Buildings or developments that are verified and certified as “net zero operational energy and/or carbon.” The building should demonstrate the highest levels of energy efficiency with the use of either renewables generated onsite or renewable energy procured offsite.
This new building only used wood in construction to minimise grey energy. It is now used for loading and unloading lorries and delivery vehicles. The heating system has been kept separate in the office area, which is located behind ceiling-high windows. By carefully positioning windows and skylight openings and controlling the phasing of night-time ventilation, the building does away with a mechanical ventilation system. Optimum use is made of natural light: the glass panels on the saw-tooth roof over the shop floor point north and are fitted with adjustable vertical blinds to provide the office and manufacturing areas with the required shade. This also saves energy needed for lighting. If more illumination is needed, the building is fitted with LED lamps, which are also dimmed depending on natural light levels. The main method for heating the production hall is radiant ceiling panels suspended between the wooden trusses of the building frame. The offices are equipped with convector heaters. Heat is supplied by a biogas boiler in the plant network and biogas is produced from food leftovers. According to standards laid down under the German Energy Saving Ordinance (EnEV), the building undercuts guidelines by more than 90%.
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“According to standards laid down under the German Energy Saving Ordinance (EnEV), the building undercuts guidelines by more than 90%.”
