Two young talents, one old building – and plenty of ideas for a sustainable home of the future: At this year’s Girls’ Day at our Cologne office, Emma and Bernice discovered just how exciting building physics and technical building services can be. Together with our MorgenGrün team, they planned, calculated, discussed – and marvelled. A day full of team spirit, technology and future perspectives.
On 3 April, Girls’ Day was celebrated across Germany – and at MorgenGrün, that meant two spots available for young talents eager to learn more about technology, sustainability and the engineering profession. Emma (15) and Bernice (15) joined us to explore the world of technical building services – with a clear mission: turning an old house into an eco-home.
As part of a “modernisation rally”, the two aspiring engineers gained hands-on insights into the world of building services – with a strong focus on climate protection and forward-looking technologies.
“I had no idea that technology could be so creative – it was really cool!” – Emma
From old house to future home
After a short introduction to our company and how we work, Emma and Bernice jumped straight into action: In the role of energy consultants, they developed a modernisation concept for a detached house from the 1960s. Guided by our engineers, they went through several interactive workshop stations – each one hands-on, collaborative and full of “Aha!” moments:
- Building physics: With Nedim, they learned what thermal conductivity means, how insulation materials work, and how choosing the right materials improves a building’s thermal performance. They planned insulation measures and calculated their impact on energy consumption.
- Photovoltaics: On the roof of their project house, they designed a PV system with Max – including module selection, yield calculation and a cost-benefit analysis.
- Heating system upgrade: The old oil boiler was to be replaced with a sustainable heat pump system – calculated, evaluated and compared with other eco-friendly solutions. With Jan, they learned, among other things, what the seasonal performance factor (SPF) means and why moving away from fossil fuels is essential.
- Cost and carbon balance: With Lydia, they translated their findings into figures – and showed that climate protection also makes economic sense.
“I really appreciated how quickly the girls got involved – it felt like they were already part of the team.” – Lydia, Sustainability Consultant at MorgenGrün
Meaningful exchange – with pizza and sunshine
Over pizza on our rooftop terrace – together with the other six girls taking part at MorgenGrün and ZWP in Cologne – there was time for questions, conversations and laughter. A welcome break after a busy morning. Our colleagues shared their own journeys into building services engineering – and why they’re passionate about improving buildings for the future.
“The day was a highlight for our team as well. The girls were bold, open and inquisitive – and asked some questions we rarely get in our everyday projects.” – Jan, Mechanical Engineer at MorgenGrün
Technology to explore – and to immerse in
After lunch, Thomas took them on an inspiring tour of our building An der Münze. During the guided walk through our offices, Emma and Bernice experienced state-of-the-art building technology first-hand – from control systems to the groundwater heat pump in the basement, a clear favourite. Together, we traced the path of heat – from “heat source” to “heat sink”. A real wow moment!
They were also fascinated by the use of virtual reality: Equipped with VR headsets, they explored one of our digitally planned buildings – a memorable experience that brought the role of digitalisation in construction vividly to life. The girls saw up close what it means to plan with Building Information Modelling (BIM) – and how tangible and advanced technology and digital tools in construction already are today.
“Experiencing a building from the inside before it’s even built – that felt like putting on the future!” – Bernice
What remains?
A day that sparked curiosity – for technology, collaboration and the future. For Emma and Bernice, it was an introduction to a world full of possibilities. For us at MorgenGrün, it was a great opportunity to share our expertise – and gain new perspectives in return.
A big thank you to Jan, Lydia, Max, Nedim, Shuxin and Thomas for making the day possible – and to Emma and Bernice for their enthusiasm and energy.
We’re already looking forward to the next Girls’ Day!
What is Girls’ Day?
Girls’ Day – “Mädchen-Zukunftstag” – is a nationwide initiative in Germany that encourages girls from Year 5 onwards to explore careers in which women are still underrepresented. These include many technical, skilled trades and STEM fields – such as engineering and the construction sector.
By offering hands-on experiences and meaningful encounters, the event broadens horizons and helps participants discover how many exciting career paths are available to them. Girls’ Day promotes gender equality, challenges stereotypes – and inspires more young women to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and maths.
At MorgenGrün, Girls’ Day is a firm fixture in our calendar. Because anyone who wants to help shape the future needs all talents – regardless of gender or background.
