And why does our society often find it difficult to actually act sustainably, despite broad consensus? These questions were the focus of the event ‘Acting sustainably. Building efficiently. Shaping the future: Impulses from science and practice,’ to which the Association of Friends of OTH Regensburg e.V. together with Gebr. Donhauser GmbH & Co. KG invited guests on 9 March 2026 as part of its ‘zu Gast bei Freunden’ (Visiting Friends) series.
Around 70 guests from the university and business community, as well as friends and alumni of OTH Regensburg, accepted the invitation to the university to learn about and discuss current developments in sustainable and energy-efficient construction. Katja Meier, Managing Director of the Friends of OTH Regensburg Association, was delighted with the great response. She briefly presented the activities of the association, which has set itself the goal of strengthening the network between the university, industry, students and alumni and promoting the university and its students.
Comprehensible sustainability – science provides impetus
To kick things off, Prof. Dr. Thomas Andorfer from the Faculty of Business and Management and Prof. Oswin Hennig from the Faculty of Civil Engineering explored the question of why we find it so difficult to act and operate sustainably. According to Andorfer, the biggest hurdle lies in our established thinking and decision-making mechanisms, which clash with the sustainability logic of ‘now for then for others’. Sustainability is not clear-cut, but highly complex, which often leads to overload or even rejection. ‘Sustainability is the compass that helps us make sustainable decisions, not the price we have to pay,’ said Prof. Dr. Thomas Andorfer, summarising his central message. He is convinced that the undoubted added value of sustainability must be the focus of attention. This makes sustainability understandable, manageable and worthwhile for all of us. "We usually build for the next generation. That's why we need to take a long-term view — because even mistakes have an impact for decades. This makes it all the more important to return to simple construction: compact buildings, robust and uncomplicated technology, and durable, sustainable materials. The most effective solutions are often unspectacular," emphasised Prof. Oswin Hennig, who illustrated these findings with concrete examples from the construction industry.
Sustainable construction in practice – the ‘Sonnenhaus’ in Bamberg
Simon Bösl, site manager at Gebr. Donhauser Bau GmbH & Co. KG, presented a practical example. Using the ‘Sonnenhaus’ project by Bayernwerk Netz GmbH in Bamberg as an example, he showed how climate-friendly construction can be implemented in urban areas. Bösl explained the challenges and possible solutions in planning, execution and use of materials, and provided insights into the construction of a building with a high degree of energy self-sufficiency.
Unsealing begins in the mind – focus on sustainable materials
The third impulse came from Sebastian Schels, managing partner of Ratisbona Handelsimmobilien. He likes to call himself Chief Environmental Officer (CEO) and sees himself as a pioneer: ‘I have set myself the goal of building the most sustainable food markets in the world.’ For him, longevity achieved through the use of harmful substances is not synonymous with sustainability. In his presentation, he therefore emphasised the importance of healthy and natural building materials and argued that ecological responsibility and economic profitability can go hand in hand. Sebastian Schels also stressed: ‘We have to create benefits. It will not be enough to limit damage.’ With plenty of wordplay, he pointed out the great potential in the construction industry and motivated the guests to take action: ‘We have a long tradition of enriching the world with our inventions. You have the greatest opportunities to do so in the construction industry.’
Exchange and networking
Following the presentations, participants took the opportunity to talk to the speakers. Numerous discussions and new contacts were made over refreshments in the foyer – a central aim of the ‘zu Gast bei Freunden’ (visiting friends) event format.
The event highlighted the importance of sustainable action for the economy and society and the diversity of solutions being developed jointly by science and industry. The Association of Friends of OTH Regensburg e.V. facilitates exchange on future topics with its ‘Visiting Friends’ series. It would like to thank Gebr. Donhauser GmbH & Co. KG for its support of the event.
