• ABOUT SESAC :
  • What is SESAC? :
  • European context :
  • Partners :
    • Partner cities :
    • Other partners :
• SESAC PROJECTS :
  • Växjö (Sweden) :
    • The CONCERTO SESAC Project in Växjö :
    • Polygeneration from biological waste in Växjö, sewage treatment plant Sundet :
    • New eco-buildings in Välle Broar, Biskopshagen :
    • Wooden Eco-buildings :
    • Absorption cooling technology :
    • Demand side management :
    • Sustainable Energy Management :
    • Energy efficent dwellings at Välle Broar, Limnologen :
    • Renewable energy production & awareness raising in the Teleborg School  :
  • Delft (Netherlands) :
    • New dwellings :
    • Eco-buildings :
    • Low temperature district heating :
  • Grenoble (France) :
    • New dwellings :
    • New school :
    • PV plant :
    • Integration of RES :
    • Mini hydropower :
    • Mini natural gas co-generation :
• KEY FOCUS AREAS :
  • Renewable Energy Sources :
    • Biomass :
    • Geothermal Energy :
    • Hydroelectric Power Stations :
    • Solar Energy :
    • Wind Energy :
  • Rational Use of Energy :
    • Sustainable Buildings, Low Energy Housing :
    • Sustainable Communities :
• NEWS & EVENTS DOWNLOADS :
  • SESAC publications :
    • SESAC Newsletters :
    • Partner publications :
    • Market Interaction :
    • Case studies :
    • Press corner :
  • European publications :
    • European projects :
    • CONCERTO publications :
  • Conferences :
  • Photos & Videos :
• EUROPEAN POLICY :
  • CONCERTO initiative :
  • Useful links :
• CONTACT :
  • Växjö :
  • Grenoble :
  • Delft :
  • Partners from New Member States :
  • Associations of local authorities :
  • Technical coordinators :
• PARTNER SECTION :

Sustainable Buildings, Low Energy Housing

Building and Housing

Sustainable Building


Definition


"Sustainable building" may be defined as building practices, which strive for integral quality (including economic, social and environmental performance) in a very broad way. Thus, the rational use of natural resources and appropriate management of the building stock will contribute to saving scarce resources, reducing energy consumption (energy conservation) and improving environmental quality.

Sustainable building involves considering the entire life cycle of buildings, taking environmental quality, functional quality and future values into account. In the past, attention has been primarily focused on the size of the building stock in many countries. Quality issues have hardly played a significant role. However, in strict quantity terms, the building and housing market is now saturated in most countries and the demand for quality is growing in importance. Accordingly, policies that contribute to the sustainability of building practices should be implemented, with recognition of the importance of existing market conditions. Both the environmental initiatives of the construction sector and the demands of users are key factors in the market. Governments will be able to give a considerable impulse to sustainable buildings by encouraging these developments.

Five objectives for sustainable buildings:
 Resource Efficiency
 Energy Efficiency (incl. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction)
 Pollution Prevention (incl. Indoor Air Quality and Noise Abatement)
 Harmonisation with Environment (incl. Environmental Assessment)
 Integrated and Systemic Approaches (incl. Environmental Management System)

Based on the objectives of the Building Research Establishment’s Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM), the principles are:

 demolish and rebuild only when it is not economical or practicable to reuse, adapt or extend an existing structure;
 reduce the need for transport during demolition, refurbishment and construction and tightly control all processes to reduce noise, dust, vibration, pollution and waste;
 make the most of the site, eg. by studying its history and purpose, local micro-climates and the prevailing winds and weather patterns, solar orientation, provision of public transport and the form of surrounding buildings;
 design the building to minimise the cost of ownership and its impact on the environment over its life span by making it easily maintainable and by incorporating techniques and technologies for conserving energy and water and reducing emissions to land, water and air;
 wherever feasible, use the construction techniques which are indigenous to the area, learning from local traditions in materials and design;
 put the function of the building and the comfort of its occupants well before any statement it is intended to make about the owner or its designer. That is, make it secure, flexible and adaptable (to meet future requirements) and able to facilitate and promote communications between staff;
 build to the appropriate quality and to last. Longevity depends much on form, finishes and the method of assembly employed as on the material used.
 avoid using materials from non renewable sources or which cannot be reused or recycled, especially in structures which have a short life;

Environmental Architecture

Five principles of an environmental architecture (Thomas A. Fisher, AIA, November, 1992):

  Healthful Interior Environment. All possible measures are to be taken to ensure that materials and building systems do not emit toxic substances and gasses into the interior atmosphere. Additional measures are to be taken to clean and revitalize interior air with filtration and plantings.
  Energy Efficiency . All possible measures are to be taken to ensure that the building’s use of energy is minimal. Cooling, heating and lighting systems are to use methods and products that conserve or eliminate energy use.
  Ecologically Benign Materials . All possible measures are to be taken to use building materials and products that minimize destruction of the global environment. Wood is to be selected based on non destructive forestry practices. Other materials and products are to be considered based on the toxic waste out put of production.
  Environmental Form . All possible measures are to be taken to relate the form and plan of the design to the site, the region and the climate. Measures are to be taken to "heal" and augment the ecology of the site. Accomodations are to be made for recycling and energy efficiency. Measures are to be taken to relate the form of building to a harmonious relationship between the inhabitants and nature.
  Good Design . All possible measures are to be taken to achieve an efficient, long lasting and elegant relationship of use areas, circulation, building form, mechanical systems and construction technology. Symbolic relationships with appropriate history, the Earth and spiritual principles are to be searched for and expressed. Finished buildings shall be well built, easy to use and beautiful.

Low-Energy Housing

Low-energy houses are new buildings or modernised older ones with a certain maximum energy requirement. These levels are set out in the Energy Conservation Regulations (EnEV). The pilot project "Existing Low-Energy Houses" aims to exploit savings potentials when modernising old buildings.

Particular priority is given to the following:

 Reduce energy needs
 Efficiently convert energy
 Integrate renewable energy resources