Our ELZUFER office and commercial building was completed in 2021 and sustainably fulfills environmental standards for both the building itself and actively protecting the climate in its operation. The external walls are made of a type of solid brick that combines excellent sound-proofing with energy efficiency. Even the roof structure and its insulation are made from natural materials (solid timber and wood fiber insulation).

We have been working in our new ELZUFER premises here in Teningen that enjoy fine views overlooking the nearby River Elz for over a year now.
Almost all of our team cycle to work every morning, as the internal combustion engine no longer reigns supreme. A couple of train stops, Köndringen and Mundingen, are also within easy distance of the building and there are handy stops on local bus routes close by.

Photovoltaic panels with an output capacity of 30 kWp have been installed on the south-facing slope of the roof of the new office building. The solar energy produced is primarily used by us, while any excesses are fed into the power network. We greatly appreciate the solar-powered air conditioning of the rooms when the outside temperatures start to rise; it means we can always keep a cool head, even on the hottest of summer days.

Gas and oil prices are currently the subject of heated debate: Just how expensive will it all be? Are we going to freeze this winter? What happens if gas supplies run short? We here at medical language service can take a relaxed view of it all, as we don’t even have a gas connection. Our underfloor heating, which only requires minimal flow temperatures, uses wood as its heat source. And this wood comes from forests in our local area and the wider region. While gas boilers in other buildings often keep on working through the summer months to supply hot water, our water is heated by solar energy.

We have also installed large water tanks under the parking lot. Alongside supplying water for the green spaces surrounding the building, the collected rainwater is primarily used to flush the toilets. Drinking water – while a commonplace for us – is a precious commodity and in many countries across the world restricted supplies can be a matter of life and death. We want to cut down on wastage as much as possible, so we don’t use valuable drinking water for flushing toilets.

Our super-efficient building effortlessly exceeds current targets for conserving resources and protecting the climate.

By Dr. Peter Schalk
Contract Management – medical language service