The objects of the project are examples of the construction of the future, combining a high level of comfort for the inhabitants, energy efficiency and environmental friendliness. One of them, the Green Lighthouse in Copenhagen, was visited by Dmitry Medvedev in 2010 and recommended that Russian builders use advanced foreign technologies more actively.
At the invitation of VELUX, the famous Moscow architect Anton Mosin became the guest of the Exemplary House 2020 project. Returning from Denmark, he shared his impressions of the trip and his opinion on the prospects for the implementation of similar projects in Russia.
All objects of the project are a competent embodiment of the idea of an "active home". According to this concept, the building consumes a minimum amount of energy (like "passive"), simultaneously generates it, providing itself and giving reserves to the central network. In the "Exemplary House - 2020" facilities, sunlight is used not only as a source of energy, but together with fresh air becomes the main component of a comfortable and healthy indoor climate.
- Anton, how was your trip? What are your impressions of visiting the sites?
- We must pay tribute to the organizers, the trip was unforgettable, the organization of the event was brilliant. I liked it all very much. Mainly I liked sightseeing tours of architectural sights. It was laconic, but at the same time interesting and rich. I was especially impressed by the "House for Life" outside the town of Aarhus in Denmark. It is a completely non-volatile object.
The glazing area of "Home for Life" has been increased to 40% (versus the usual 20-25%). Energy-saving windows, the location of which is selected taking into account the seasonality of the position of the sun, are oriented mainly towards the south and have a positive effect on the energy balance in the building. The use of an active façade with sliding panels provides protection against overheating in summer. The house's engineering system includes solar panels and solar collectors, a ventilation system with recuperation. In the complex, it generates 62.6 kWh / m2 / year. This energy provides the availability of hot water, heating rooms, electricity, the functioning of engineering systems, including forced ventilation when needed. Building costs are 53.2 kWh / m2 / year. To evaluate how the architecture and technology of the building of the future will affect its occupants, the Simonsen family settled in the house for experimental purposes.
I was shocked that people lived there for six months and paid only about 80 euros for utilities for the entire period. That is, it is such an energetically balanced house that energy consumption in it can be reduced to zero. It is fantastic! The concept of the building is thought out to the smallest detail. This is both great layout and clever engineering. For example, every possible use of solar energy, materials that accumulate heat, an automated system of natural ventilation … In general, the entire engineering system is a series of amazing developments.
In winter, House for Life uses mechanical ventilation with a recuperation system. In summer, an automated natural ventilation system is used. It maintains a comfortable climate in the house by monitoring the parameters of temperature, humidity, wind direction, etc. with the help of sensors.
- How do you think, have the inhabitants of the facility managed to master the complex intelligent home control system? How did they adapt to the new conditions?
- As far as I understand, they are very happy. As for the automated control, the inhabitants did not have to adapt to it. The system operates according to the principle "minimum settings - maximum automation", and when it is debugged, a person should not notice it at all. At the same time, the equipment copes perfectly with its tasks, optimization of energy consumption. During the experiment, a child was born in the family. Initially, the organizers of the project hoped that a family of three would live in the house. Now they live four together. As far as I understand, energy consumption has increased slightly due to this. And all the same - the savings are obvious. An exemplary house is very promising. Highly!
The wireless intelligent home control system is the result of a collaboration between VELFAC, the VELUX group of companies, The Engineering College of Aarhus and the Alexandra Institute. She controls artificial lighting, turning it off in unused rooms, monitors the indoor climate. The automatic control of internal and external sun protection accessories helps to optimize energy consumption for heating and ventilation. The system also provides accurate data on energy consumption and production, which are displayed on a flat screen installed in the house.
How did you yourself feel inside objects?
- Very comfortable! Of course, there are some things I would do my own way. Perhaps it was worth expanding the bedroom, I would make it less compact. Also, in my opinion, a good solution would be to arrange a living room on the second floor, from where you can enjoy the best sea view. By the way, there is an opportunity to move the living room from the first floor - it was laid down by the designers. So where to receive guests is the decision of the residents themselves.
In general … I would love to live in such a house.
Anton, were you interested in the concept of the Green Lighthouse University building?
- I will not say that the object impressed me from an architectural point of view. Strange shaping. However, it should be noted the impeccability of its internal space. It is ideal as a study building. First, the energy-efficient design in tandem with innovative technology has made the most of solar energy and daylight. Secondly, due to the planning, the issue of natural ventilation is correctly resolved, which is important for structures in which a large number of people gather.
University building in Copenhagen, Denmark, Green Lighthouse, designed by Christensen and Co Architects A / S and COWI engineers. It has become a model for a new rational office building. The building is cylindrical in shape with an atrium and a central flight of stairs going through all floors. Thanks to the architecture based on the movement of the sun around the house, as well as the use of skylights in the construction of the roof windows, daylight became the main lighting in the Green Lighthouse. Its own energy supply is provided by solar thermal heating, seasonal storage heat accumulator, photovoltaic solar cells and central heating. The building's annual energy requirement is only 3 kWh / m². The automation system regulates not only the level of natural and artificial lighting, but also monitors, for example, such a parameter as the level of CO2 concentration in rooms, because lighting and the level of ventilation are parameters that have a direct impact on the microclimate and performance.
How do you assess the president's initiative to build an analogue of the Green Lighthouse in our country? In what time frame is it possible to implement such a solution?
- I believe that Dmitry Medvedev's support will help bring this project to life and accelerate construction.
How far do you think Denmark has gone ahead in terms of energy efficiency and sustainability of construction? Could she give Russia a master class in this regard?
- Certainly! This country could teach us, first of all, responsibility. I am not only talking about the responsibility of the architect for his work, but also about the responsibility of the population. In Denmark, society understands the need to save energy.
We visited the school, in the reconstruction of which specialists from the VELUX group of companies participated, and talked with its director. From a conversation with him, I realized that the topic of saving energy is of concern to every person here.
The Gouldberg School in Copenhagen is a 19th century building redesigned to improve energy performance and create an atmosphere that is as comfortable as possible for children to learn. One of the significant changes made during the reconstruction was the redevelopment of the attic space with the installation of roof windows and VELUX solar collectors. Thanks to this, the premises of the school became much brighter and warmer. And the amount of solar energy received is enough to provide the school with hot water. The surplus is even returned to the backbone networks.
Anton, have you learned any new ideas and solutions that you would like to apply in your future projects?
- Oh yeah! I am interested in all the technologies used to create the facilities of the "Model House - 2020". When a suitable situation presents itself, I will of course apply them. Indeed, Copenhagen often has the same gray sky as in Moscow, but this does not prevent the efficient use of solar panels. Since this is a relatively inexpensive thing lately, I would include it in the next project when the opportunity arises.
However, what impressed me most was the comprehensive approach to the facilities of the "Model House". I completely agree with the position of the developers of this project, with the position of VELUX, that energy saving is not a separate device or part of a system, but a complex of all technologies. It is an elaborate system that includes architecture, including daylighting, and technologies: solar water heating, ventilation, air conditioning.
After the adoption of the Law on Energy Saving, many companies began to offer their vision and develop various projects for energy efficient houses. Is it possible to implement the "Exemplary House" in Russian conditions?
- It's absolutely real! For the amount of 50-60 thousand rubles per square meter, you can build an "Exemplary House", for example, in Germany. And in Russia it is possible (here, in an amicable way, the labor force should be cheaper), but only on condition that this money will be spent on construction, and not on cars for individual officials.
- So, then, you think that in Russia it is possible to build an exemplary house on a massive scale?
- Probably 100 percent. It's much more economical than you think! If such a project, for example, of 50 objects, is implemented, such a settlement would be much cheaper both in construction and in maintenance. Moreover, by their existence, such buildings would bring residents a good income.
Anton, what, in your opinion, needs to be done in order for the construction of energy-efficient housing to take root in Russia?
- First of all, this is a question of propaganda. When families with average incomes learn that it is possible to live in a house without paying for a communal apartment, people's attitudes towards energy will change dramatically. Sad as it may seem, financial mechanisms have the best effect on human consciousness in such matters.
- Have you had any projects in which you applied a concept similar to the concept of the "Model House" objects?
- I believe that Russia has all the conditions and opportunities for energy efficient construction, but, unfortunately, there are no worthy examples of using this idea. I've always tried to do something like this, but faced with disapproval from customers or developers. Unfortunately, the Russian mentality has not advanced that much yet …
Let's be honest: energy has been quite cheap so far. A person who personally builds a house for himself, the question of how much he will consume energy is the last thing to worry about. Or don't care at all. For him, this is a trifle, the minimum percentage. Likewise, a person who buys a luxury car for 300 thousand euros does not think about how much gasoline his Bentley will consume.
However, times are changing, and together with the VELUX company I made a project of such a building for the Zapadnaya Dolina village of the Zagorodny Project company. The building complies with the principles of an "active home" and takes into account the peculiarities of the Moscow region climate. I hope that the implementation of such projects will give our customers an understanding of a new level of quality of life, energy saving and responsibility for nature.
