Building concepts: building safely in the future

Away from the desire for more ecology: Climate measures have long had a legally binding aspect, which will have an increased impact in the coming years. With regard to climate change and agreed EU climate goals, the importance of sustainable construction and renovation has increased even further. For this reason, 2012 has launched the "National Plan", which until 2020 gradually sets the minimum standards for the energy efficiency of newly constructed buildings and major renovations. This means that sustainable construction is legally required. With regard to preserving the value of the planned house, the minimum standard should still be something to be set.

Factor economy

The fact is: the argument that sustainable buildings would not work out is wrong. (Option reported). A sustainable, energy-efficient house ideally costs nothing more than its conventional counterpart. As with all products, it's about finding the right company that offers the right know-how at a good price. However, there are also additional costs, because in view of future high energy prices, the sustainable buildings will significantly reduce running costs over the usage cycle. The bottom line is to get out financially cheaper or at least as good - with a good conscience and far greater living comfort. Those who do not want to believe that can get comprehensive information: The Media Center for Sustainable Construction (www.nachhaltiges-bauen.jetzt) ​​provides numerous studies and calculations as well as analyzes of already inhabited buildings.

Factor ecology

The fact that sustainability pays off ecologically should actually be undisputed in the year 2016. But here, too, skepticism is spreading again and again, for example with regard to the ecological significance of thermal insulation, especially polystyrene. Here, too, the facts are already on the table: Although thermal insulation systems such as EPS plates are indeed petroleum products, but they consist of 98 percent of air and only two percent of polystyrene. The use of oil in insulation is therefore amortized within a short time clearly, as a multiple of fuel oil or its equivalent is saved. The conclusion: not to dam is harmful to the environment. Apart from this, there are numerous alternative insulation materials to choose from, including those from renewable resources.

Factor supply security energy

Numerous sustainable building concepts bring a big plus: through the use of photovoltaics, solar energy, geothermal energy and Co., energy is also provided for the future. You do not have to rely completely on energy self-sufficiency. The promising credo is energy efficiency in combination with a little own energy supply. This can be done up to the current Ideal Plus energy building: a house that generates more energy than it consumes.

National plan

Within the framework of a "National Plan", the Austrian Institute of Construction Engineering (OIB) has set increasing minimum requirements for the overall energy efficiency of new construction and renovation for the years 2014 to 2020. The OIB guideline 6 defines the construction law standards step by step in a two-year cycle until in the year 2020 the values ​​of a low-energy building are reached and therefore valid under building law. The minimum energy performance requirements can be achieved either by improving the thermal quality of the building envelope or by increasing the use of renewable energy sources.
All new buildings must therefore be "almost energy-independent" (almost zero-energy houses) as of 2020, public buildings even 2018. For larger renovations involving 25 percent of the building envelope, minimum thermal standards are mandatory. For a better picture of the overall energy efficiency of buildings, additional energy figures are required, which go beyond the heating demand (HWB). In the case of sale and rental, energy efficiency indicators must be specified, and in Austria since 2012 the values ​​of the energy certificate.

Sustainable building concepts

In addition, there are several building concepts to choose from, all of which bring many, sometimes different benefits for people and the environment. You can choose a concept or combine technical elements and functions freely. Ultimately, however, the technical know-how of the commissioned experts is important to ensure their functionality. After all, a modern building is a high-tech product today.

Value

To understand the comparison of building concepts the following value applies: Lowest energy building marks the minimum standard of sustainable building. This is followed by Passive House and Sonnenhaus, whose concepts Solar energy "are quite different. The Plus Energy House, which generates more energy than it consumes, is currently regarded as the most far-reaching solution.

Building concepts: The lowest energy house

The low energy house, which meets the future building standard, is characterized by an excellent thermal building envelope. It comes close to the Passive House in terms of energy efficiency and airtightness. Not mandatory, but recommended are the additional use of renewable energy such as photovoltaic or solar energy and a controlled ventilation system with heat recovery.
Also part of the concept is a compact design to reduce heat loss, alignment with the sun and the prevention of thermal bridges.
According to the EU Buildings Directive, every public building and, as of 2018, all buildings must be "almost energy-self-sufficient", even low energy houses or "nearly zero energy buildings", starting with 2020.

Building concepts: The passive house

The demands on the passive house are already much higher: In order to achieve the heat demand of below 15 kWh / m².a (according to PHPP), the respective passive house standards have to be fulfilled for components, for example windows with a heat transfer coefficient U-value of at least 0,80 W / (m²K)) and for thermal insulation a U-value of 0,15 W / (m²K). Due to the special airtightness (50 Pascal under / over pressure test lower than 0,6 house volume per hour), a controlled ventilation system with heat recovery is required. In the passive house, at least 75 percent of the heat from the exhaust air is returned to the fresh air via a heat exchanger, whereby a comfortable indoor climate without a separate heating system and without air conditioning is achievable. You can still air.
Passive House technology has existed for more than 20 years. 1991 was the first project implemented in Germany. In Austria, the first passive house was built in the year 1996 in Vorarlberg (Sonnenplatz, 2006). To date (as of 2010) there are around 760 documented passive houses in Austria. Since not all objects are documented, the "dark figure" of existing passive houses is much higher. For example, the number of existing passive houses is estimated at 6.850, and the trend is rising.

Building concepts: The solar house

The concept of the solar house is very different from that of others. Energy efficiency is not the main focus here, but the strong use of free solar energy. By storing the heat by means of insulated water tanks, the solar energy can be used year round for hot water and space heating. In winter, small fireplace or pellet stoves help. Framework criteria for the solar house are good thermal insulation, more than 50 percent solar coverage of heating and hot water, and additional heating only by renewable energy sources such as wood.
The term was coined by the Sonnenhaus Institute in Straubing (D). 1989 was built in Oberburg, Switzerland, the first residential building in Europe fully heated with solar energy.

Building Concepts: The Plus Energy House

The concept of the PlusEnergy house essentially corresponds to that of the Passive House. The increased use of renewable energies such as photovoltaic, solar thermal or geothermal energy, however, a positive overall energy balance is achieved, that generates an excess of energy. The energy required for heating and hot water is obtained in or at the house itself.
If the balance is balanced one speaks of a zero energy house. Buildings that do not require any external energy are considered energy self-sufficient.

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