[en] This annual report gives a survey of projects supported within the framework of the Matfo and Ma-Tech programs. These projects focus on research into materials for innovative: 1. information technology, 2. energy technology, 3. traffic engineering, 4. medical engineering, and 5. production engineering applications and on 6. general materials research and new fields. The descriptions of individual projects indicate project goals and work schedules, names of important sub-contractors, and total costs and the funds contributed by BMFT. Information added in an annex includes inter alia a list of publications, lectures, contracts, or patents resulting from project activities in the year 1994. (MM)

[en] After the results of the votes and in the frame of 'Energy 2000' the government called for the so-called energy peace which would enable an unimpeded and safe operation of the existing nuclear power plants and a constructive co-operation between supporter and opponents of the nuclear energy in order to find optimal solutions for the future needs. Due to this situation the project 'Kaiseraugst' has been stopped and the projects 'Graben' and 'Verbois' are not being continued by the electricity economy despite the fact that the approval for the locations was given. The industry has considerably reduced its activities in the field of nuclear energy or transferred them abroad. The research is concentrated at the Paul Scherer Institut (PSI), that continues to provide most of the scientific services for the nuclear power plants and the safety authority (HSK). The pre-conditions for the erection of a new nuclear power plant are discussed. (orig./DG)

[en] The history of the policy for environmental protection in Germany is characterized by a particularly fast rate of evolution over the roughly 25 years of its existence to a state of maturity for which all other fundamental political goals and principles of our society - such as democracy, supremacy of law, social welfare - have taken much more time to develop. Compared to this rapid development in theory, the situation of the environment has changed but little, and considering our current knowledge, revealing the interdependency of global ecological processes, there is danger of development to the worse. The United Nations have been signalising the beginning of a new approach towards the environment based on the principle of global responsibility. But the narrow lane of ''sustainable development'' will lead to success only if the great majority of people are prepared to take on personal responsibility. (orig.)

[en] Measures to combat poverty and improve the standard of living in countries of the Third World will inevitably boost global demand for energy, and energy conservation measures will not be able to offset this increase. Nuclear energy will regain significance in the framework of approaches adopted to resolve the energy problem, which primarily is an ecologic problem created by an extremely large flow of materials. The extraordinarily high energy density of nuclear fuels can contribute to markedly reduce the flow of materials; and at that, electric energy is an efficient substitute for primary energy forms. Thus nuclear electricity generation is of double benefit to the ecology. Engineering goals in nuclear technology thus gain a service aspect, with progress in power plant engineering and design aiming not only at enhanced engineered safety, but also at regaining public acceptance of and confidence in nuclear power plant technology. (orig./UA)

[en] After the first nuclear energy programme was announced in 1956, the German Federal Government spent about DM 29 billion on the promotion of nuclear engineering up to and including the year 1994, primarily on cooperation in experimental and demonstration facilities as well as on research and development projects. The majority of these installations were constructed and commissioned in the period from 1960 to 1980. They comprise prototype and demonstration plants, research and test reactors and smaller facilities at national research centres as well as a research mine. The facilities are all located in the territory of the old federal states. Some of them are now out of operation, dismantled or ready for dismantling. For public future acceptance of nuclear energy in Germany it is of considerable significance to demonstrate, in practice, environmentally compatible and low-cost decommissioning and dismantling techniques. This report surveys the state of the art in decommissioning and dismantling, and of the financing of obsolete nuclear facilities under the responsibility of the Federal Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Technology (BMBF). (Author)

[en] Four parts can be distinguished in this report: first a description of the energy levy is given, then the results for the energy demand are presented. Next, attention is paid to the macro-economic and meso-economic effects, and finally, different options to return the levy to the small-scale consumers are assessed for the consequence of the purchasing power when the levy is implemented and for the impact on the labor market on the long term. 14 tabs., 8 refs

[en] Short communication. 7 refs, 2 figs, 1 tab

[en] The general objectives of the Flanders' government with respect to the protection of the environment, durable energy supply, and independence with regard to the import of energy are summarized. These objectives are realised by an action programme, consisting of six policy instruments. Special emphasis is laid on the reaching of consensus, a policy stimulating the acquisition and the transfer of knowledge, research programmes in the industrial and technological field, the optimisation of the administration, the intended fixing of prices for alternative energy, especially in view of total energy projects, and the Flemish participation in federal control organisms (A.S.)

[en] Short communication

[en] Buildings account for a large share of environmental impacts in their construction, use, and demolition. In western Europe, buildings account for ca 50% of primary energy use (hence CO₂ output), far outweighing the contribution of the transport and industrial sectors. Other impacts from building energy use include the use of chemicals such as chlorofluorocarbons for cooling. In the United Kingdom, the Building Research Establishment (BRE) has developed a certificate system for environmental labelling of buildings so that the performance of the building against a set of defined environmental criteria can be made visible to clients. This system thus rewards positive actions to improve the environmental performance of buildings and assists in marketing to an environmentally aware clientele. Issues included in assessments for awarding the certificate are addressed under three main headings: global issues and use of resources, local issues, and indoor issues. Global issues include ozone depletion and CO₂ emissions; local issues include public health and water conservation; and indoor issues include air quality and lighting. 8 refs., 1 tab