Building of Tomorrow - ÖGUT

Building of Tom10 years of the programBuilding of Tomorrow1999 – 2009

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ForewordAustria has a greater density of passivebuildings than any other country. Whatbegan in the mid 1990's as an experimentwith building systems for a“house without heating” has, since thestart of the research and technologyprogram “Building of Tomorrow”,turned into an exemplary success story.The program “Building of Tomorrow”,which was launched by the Federal Ministryof Transport, Innovation and Technologyin 1999, has created a new basisfor innovative accommodation and energy-efficientbuildings. Key technologieshave been developed, enabling Austrianfirms to take a worldwide technologicallead in the field of passive houses. Withthe aid of an active research and technologypolicy, architecturally ambitiousbuildings have resulted that employ ecologicalmaterials, are exceptionally energy-efficientand at the same time arerewarding to live in and to use.This brochure presents a selection ofpioneering projects in the field of“Sustainable Construction”, and at thesame time sets out a basis for challengesto come: construction methods,elements and components that arecompetitive in the marketplace, forresidential, office and utility buildings, allthe way to plus-energy buildings, needto be developed further.I hope that the latest findings fromresearch and development can be madeaccessible to as many users as possiblein this way, thus triggering a multitudeof pioneering construction projectsthroughout Austria.Doris BuresFederal Ministerof Transport, Innovation and Technology1Building of Tomorrow

Building of Tomorrow 2Schwanenstadt secondary school, renovated to passive-house standard

ContentsThe program “Building of Tomorrow” - the start of a success story............................................................................................ 4Subsidized housing construction – pioneering, sustainable and economical........................................................................... 8The timber passive house at Mühlweg, 1210 ViennaIs large-scale ecological construction feasible at reasonable cost?Successful renovation by means of modern technologies............................................................................................................10Block of flats renovated to passive-house standard in Makartstraße, LinzSanierung Pro!That passive-house atmosphere..........................................................................................................................................................12Sonnenplatz Großschönau – first European passive-house settlement to try out in a short stayCosiness from sustainabilityComponents for the Building of Tomorrow....................................................................................................................................... 14GREENoneTEC – Façade-integrated solar collectorsNew lightweight timber construction methods to achieve excellent thermal insulationPassive-house windows walchwindow04Historic buildings – renovated as models for the future................................................................................................................16Renovating a late-nineteenth-century villa in Wienerwald to passive-house standardEnergy-efficient renovation in conservation areasArctic conditions for the building of tomorrow............................................................................................................................... 18The Schiestlhaus on Hochschwab – an Alpine outpost to passive-house standard, energetically self-sufficient (altitude 2154 m)Passive-house buildings as a modern working environment........................................................................................................20eco2building in NiklasdorfENERGYbaseBiohof AchleitnerHousing scheme – from isolated project to a cluster of projects.................................................................................................22“einfach:wohnen“ – solarCity Linz PichlingSIP – housing models to passive-house standardThe passive house catches on ........................................................................................................................................................ 24Schwanenstadt school renovated to passive-house standardEvaluating mechanical ventilation systems in classroomsFirst passive-house kindergarten in Austria, in Ziersdorf, Lower AustriaBuild together – learn together ....................................................................................................................................................... 26Pallets never pall – the pallet house in South AfricaProject ITHUBA3 Building of Tomorrow

The program “Building of Tomorrow” ...Buildings are of central relevance both to the economyand ecologically. The stock of buildings in Austriahas doubled since the 1960's. 25 % of the mineralmaterial flows, 50 % of waste materialand nearly 40 % of final energy consumption canbe assigned to the building sector.Alongside actual construction work – building andrenovating – space heating and cooling, hot water,lighting and household appliances all contribute toenergy consumption in buildings. Then again, buildingand settlement structures have considerableinfluence on energy consumption in transport andin the construction material industry. The buildingsector is thus the essential starting-point for alllong-term energy scenarios, and has the greatestpotential for significant gains in energy efficiencyand reductions in emissions relevant to globalwarming in Austria. At the European level, too, theissue of energy-efficient buildings plays an importantrole, and is regarded as central to the Euro peanFramework Program for Research. Inter alia the goalof phasing fossil sources of energy out completelyin the building sector by 2030 is under discussion.Research and development are intended to providea basis for entirely new, sustainable approachesboth for new buildings and for renovating existingones. That was the starting-point for the original callfor proposals in the research and technology program“Building of Tomorrow” in 1999.The two main strands in the program “Building ofTomorrow” were directed at the solar low-energyhouse and the passive house, respectively. Theseenergy-oriented innovations have been augmentedby ecological, economic and social requirements.service andutilization aspectssolarlow-energy housepassive houseecological building materialsand system solutionsrenewable sourcesof energyenergy efficiencyrenewable raw materials,construction ecologyBuilding ofTomorrowcompetitive costsBuilding of Tomorrow 4

... the start of a success storyThe expression “Building of Tomorrow” refers bothto new and to renovated buildings that satisfy thefollowing criteria:> Significant reduction in energy and materialconsumption> Increased use of renewable sources of energy,particularly solar energy> Increased and efficient use of renewable/ecological materials> Attention to social aspects and to improvingquality of life> Costs comparable to those of conventionalconstruction, resulting in considerable marketpotentialThe program was intended to research and developconstruction methods, elements and componentsthat satisfy the criteria listed above to a largeextent and are competitive in the marketplace, foraccommodation, office and utility buildings.To generate research proposals, calls were put outon a large scale, backed up by advisory services; inthis way even firms with little experience ofresearch were motivated to submit projects. Up tomid 2009 six successive calls had been made, eachbuilding on its predecessor.More than 700 projects were submitted, of whicharound 300 received funding. To date BMVIT (theAustrian Federal Ministry of Transport, Innovationand Technology) has provided more than 35 millionEuro in grants.support for demonstration projects and concomitant researchtechnological developmentindustrial developmentbasic researchidea / approachR&D measurespilot anddemonstration projectsin model regions“Initially many people doubted whether concrete demonstrationprojects can emerge from a research program. To date we haveimplemented a total of 25 pioneering buildings, making Austria thefront-runner in this field of technology across Europe.”DI Michael PaulaFederal Ministry of Transport, Innovation and Technology5Building of Tomorrow

As the examples presented in this brochure reveal,innovative construction methods have beensuccess fully developed both for new building andfor renovation, and implemented in the shape ofdemonstration projects. Within the framework ofthe program “Building of Tomorrow” 25 demonstrationprojects have been completed in Austria todate.As a special feature of the program “Building ofTomorrow”, the calls for specific topics wereenhanced by project management to take fulladvantage of synergies. While the quality of thework done benefited from this, the growth of a networkwithin the program contributed markedly tothe development of a community interested inresearch in the building sector (communitybuilding). The main channels for diffusing resultswere and are the program website(www.HAUSderZukunft.at), organizing topic-centredworkshops and networking meetings for theproject participants, and issuing research reports inBMVIT's series of publications.On top of this the program has facilitated significantdevelopments in the field of sustainable construction:> There has been a marked growth in scientificcompetence in this field in Austria> Austria now has the highest density of passivehousebuildings anywhere in the world> Austrian firms have taken a world-wide lead inthe technology of sustainable construction> Support has been provided for the process ofadapting the Austrian system of housingsubsidies to take account of the latestdevelopments in construction> The Austrian Ministry of the Environment’sprogram klima:aktiv builds on the results of”Building of Tomorrow” to a considerable extent,and is supporting further implementation.“As I found out the hard way while my own house was being renovated: it is not enough toknow the results of the research and technology projects oneself, one also needs skilledcraftsmen with proper training who can put these results into practice in real life.”DI Theodor ZillnerFederal Ministry of Transport, Innovation and TechnologyBuilding of Tomorrow 6

For research and development the question now iswhat is the next innovation step to be. The longtermvision for the “Building of Tomorrow” is toincrease energy efficiency in construction and useto a point where, over buildings' entire life cycle,emissions relevant to global warming are reducedto zero. That means that the building in question isno longer a consumer but a supplier of energy duringits operation, i.e. it satisfies the criteria for aplus-energy building.In consequence the second phase of the researchprogram “Building of Tomorrow” has a particularthrust – the goal is to achieve the technological prerequisitesfor constructing buildings that supplymore energy than they consume.The program is focussed on implementing the innovationsdeveloped in “Building of Tomorrow” on anindustrial scale, and on carrying out demonstrationprojects with the emphasis on service buildings andrenovation.In line with this focus there are four fields ofactivity:> Developing key technologies> Implementing innovative technologies on anindustrial scale> Pioneer projects directed toward demonstrationschemes> Strategies, linking stakeholders together andtrainingThe aims here are to strengthen Austria's technologicalposition further, while disseminating thetechnologies in question and the associated knowhowin the construction sector, so as to improveenergy efficiency significantly, create intelligentcomplete systems and make more use ofrenewable sources of energy.www.HAUSderZukunft.at“A significant indicator of our success is that we have been invited to present “Building ofTomorrow” as a paradigm of a successful research initiative not only by the EuropeanParliament, but also by the International Energy Agency, Japan, the USA and China.”Dr. Herbert GreisbergerAustrian Society for Environment and Technology7Haus der Zukunft

Subsidized housing construction – pioneering,sustainable and economicalDEMONSTRATION BUILDINGThe timber passive house at Mühlweg, 1210 ViennaThat modern architecture and an ecological constructionmethod can be combined within the budgetary straitjacketof subsidized housing is shown by BAI's “Houseat Mühlweg” (opened in 2007), a demonstration projectin which special innovative building structures werepartly funded within the framework of “Building ofTomorrow”.With 70 subsidized flats for rental, the housing complexis really up to ecological standard, scores well on materialand energy efficiency and provides very comfortableliving. The key to all this is coupling passive-house performancewith construction that combines masonry withtimber. Building with renewable raw materials and insulatingto passive-house standard with controlled ventilationof living space results in substantial cost and energysavings. The four free-standing buildings, each containing18 flats, are grouped around a central green space.The basement, the load-bearing members on the groundfloor and the staircase were constructed in reinforcedconcrete; the top storey and the storeys inbetween were built from massive cross-laminatedtimber panels. Every single flat has a fair-sized terrace orloggia. As the load-bearing timber structure had beenprefabricated industrially, the buildings were put up in avery short space of time. A passive house provides realcosiness while consuming very little energy. This housingcomplex features wood-frame (aluminium-clad)windows to passive-house standard, ventilation withultra-efficient waste heat recovery and (at the mainentrance) vacuum thermal insulation. Each of the fourbuildings is equipped with 60 m 2 of solar panels for heatingwater.The “House at Mühlweg” needs less than 15 kWh/m 2per year for space heating. This represents a saving ofmore than 90 % as against average consumption inexisting accommodation. Special attention was paid toservice and utilization aspects, starting with marketingactivities, via training in the course of handover, all theway to follow-up (maintenance, evaluation). Initial occupantsurveys have already revealed above-average satisfactionwith the accommodation. There is considerableinterest in the project from other countries, too, and verypositive resonance.InformationBAI Bauträger Austria Immobilien GmbHDI Georg Koglergeorg.kogler@bai.atREVIEWIs large-scale ecological construction feasible atreasonable cost?The passive-house residential development at Utendorfgasse 7 in 1140Vienna was implemented as a subsidized housing project with un -usually low construction costs. Although the ambitious goal – deliveringthe first subsidized housing complex in Austria to be certified as satisfyingall the criteria for passive houses – generated immense costpressure throughout the entire construction project, the overall result isextremely ecological. While a high ecological standard was achieved,though, not all ecologically relevant criteria (assessed as per klima:aktivcertification and the IBO catalogue of passive-house construction elements)were satisfied. The planning team later used the Utendorfgasseproject to investigate the extra construction costs involved in makingfurther ecological improvements in multi-storey subsidized housing projects.The investigation revealed that building ecologically at reasonablecost is possible. As the extra construction costs for meeting theklima:aktiv requirements that were not in fact met were assessed, itturned out that, except for the photovoltaic equipment, all the necessaryimprovements can be made, in some cases at very little expense. Theinvestigators reached the overall conclusion that building ecologically isless a matter of spending large sums of money than of taking the relevantrequirements into account in good time, during the planning phaseand particularly at the stage of obtaining tenders.InformationSchöberl & Pöll GmbHwww.schoeberlpoell.atoffice@schoeberlpoell.atBuilding of Tomorrow 8

STATEMENT“How happy are people to be living in a passive house? Thanks to “Building of Tomorrow” (the Mühlweghousing complex), students' projects at Vienna University of Technology (Utendorfgasse, Roschégasse,Kammelweg B&E) and a BUWOG survey (“Melone” in Dreherstraße), we know the answer for six passivehousehousing complexes (425 flats) in Vienna. 53 % of the occupants filled in questionnaires; 156 flats inolder buildings were used for comparison. Occupants of passive houses turned out not to be particularly green: saving energywas not a key criterion when they were choosing where to live. With 80 % “very content” most of the passive-house housingcomplexes were far ahead of the 30 % notched up by the older buildings. Only Kammelweg E was on the same level as the olderbuildings, due to communication problems which have since been resolved. Being content with living in a passive house correlateswith adequate information about this type of building, with liking this form of accommodation and with proper explanation of thetechnical aspects. The trickiest part was getting used to the technical side of things immediately after moving in. A compact handbookfor the ventilation and heating system – “What to do if … ?” – was regarded as helpful. The longer people live in a passivehouse, the more content they are: in Utendorfgasse the share of “very content” residents rose from 84 % in 2007 to 94 % in 2008,which makes follow-up evaluations (as definitely planned for Mühlweg) well worthwhile.”Dr. Alexander Keul, environmental psychologist

Successful renovation by means of moderntechnologiesDEMONSTRATION BUILDINGBlock of flats renovated to passive-house standard in Makartstraße, Linz –an industry firstRenovating existing buildings to make them thermallysustainable is one important way of reducing CO2 emissionseffectively. The opportunity should then be seizedto of getting these buildings up to the latest energy standardin the course of renovation, and thus making themmore comfortable to live in. In 2006, for the first timeever, a large-volume building from the 1950's in Linz wasmodernized with the aid of a comprehensive, sustainablerenovation concept, in a “Building of Tomorrow” demonstrationproject. The primary goals here were to save asmuch energy as possible and to improve functionalityand quality of living significantly, at acceptable cost.While this 50-flat block was being renovated, all possiblesteps were taken to achieve specially high air quality plusmore comfort and cosiness in an existing building, whileminimizing energy consumption. The building wasequipped with a prefabricated back-ventilated GAP solarfaçade with translucent thermal insulation, passivehousewindows with integrated solar shading, andcontrolled ventilation and exhaust facilities featuring individualroom fans. The ventilation arrangements in eachroom ensure excellent air quality and recover heat fromthe air exhausted. Not only did expenditure on heating godown dramatically since these devices started running,but it was also established that an occupant's allergy todust has since worn off.In addition, the roofing was replaced and thicker insulationwas installed in the ceiling under the roof and thefloor over the basement. The existing balconies wereenlarged and fitted with glazing and thermally insulatedparapets and sidewalls; this resulted in more usable floorspace. With the new façade in place, much less noisefrom the street outside gets into the building. Renovationinvolved prefabricated solar-façade elements, so workwas completed in a very short time and occupants werenot incommoded much. With its pioneering overallapproach and numerous innovative solutions, theMakartstraße project is a model of how to renovateexisting buildings.InformationGIWOG Gemeinnützige Industrie-Wohnungs-AGBmst. Ing. Alfred Willensdorfera.willensdorfer@giwog.atMANUALSanierung Pro!In contrast to new construction, renovation involves interfering withexisting systems, both building and social, and therefore requiresclose collaboration between the various stakeholders: property developers,planners, politicians and administrators, and the actual occupants.The Austrian Institute for Ecology carried out an investigationentitled “Sanierung PRO!” and centred on the issue of how to involvethe occupants in the renovation process. This led to the publication ofthe manual “Renovating successfully with occupant involvement” in2004, as an aid to property developers and planners in the context ofrenovation processes in blocks of flats. The manual presents the keyfindings as regards involving occupants successfully, in practicalterms and in relation to target groups. Professional management inthis area is the best basis for optimizing a renovation strategy interms of construction technology, costs, time and client satisfaction.The manual includes general information, actual examples, checklistsand useful tools; the coverage is rounded off with empirical reports byexperts from the construction sector.InformationAustrian Institute for EcologyDI Georg Tappeinertappeiner@ecology.atBuilding of Tomorrow 10

STATEMENT“Renovating and modernizing existing buildings plays a constantly expanding part inproperty developers' investment planning. This leads to challenges which do not enterinto new construction, since renovating an existing building is “operating on a livingorganism”. In many cases property developers must take conflicting interests into accountin their planning, so as to harmonize the occupants' needs with the requirementsof the market for accommodation. Involving all the major stakeholders, particularlythe occupants, in the renovation project early on can be crucial to the successof modernization projects concerned with heating and energy efficiency. The occupantscan be involved at various levels of intensity. Depending on the legal context (tenancy,owner-occupancy) and the scope of renovation, these levels range from providing information,via surveys and consultation, all the way to common decision making. Projectsfrom the “Building of Tomorrow” program have provided important findings here – andthese are playing a growing part in actual renovation as more and more buildingsundergo renovation!”DI Georg Tappeiner, Austrian Institute for Ecology“Living here has got muchmore enjoyable.”(quote from an occupant)

That passive-house atmosphereDEMONSTRATION BUILDINGSonnenplatz Großschönau –first European passive-house settlement to try out in a short stay ®In Waldviertel in the northern part of Lower Austria it hasbeen possible since 2007 to experience the advantagesof a passive house “hands on” for a few days – a completelynew departure. Around the “Sonnenplatz“ inGroßschönau a passive-house settlement has been builtwith various different “feel-good” houses, all brimmingwith sunlight, in which those interested can try out thetechnical side and the indoor climate of this type ofhouse.A passive house does not need a separate heatingsystem; warmth from the sun coming in through thewindows, plus waste heat from appliances and occupants,suffices to keep the inside of the building at anagreeable temperature during the heating period. Thearray of specimen houses contains all sorts of architecturaland technical variations on the theme of ecologicalconstruction. In the equipment centre in each house fullinformation about heating, electricity consumption andthe technical facilities on hand is presented.The Sonnenplatz project in Großschönau is a holisticapproach to disseminating innovative ecological styles ofbuilding. The passive-house settlement is to expandfurther in the next few years in line with a sustainablesettlement strategy; 20 state-of-the-art residential buildingsare planned, along with a research and competencecentre for construction and energy. In the initial phase astart was made with five buildings. An advisory board onquality supports the process of implementing constructionand services, plus the care of the passive houses.The project promoters, planners and implementers needto cooperate closely, in order to ensure that the individualconstruction elements and service componentsmatch perfectly. Parallel to the actual project, trainingprograms for the firms involved are carried out.Throughout all periods of occupation full data on energyand resource consumption and client behaviour arelogged. Analysing user behaviour, salient energy dataand users' subjective feelings in conjunction is intendedto help improve the quality of living, result in more cosinessand thus widen the field of potential clients.InformationSonnenplatz Großschönau GmbHJosef Bruckneroffice@sonnenplatz.atwww.sonnenplatz.atINVESTIGATIONCosiness from sustainabilityFor the passive-house standard to impact the market, arguments infavour of the passive-house approach based on running expenses andon ecology need bolstering with arguments concerned with comfort.Plenty of potential clients for passive houses shy away from living in ahouse that can be heated only with air heating; they yearn for a sourcethat provides sensible heat, such as a panel heater or a small stove. Inthe course of this investigation issues connected with how cosy passivehouses are, and what difference they make to health andrelaxation, were examined empirically for the first time. Do theoccupants of passive houses experience a difference in comfort,depending on whether the building is heated only via fresh air or additionallyby means of other heat supply systems? Can perceived differencesbe accounted for physiologically and/or psychologically? Doesthe improvement in indoor air quality affect the quality of sleep? Theseissues were investigated by means of questionnaires, interviews withoccupants of passive houses and measuring the research subjects'heartbeat during sleep. The aim of the project was to derive a basis forimproving passive-house elements further in the direction of cosiness,by means of the data obtained and the documentation of userexperience.InformationIBO – Österreichisches Institut für Baubiologie und -ökologie GmbHDI Dr. Gabriele Rohreggergabriele.rohregger@ibo.atBuilding of Tomorrow 12

STATEMENT“Trying passive houses out at Sonnenplatz inGroßschönau has been reality since 12 May2007. People intending to build their own househave a unique opportunity to test their idealhouse and to find out more. Only during an actual stay it is possibleto experience the advantages of this construction standard,such as cosiness, comfort, energy efficiency etc., “hands on”.Valuable extra information is available during a guided tour ofSonnenplatz, and also during the presentation of the passivehouseconstruction standard. At Sonnenplatz in Großschönau theclient gets comprehensive advice (neutral as between suppliers),so a good deal of uncertainty and worry can be eliminated. Weaim to convince! By now trying passive houses out has become aprimary aid to reaching a decision about a passive house. Sincethe opening we have welcomed more than 3000 short stayers.”“We came back for a secondshort stay, and once again itwas very nice indeed.Sonnenplatz is simply afantastic project. We'recertainly coming back!”OSR Josef BrucknerSonnenplatz Großschönau GmbHThe Winter family, 1120 Vienna13Building of Tomorrow

Components for the Building of TomorrowFAÇADE-INTEGRATED SOLAR COLLECTORSGREENoneTEC – façade-integrated solar collectorsBuilding on a research project on integrating solar heatingequipment from AEE Intec in façades, the firm ofGREENoneTEC Solarindustrie developed flat solar collectorswithout an air space behind, and manufactured themin bulk. As regards resource and energy efficiency afaçade-integrated solar collector is an improvement onconventional systems, in as much as a single componenttakes care of several different functions (using insolationfor water and space heating, thermal insulation, façadedesign, protection from the weather, etc.), which makesconsiderable savings in cost possible. Façade-integratedsolar collectors have the great advantage that insolationis uniform throughout the year. This innovative collectorsystem is suitable both for new buildings and forrenovating existing ones.InformationGREENoneTECSolarindustrie GmbHinfo@greenonetec.comwww.greenonetec.comINVESTIGATIONInformationWeissenseer Holz-System-Bau GmbHwww.weissenseer.atNew lightweight timber construction methods toachieve excellent thermal insulationThis project was focussed on developing, analysing and optimizingvery well-insulated wall elements in timber shells for buildings. Theproject team devised and tested several different wall structuresand a variety of combinations of structural and insulation materials,and analysed and optimized them as regards structural engineering,implementation details and cost/benefit ratios. The aim was to findout how the structures in question behave hygroscopically longtermas temperature varies, namely under real climatic conditions,and thus to provide a solid basis for further innovations in the fieldof passive-house standards. The Carinthia Polytechnic put a newdynamic simulation method to work in their analysis. With thisstate-of-the-art method it is possible to assess components'performance realistically at the design stage: something of specialimportance in timber construction, since a lightweight structure'spotential for drying out has considerable influence on how well itinsulates thermally and how its elements behave long-term.Alongside these simulations, a test/demonstration building was putup at Weißensee in Carinthia, where practical investigations andmeasurements are performed on selected elements.Building of Tomorrow 14

PASSIVE-HOUSE WINDOWSwalchwindow04The walchwindow04 is a new development: a directlybonded wood-glass window system for windows andfaçades with an all-glass front. In this new design thewooden frame is completely covered by the steppedglass pane on the outside, so the frame is fully protectedfrom the weather and environmental influences. Themodules are of generous size, and particularly suitablefor use in passive houses. The main emphasis in theproject was on developing new production methods(e.g. the special wood-glass bonding technology) andprocessing procedures, and on refining these in detail forproduction in bulk. The new design results in slenderwooden windows which can be assembled into anall-glass façade. The single pane of safety glass onthe outside protects the entire window module fromenvironmental influences and weather, so the window ismaintenance-free and easy to look after. A specialfeature of the window system is a pivot fitting speciallydeveloped for it, with which the window can be pivotedthrough 165°, so that the outside glass can be cleanedfrom inside the building. The glass is bonded withfoamed silicone, which insulates very well (psi value0.033 W/mK); as a result the levels of thermal andacoustic insulation achieved are excellent.InformationWalch GmbHIng. Andreas Molloffice@walchfenster.atwww.walchfenster.atSTATEMENT“Research and development are among the vital factors in our success. Alwaysone step ahead – that's how we think and act, so as to be able to offer our clientsthe very best solutions. This maxim has helped us become the leadingmanufacturer of thermal solar collectors world-wide: a quarter of the collectors inthe European market are from GREENoneTEC.”Robert Kanduth, GREENoneTEC15Haus der Zukunft

Historic buildings – renovated as models for the futureDEMONSTRATION BUILDINGRenovating a late-nineteenth-century villa in Wienerwald topassive-house standardA large late-nineteenth-century villa with extensivegrounds in Purkersdorf, just outside Vienna, has – as partof a subsidized residential development project (building14 new flats in passive-house standard in the grounds ofthe villa) – been renovated to passive-house standard andconverted to multi-occupancy with four flats. The renovationwas not to impair the villa's architectural characteror its outside and inside appearance. The project wasdesigned to provide a convincing example of how thefabric of a late-nineteenth-century building can be preservedwhile state-of-the-art passive-house technology isemployed to achieve an outstanding environmentalbottom line.Exemplary detailed solutions suitable for passive houseswere developed specifically for this assignment, e.g. tomake it possible to retain the window wings on the outsidewhile adding elements on the inside to achievepassive-house standard. With careful planning andresearch the existing (non-uniform) box-type windowswere successfully renovated and reused, in two differentversions. Applying thermal insulation to the outsideof the building did not interfere with the façade'sstructure or ornaments, which were preserved in theiroriginal state.The passive-house approach was enhanced by means ofsolar equipment; this applied particularly to the villa itself,which gets a lot of sun. The residual heat input comesfrom a state-of-the-art biomass heating system. Whathad once been a conservatory was converted into aloggia projecting southwards. Solar collectors for hotwater were integrated in the roof.Every single feature was worked out in close collaborationwith specialists from the various fields involved. Intheir treatment of details the team of planners rigorouslyadhered to the twin goals of preserving the fabric andincorporating state-of-the-art systems; they thussucceeded in setting a comprehensive example of howto renovate historic buildings to passive-house standard.InformationArchitekt Georg W. Reinbergarchitekt@reinberg.netwww.reinberg.netAufbauwerk der Österreichischen Jungarbeiterbewegung GmbHArch. DI Ralph Baumgärtner (Geschäftsführer)office@aufbauwerk.atwww.aufbauwerk.atRESEARCH PROJECTEnergy-efficient renovation in conservation areasImplementing new energy technologies in historic buildings worthpreserving is a real challenge to owners, planners and practitioners,particularly in the demanding field of heritage conservation. In aresearch project on this issue set up by ENERGIE TIROL, basicprinciples were established and practical solutions developed. Withrepresentatives of authorities, planners and practitioners workingtogether in study groups, requirements for using energy efficientlywere successfully attuned to the conditions and specifications laiddown by conservation watchdogs.The project generated the following results:> Detailed findings about motivation and hindrances in connectionwith energy-saving measures in buildings of historic value> Overview of the problems arising in connection with energyefficientrenovation in conservation areas, and of the methodsand solutions available in the market today> A new energy-saving window developed specifically for buildingsof historic value> Technical solutions implemented in individual buildingsA comprehensive information brochure “Häuser mit Geschichte“(“Buildings with history”) has since been published, aimed atpromoters and planners; the results have also been made availableon the internet.InformationENERGIE TIROLDI A. Ortler, Mag. R. Krismer, DI G. WimmersSüdtiroler Platz 46020 Innsbruckoffice@energie-tirol.atwww.energie-tirol.atBuilding of Tomorrow 16

Photos: Rupert SteinerSTATEMENT“I see existing buildings – and renovating them – as the houses of the future par excellence, providedthat renovation is done to the highest standard of energy efficiency; for this is the only way ofensuring that an existing building, once renovated, is fit for the future and will not soon need renovatingagain. Ten years ago, with the first project I submitted for “Building of Tomorrow”, I wasalready committed to the idea that existing buildings are the houses of the future, and I'm glad that– largely thanks to this research program – renovation is becoming more and more frequent, in manycases at a high ecological level and to passive-house standard. For an architect renovating an existingbuilding involves thinking deeply about its (cultural) history, and facing the challenge of a host oftechnical issues and detailed questions – always a very exciting challenge, architecturally and technically,and a future-related task that I work on with great enthusiasm.“Arch. DI Georg W. Reinberg, Architekturbüro Reinberg ZT GmbH17Building of Tomorrow

Arctic conditions for the building of tomorrowDEMONSTRATION BUILDINGThe Schiestlhaus on Hochschwab – an Alpine outpost to passive-housestandard, energetically self-sufficient (altitude 2154 m)Mountain refuges in the Alps are isolated buildings inexposed locations, hard to reach and ecologically veryvulnerable. To some extent they experience quasi-arctictemperatures and extremes of weather, and must standup to heavy loads in the form of wind and snow. As theyare far from public service networks (water, electricity,sewers), there are often problems with supply andconsiderable environmental impact. On the other handthese refuges are located in areas which get a lot of sun,so there is plenty of potential for using solar systems tosupply energy.For the Schiestlhaus on Hochschwab an integratedoverall strategy for an energetically self-sufficient alpineoutpost was developed for the very first time. Therefuge, which belongs to the ÖTK (ÖsterreichischerTouristenklub), is at an altitude of 2154 metres on thesummit plateau of Hochschwab. Within the frameworkof a pilot project the original refuge, which was 120 yearsold, was replaced by a new building to passive-housestandard in 2004/2005. As the refuge is far from any kindof service infrastructure, a type of building based onexploiting solar energy was developed, energetically selfsufficientbecause electricity and heat are output from anintegrated package comprising collector panels, photovoltaicequipment and suitable storage facilities. For thestructure of the building a timber construction systemwas selected; this stands up to the extreme requirementsapplying, and was prefabricated true to size. Tokeep the cost of transport and erection down, everythinghad to be planned in exact detail.Mountain refuges are a special case as regards how theyare actually used, since the number of visitors variesgreatly, depending on time of year, day of the week andweather. The Schiestlhaus building is designed forflexibility with this in mind; it is divided into variousclimate zones – around the core zone, which is heatedthroughout, other spatial zones are grouped, which canalso be heated as the need arises. As there are nosprings close to the refuge, an elaborate system wasinstalled to obtain process and drinking water from rainwater.All wastewater is purified in a biological treatmentfacility which also supplies drinking water.The new Schiestlhaus is a prototype for buildings inisolated locations in the Alps. The innovative technologiesand special solutions employed are being testedhere under extreme conditions. Solutions that havepassed the test in this project can, with minor modifications,be applied in any Alpine location.InformationÖTK – Österreichischer Touristenklubwww.oetk.atpos architekten ZT KEG (pos sustainable architecture)www.pos-architekten.comTreberspurg & Partner Architekten ZT GmbHwww.treberspurg.atBuilding of Tomorrow 18

Passive-house buildings as a modern workingenvironmentDEMONSTRATION BUILDINGeco2building NiklasdorfAs a demonstration building for the eco2building system,Eine Welt Handel AG's new all-timber office and logisticscentre shows that ambitious architecture, top-notchenergy efficiency and high-grade construction are feasibleat a competitive price and with a tight implementationschedule. The eco2building construction system isthe first complete timber module passive-house systemfor commercial and industrial buildings up to more than15,000 m 2 in size. It was developed by Poppe*PrehalArchitekten and Obermayr Holzkonstruktionen as part ofthe EU project HOLIWOOD and with a grant from“Building of Tomorrow”. The associated planning andcosting software came from the PROFACTOR Group.The eco2building system provides maximum freedom indesign, flexibility in use and an architecture matched tothe corporate identity of the firm in question. A customizedenergy strategy for heating, ventilation etc. fromthe consulting engineers ebök/Tübingen ensures idealconditions at the workplace and remarkable energy efficiency.Industrial prefabrication and employing testedand optimized components result in cost certainty, rapidprogress in site work with guaranteed deadlines, andhigh-grade construction.InformationEine Welt Handel AGKarl Pirschoffice@eine-welt-handel.atDEMONSTRATION BUILDINGENERGYbaseWith a pioneering competence centre for renewablesources of energy the Wiener Wirtschaftsförderungsfonds(Vienna Business Promotion Fund) has set newstandards in developing highly energy-efficient officebuildings. 7500 m 2 of modern office space are availableto firms and to research and educational organizations inthe growth sector of renewable sources of energy.ENERGYbase is based on research findings from theAustrian Institute of Technology (previously arsenalresearch) and pos sustainable architecture, and wasimplemented in a comprehensive planning processinvolving architects, scientists and specialized planners.The office building's main characteristics are: passivehousestandard, energy efficiency, ecological sustainability,the use of renewable sources of energy (geothermaland solar), and maximum comfort for the occupants. Allthe offices are fully daylit. Greenhouse buffer zonesensure a uniformly agreeable indoor climate: 500 plants(a special kind of galingale) filter pollutants out of the air,providing natural air-conditioning all year round. TheENERGYbase building has been in operation since July2008. Overall its energy consumption is around 80 %lower and it emits around 200 t CO2 per year less than aconventional building. The building is monitored scientificallyin operation: 300 embedded sensors provide dataon further potential for improvements. The data collectedprovide information about energy consumption, temperaturecontrol and efficient management. InternationallyENERGYbase qualifies as a showpiece, and the EuropeanCommission has certified it as a “Green Building“.InformationWiener Wirtschaftsförderungsfonds – WWFFDI Gregor Rauhsrauhs@wwff.gv.atBuilding of Tomorrow 20

DEMONSTRATION BUILDINGBiohof AchleitnerBiohof Achleitner – a processing, storage and marketingcentre, including a sales point for fresh organic productsand an organic-food restaurant – is there to supply customerswith high-quality, healthy organic products and toprovide jobs in surroundings worth living in. The Biohofhas been re-housed in a new building incorporatingrenewable local construction materials (timber, straw andclay) and meeting passive-house standards. A glass-cladwall with a large area reveals in an impressive way howstraw (some of which grew in the Biohof’s fields) is usedto insulate a commercial building – a 1780 m 2 logisticwarehouse. Another key innovation is air-conditioningwith the aid of plants; this was integrated into theplanning process professionally. To employ plantssuccessfully, one must know the kinds of plant involvedand their needs, plan where to locate the plants in termsof architecture (daylight), evaluate the plant surfaces inrelation to the physics of the building, and plan automatedirrigation facilities. In collaboration with DanubeUniversity Krems the plants were monitored for the firsttwo years of operation; in particular, their effects on theindoor climate were documented scientifically.InformationBiohof Achleitner GmbHGünter Achleitnerg.achleitner@biohof.atwww.biohof.atSTATEMENT“The construction and building sector is known to be especially material and resource-intensive, soinnovations in this field can contribute significantly to conserving energy and stabilizing theclimate. In office buildings, increasingly stringent requirements as regards comfort and agreeablesurroundings push energy consumption up, e.g. for cooling and air-conditioning. This is why weneed new, innovative designs for buildings to combine energy and resource efficiency with lowcosts and a high level of comfort. AIT employs its know-how in the field of sustainable energysystems so as develop new, energy-efficient designs for buildings together with planners,architects and promoters. The ENERGYbase office building in Vienna is a showpiece project as regards usingscientific methods to develop building designs. As it relies on energy efficiency and renewable sources of energy,its consumption of primary energy is only one-sixth of that of a conventional office building, while it providesmaximum comfort to its occupants.“Dr. in Brigitte Bach, Austrian Institute of Technology21Building of Tomorrow

Housing scheme – from isolated project to a cluster ofprojectsDEMONSTRATION BUILDING„einfach:wohnen“ – solarCity Linz PichlingThe project “einfach:wohnen“ is part of “solarCityPichling“, an urban expansion zone in the south of Linz,the capital of Upper Austria. It brings a wind of changeas regards solar architecture, low-energy construction,quality of living and landscape planning. Five low-energybuildings, one passive house and one near-passive housewith a total of 93 flats have been put up here as demonstrationbuildings. Generous floor plans and sunny livingspace make for optimum quality of living. There areopen-air facilities for all flats (garden plots to rent,balconies, roof terraces). Generous glazing facing southand modern loggia scaffolds (which can be convertedinto conservatories) are the architectural keynotes. Themixture of maisonettes, terrace houses and flats providedis intended to counteract the tendency for people tosegregate. The goal of the project was to implementnew technologies in ecological and energy-savingconstruction within the narrow cost limits of subsidizedhousing developments. The three buildings featurediffering combinations of shell and heating and ventilationsystems, thus allowing inferences about how suitablethese technologies are for housing complexes,particularly in the case of subsidized housing construction.“einfach:wohnen“ is meant to help make low-energyand passive houses more attractive to property developersand potential occupants. Together with evaluating thetechnical performance characteristics, this project alsoinvolves concomitant sociological investigation of how satisfiedthe occupants are with their living conditions.InformationTreberspurg & Partner Architekten ZT GmbHUniv.Prof. Arch. DI Dr. Martin Treberspurgoffice@treberspurg.atwww.treberspurg.atbook publication: solarCity, SpringerVerlag 2008

REPORTSIP – housing models to passive house standardThis report is concerned with strategies for employing the passivehousetechnology in dense low-rise housing projects and blocks offlats, and with designing the surroundings of housing estates; it discussesthe aspects cost-effectiveness, energy efficiency, ecology,careful use of resources and urban development in a four-pillar innovationmodel. Using passive-house technology as a standard, theproject team developed timber construction modules prefabricatedin series, and types of building for dense low-rise housing, plusenergy strategies suitable for clusters of buildings. The team alsodrew up guidelines for housing models. The aim was to accommodatethe demands associated with “detached-house quality” withsubstantial amounts of private open space, while taking advantageof the benefits of housing-estate communities, with their social networks.Developing settlements sustainably was another centralconcern; a catalogue of criteria for structural reorientation in sub -urban and rural areas was drawn up to form the basis for planningpioneering housing models that take both landscape potential andthe infrastructure situation into account. SIP is characterized by thepossibility of duplication, which gives it excellent chances in themarket. With SIP various sizes of passive-house estate can bedesigned and built very flexibly – and it is possible to combinehigh-grade construction ecology, energy efficiency and comfort inliving with high-quality space within the settlement.InformationMag.arch.Dr. Helmut Poppeoffice.linz@poppeprehal.atMag.arch. Andreas Prehaloffice.steyr@poppeprehal.atwww.poppeprehal.atSTATEMENT“Passive houses are state of the art. In the case of vehicles the one-litre car, offering80 % energy savings, has not been realized yet – but in the case of buildings the “onelitrehouse”, saving more than 90 % energy, already exists. By now we have more than 15years' experience with this technology. It's always the occupants who profit most. As partof the “Building of Tomorrow” project einfach:wohnen, seven blocks of flats were put upin differing versions in solarCity Linz Pichling. The passive house built there was the first block of flatsmeeting the passive-house standard in Upper Austria. Providing a real-life example of this kindcontributed a good deal to the idea of low-energy and passive house methods of construction catching on– as regards changing the attitude of project promoters and the general public, too.“Univ. Prof. Arch. DI Dr. Martin Treberspurg, Treberspurg & Partner Architekten ZT GmbH23Building of Tomorrow

The passive house catches onDEMONSTRATION BUILDINGSchwanenstadt school renovated to passive-house standardIn this demonstration project a secondary school inSchwanenstadt, Upper Austria, was completely renovatedand an annex added. The comprehensive ecologicalstrategy involved reduced the school building's energyconsumption by a factor of 10. After renovation andextension the building meets passive-house standards;construction was largely done with renewable materialssuch as prefabricated timber wall elements. In the problematicsectors of the existing building vacuuminsulation was installed. The user-friendly ventilationsystem provides really fresh air and ensures anagreeable atmosphere in the classrooms; the school isnow much better lit, as the inside of the building getsdaylight through skylights.The renovation program cut the school building's energyconsumption by around 90 %, whereas conventional renovationwould have yielded only 25 % savings. Theamount of energy needed for putting the annex up wasvery low, too, thanks to lightweight timber elementsbeing used and to the ecological optimization ofconstruction. Since prefabricated components wereemployed on a large scale, erection on site did not takelong; so renovation did not interfere with the running ofthe school to any great extent.InformationARGE Erste Passivhaus SchulsanierungArch. DI Heinz PlöderlPAUAT Architekten Wels,www.pau.atIng. Günter LangGuenter.lang@gmx.atwww.passivehouse.atINVESTIGATIONEvaluating mechanical ventilation systems inclassroomsThese days mechanical ventilation systems with waste heat recoveryshould be included as a matter course when the building of newschools and kindergartens or the renovation of existing ones isplanned. State-of-the-art ventilation systems are essential both forsurroundings conducive to learning, i.e. satisfactory air quality, andfor realizing energy-saving potential. Building on existing planningguide-lines and standards, and on the findings of an analysis of levelsof acceptance and a technical evaluation, the investigation generateda planning manual with 61 detailed quality criteria for classroom ventilation.From numerous convincing examples it is clear that efficientclassroom ventilation can be implemented straightforwardly and atmoderate expense. With the manual in question project managers arein a position to specify the performance required precisely, and thusto plan and implement a ventilation system to the highest standard.InformationDI Andreas GremlFachhochschule Kufstein Tirolandreas.greml@fh-kufstein.ac.atwww.komfortlüftung.atBuilding of Tomorrow 24

DEMONSTRATION BUILDINGFirst passive-house kindergarten in Austria, in Ziersdorf, Lower AustriaIn the case of kindergartens the passive-house standardis particularly challenging, both in planning and in implementation.Since the various rooms (multifunctionalrooms, rooms for moving about, ancillary rooms) areused in differing ways, requirements as regardsheating capacity, fresh air and indoor climate also vary. Incalculating the amount of heat to be supplied, one musttake the restricted periods of use and the substantialamount of heat given off by people during the coreperiod into account. For Austria's first passive-housekindergarten all these aspects were fully integrated inthe planning process, and realized in a pioneering constructionstrategy. In line with the time of day when theyare used, the group rooms face south-east and givedirectly onto the garden via a terrace with a large canopyroof. Daylight is admitted through deep windows in awall thick enough to have niches to sit in; skylightsprovide entrancing views and perspectives. The buildingis insulated with renewable materials (straw, wool, cellulose)and equipped with wooden passive-housewindows. A central ventilation system with a heatexchanger featuring heat-storage panels, plus a pelletstove, ensure an agreeable, healthy climate indoors.Right from the start the passive-house kindergartenproject was placed on a broad community footing;discussions and an exchange of information within thecommunity helped to dispel prejudices against passivehouses.InformationAH3 ARCHITEKTEN ZT GMBHArch. DI Johannes Kislingeroffice@ah3.atwww.ah3.atSTATEMENT“The first-ever renovation of a state school – Schwanenstadt secondary school – to passive-housestandard is the response to skyrocketing oil prices. In its first year of operation, the passive-houseschool in Schwanenstadt achieved minus 89 % fuel consumption for heating, and around minus 77 %CO2 emissions. This makes the project a shining example of reducing dependence on fossil fuels, anda successful contribution to the new energy policy. Convenience, excellent air quality and the bright,colourful rooms and spaces in the Schwanenstadt school function perfectly in practice even on sunnydays and with high outdoor temperatures. In line with the slogan “Fresh air for bright kids”, pupils (and teachers) can lookforward to top-grade air quality in all rooms throughout, and thus to much better concentration – and hopefully better marks.The building now has a significant multiplier effect on public opinion – the school's image was refurbished, and people fromall over the world visit Upper Austria's signpost to the future of energy. The project has set new standards for renovatingexisting buildings to get the best results in terms of energy efficiency.”Arch. DI Heinz Plöderl, PAUAT Architekten ZT GmbH25Building of Tomorrow

Build together – Learn togetherDEMONSTRATION BUILDINGPallets never pall – the pallet house in South AfricaThe world is littered with pallets. They are freightedhither and thither between seaports, airports and shoppingcentres by rail, container ship or lorry. At the end ofa pallet's life it usually gets burnt. Well, the Austrianarchitects Gregor Pils and Claus Schnetzer had the ideaof turning used pallets into a building for temporary useat various different locations. The house they developedconsists of 800 used pallets, which thus get a secondlease of life; they are made up into modules that canquickly be assembled into a 60 m² building. The multilayerstructure can accommodate plumbing, insulationand lighting without difficulty. The pallet house is ecological,energy-efficient and low in cost, and can easily bere-erected at other locations later.In the EU competition GAU:DI, for architecture students,the Austrian pallet house was one of the three prizewinningprojects, and was exhibited at the Biennale inVenice in 2008. Within the framework of a researchproject it is now being refined and worked up ready forproduction. The pallet house can easily be prefabricated,and can also be arrayed in village-type clusters. In theITHUBA project the pallet house is intended to serve asa prototype for a dwelling-house in the regionthat the local people in South Africacan then duplicate.InformationSPa(r)Andreas Claus SchnetzerGregor Pilsoffice@palettenhaus.comwww.palettenhaus.com

PROJECTITHUBAITHUBA is a Zulu expression for “chance“ or “possibility“– under this name the ITHUBA Skills College is takingshape in South Africa, on a 22,000 m² site. The projectwas launched by Christoph Chorherr, and architecturestudents from all over Europe are realizing it togetherwith African children. In a region not far from Johannesburg,where the inhabitants live in a cycle of poverty,violence and unemployment, the College revealsalternatives and demonstrates that life need not befocussed on consumption and competition.At the ITHUBA College the pupils get five years'education, comprising both subjects like English, mathematicsand natural sciences and additional skills such asbricklaying, carpentry, installing electrical circuitry, etc.But ITHUBA is also an opportunity for the Europeanstudents involved to learn and experiment; they designbuildings in which local materials should predominate,the cost of building should be minimized and theprinciples of ecological construction should apply. Thepupils at ITHUBA help with construction, and learnhandcraft basics in the process. The core of ITHUBA isthe energy and power that young people can put intosomething they believe in.InformationChristoph ChorherrChristoph.Chorherr@blackbox.atwww.ithuba.orgSTATEMENT“I'm glad that interesting Austrian technologies – and Austrian inventiveness – can play an importantrole in South Africa on behalf of education and prosperity. The pallet house is a fascinating new wayof constructing a highly efficient building with existing resources at low cost.“Mag. Christoph Chorherr, Initiator of the ITHUBA project27Building of Tomorrow

ContactsInitiative and responsible for program:Federal Ministry of Transport, Innovation and Technology (BMVIT)Division of Energy and Environmental TechnologiesHead of Division: DI Michael PaulaContact for “Building of Tomorrow Plus“:DI (FH) Isabella Zwergerisabella.zwerger@bmvit.gv.atProgram management:FFG – Austrian Research Promotion AgencyMag. Robert Schwertnerrobert.schwertner@ffg.ataws – the promotional bank of the Republic of AustriaDr. Wilhelm Hantsch-Linhartw.hantsch@awsg.atÖGUT – Austrian Society for Environment and TechnologyDr. Herbert Greisbergeroffice@hausderzukunft.atImprintOwner, publisher and responsible for content:Federal Ministry of Transport, Innovation and TechnologyRenngasse 5, A-1010 ViennaResponsible for content:Division of Energy and Environmental TechnologiesHead of Division: DI Michael PaulaEdited by:Mag. Stefanie Waldhör (Projektfabrik Waldhör KG)DI Claudia Dankl (ÖGUT)DI (FH) Isabella Zwerger (BMVIT)Mag. Hannes Bauer (BMVIT)Design and production:Projektfabrik Waldhör KGNedergasse 23, A-1190 Viennawww.projektfabrik.atPhotographs and illustrations:taken from the projectswww.HAUSderZukunft.atBuilding of Tomorrow 28

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