New technology used to produce solar houses
'Passive' solar houses, which have resulted in reducing domestic energy consumption by 90 per cent have been developed by the Fraunhofer Institut in Germany. Passive solar houses cover a large part of their energy requirements with the solar power they capture. Thermal insulation incorporated in the construction of the house means that the houses lose as little heat as possible through walls and windows. The results of the first heating period last winter were a resounding success: the total energy consumed amounted to one tenth of the value recorded for 'low energy' homes. In the temperate climate of central Europe, this means a reduction from ten litres of oil per square metre to the equivalent of one litre. A new and compact ventilation device developed by Maico HastechnikSysteme generates the remaining energy requirements. 'The system recovers heat from the exhaust air in combination with a heat pump. In this way it provides an intake of fresh, warm air and - as a backup to the solar collectors - serves to heat household water. There is no need for other forms of space heating, such as hot water radiators' explained Dr Christel Russ from the Frauhofer Institut The reprocessing of used air means that the system also contributes substantially to a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, one third of which is currently attributable to the heating of buildings. needs
Countries
Germany