Set standards for energy efficiency

Michael Habenicht

The energy efficiency in cleanrooms is increasingly coming into focus for operators, planners, and maintenance personnel. With the current draft of VDI 2083 Part 4.2, the industry is setting new standards – and Michael Habenicht is actively shaping them.

Michael Habenicht, Branch Manager of Kuijpers Controlled Environments GmbH in Germany and a member of the VDI guideline committee, emphasizes the significance of this standard: "Cleanrooms are a crucial component in many industries. Their energy demand often exceeds that of normal buildings. In view of rising energy costs and ambitious climate targets such as the 1.5-degree goal, efficient solutions are mandatory – not only from an ecological but also from an economic perspective."

The new guideline provides, for the first time, structured support on how energy can be systematically saved during planning, construction, and operation without compromising quality or product safety. "For us as a company, participating in standardization is a matter of course. Only together can we create practical and feasible standards that ensure Germany's, and internationally, the connection to sustainable production technology," continues Habenicht.

VDI 2083 Part 4.2 addresses not only technical measures but also raises awareness for the assessment of actual process requirements: "Requirements are often set too strictly or uniformly. This leads to unnecessarily high operating costs. The standard helps to identify and utilize these leeway areas purposefully – in the interest of smart, sustainable building technology."