‘Building Future Award’ goes to renowned climatologist Helga Kromp-Kolb
Helga Kromp-Kolb: “Energy efficient technology makes a decisive contribution to climate protection”
The Building Future Award will be presented to Professor Helga Kromp-Kolb during the opening ceremony of this year’s Light + Building in Frankfurt am Main on 30 March. The Austrian scientist is renowned for her achievements in the field of environmental meteorology, especially in relation to the dispersion of harmful substances into the atmosphere and climate change. Her numerous scientific publications over the years include studies on the dispersion of radioactive substances from Chernobyl and on hypothetical accidents in atomic power stations, as well as systematic and practical works on global and, in particular, regional scenarios. In this connection, Professor Kromp-Kolb draws attention to the significance of technology in terms of climate protection: “Increases in energy efficiency represent a very important contribution to climate protection whereby efficiency is greatly dependent on the prudential use of energy. Technology can help control energy consumption to this end.”
Besides her extraordinary commitment to research and teaching, as well as her work with various organisations and institutes in the fields of ecology, environmental protection and sustainability, Helga Kromp-Kolb has made a name for herself far beyond the borders of Austria by speaking out to draw the attention not only of her scientific colleagues but also the general public to the need for the sustainable use of vital natural resources in the interests of current and future generations. She is skilled in demonstrating realistic and positive perspectives and options that will enable us to deal with the results of climatic change – some of which are already irreversible – in such a way as to ensure a worthwhile future.
“Without committed scientists such as Helga Kromp-Kolb, who speak out for their beliefs passionately, authoritatively and with a sense of social responsibility, the development towards sustainability, as reflected by the shift away from atomic power with all that entails and, in particular, in the building sector where lighting and building-services technology plays a vital role, would be inconceivable”, says Wolfgang Marzin, President and Chief Executive Officer of Messe Frankfurt GmbH.
Today, it is almost a matter of course that emphasis be given to energy efficiency and intelligent energy management in the interests of a sustainable use of resources in various sectors – a process that has been given a substantial boost by Light+Building, the world’s leading trade fair for the sector, for many years. Intelligent sustainability and smart powered buildings integrated into smart grids have developed into subjects of great importance. Last but not least, attention is now being paid to the relationship between humans and light because sustainable technology must also take account of people’s inherent needs.
The motto of Light + Building 2014 is ‘Explore Technology for Life – the best energy is energy that isn’t consumed’ – words that are fully in line with Professor Kromp-Kolb’s demands. Light + Building and the associated sectors have seen the way the wind is blowing and taken the appropriate course. The prerequisites for this include, in particular, a growing consensus about the need for a sustainable technological reorientation – a process that can only take place through the dissemination of solid scientific information and the creation of a solid social and political foundation. Thus, the presentation of the Building Future Award 2014 to Helga Kromp-Kolb also reflects the hope that it will lend even more weight to her voice and prompt more people and companies to rethink and adopt a positive and future-oriented outlook.
The Building Future Award of Light + Building honours a personality from the world of research and development who has helped lay the foundations for the sustainable future of our society. The Building Future Award is given by Messe Frankfurt every two years at the opening ceremony of Light + Building, together with the German Association of the Electrical and Electronics Industry (Zentralverband Elektrotechnik- und Elektronikindustrie e.V. – ZVEI) and the Central Association of the German Electrical and Information Technology Trades (Zentralverband der Deutschen Elektro- und Informationstechnischen Handwerke – ZVEH). Further information about the Building Future Award, as well as photographs of the award winner, can be found on the internet at
