CORDIS Archive

October
2001

Sun worship

One-third of the energy consumed in the European Union is used in buildings. A new initiative hopes to encourage architects and town planners to integrate renewable energy technology into both old and new buildings as a means of weaning us from our dependence on fossil fuels.

One of the aims of the European Commission is change the current pattern of energy supply so that 12% comes from renewable sources by 2010. It makes sense, therefore, to encourage architects and planners to keep renewable energy in mind when designing new buildings and renovating older ones. As part of a THERMIE initiative, a catalogue has recently been produced which highlights 23 projects undertaken as part of the EU's REBUILD initiative. All the projects include either renewable energy technology or very advanced energy saving measures, and in some cases, both. The catalogue showcases aesthetically pleasing technical solutions for renovating and retrofitting buildings, including those with historic value. Particularly interesting is the fact that these projects demonstrate that there is more to exploiting renewable energy than merely putting solar panels on the roof of family houses.

Starting from scratch

Torre Verde, a twelve-storey residential building built within the Expo '98 exhibition area in Lisbon, is a good example of what can be achieved when you go back to the drawing board. The building was designed using the best available technologies to create an interior environment with optimum thermal and acoustic comfort and high quality air. Thermal and structural engineers therefore worked very closely together from the outset.

The building uses both passive and active solar energy. The passive use includes positioning and sizing windows both to catch the sun's rays and to create ventilation paths. Walls are also positioned and sized to retain heat throughout cold evenings and so minimise the need for conventional heating. Active measures naturally include solar panels on the roof for a domestic hot water system, backed up by a central gas boiler. However, the design team also employed mechanical ventilation systems in spaces without natural ventilation, for example bathrooms. These were specifically designed to work in harmony with the passive features, and therefore help to reduce energy consumption from other sources.

Renovating with style

A good example of what can be achieved during renovation work is the Jugendstil Pharmacy House in Neunkirchen, in Germany's Saarland. Built in 1906, the building is a multi-family house which is also home to a pharmacy and medical offices.

In the summer of 1998 the tiled roof was renovated to solve a leakage problem. One particular highlight of the renovation work was to recreate the 'A' design on the roof which designates the building as an 'Apotheke' using red and brown earthenware tiles that mimic the traditional design yet are fitted with photovoltaic modules. The modules are connected to transformer that feeds 220-volt electricity into the local electricity grid. Over a twelve month period from 1 April 1999, the roof generated 1,243 kilowatt-hours of electricity from solar power, therefore proving how simple it can be to protect the cultural heritage while embracing renewable energy technologies.

The catalogue also takes the adventurous step of moving beyond its own remit by including the Virgiliano Park in Naples. Virgiliano is a bioclimatic park designed so that sun and wind are channelled in a way that maximises comfort for park users, therefore enhancing what is a valuable amenity in an urban setting.

The use of electric minibuses in Florence is included because, although the concept does not involve renewable energy, transport plays an important role in sustainable city development. It would be easy for the buses to switch to using electricity from renewable sources.

Produced in full colour with ample photographs, the catalogue admirably fulfils its role as a showcase publication.