Final Technical Report - EGC - European Green Cities Net

Final Technical Report - EGC 

Project 

Project Reference Number: BU-1001-96 

European Green Cities 

December 2001 

Title of project: European Green Cities - European - Global Renewable Energy and Environmentally 

Responsible Neighbourhoods and Cities

1 PROJECT DETAILS 2 

1.1 CONTRACTORS 2 

1.2 THE MANAGEMENT TEAM 5 

1.3 REPORT PREPARED BY 6 

2 AIM AND GENERAL DESCRIPTION 7 

2.1 AIM OF THE PROJECT 7 

2.2 DESCRIPTION OF THE SITES 16 

2.3 DESCRIPTION OF THE INSTALLATION 25 

2.4 DESCRIPTION OF THE PERFORMANCE MONITORING SYSTEM 55

EUROPEAN GREEN CITIES 

Final Technical Report 

1 PROJECT DETAILS 

Project Reference Number: BU-1001-96 

December 2001 

Title of project: European Green Cities - European - Global Renewable Energy and 

environmentally responsible neighbourhoods and cities 

1.1 Contractors 

REGIONE ABRUZZO, ITALY. 

Name of company Regione Abruzzo 

Contact person Giorgio De Matteis 

Address Portici S. Bernardino, 67100 L’Aquila 

Telephone number Tel. +39 862 413165 

Telefax number Fax. +39 862 24091 

e-mail 

BRESCIA, ITALY 

Name of company Aler Brescia 

Contact person Angelo Bettoni 

Address Viale Europe 50, Brescia 

Telephone number +39 302117711 

Telefax number +39 302006423 

e-mail bettoni@aler.bs.it 

HEDEBYGADE, COPENHAGEN - DK 

Name of company SBS Byfornyelse 

Contact person Lisbeth Sloth/Kurt Christensen 

Address Ny Kongensgade 15 



e-mail lsloth@sbsby.dk 

2



SURIEUX, GRENOBLE - FR 

December 2001 

Name of company OPAC 38 – Office Public d’Aménagement et de 

Construction 

Contact person Michel GIBERT 

Address 47 Avenue Marie Reynoard 

BP 2549 

38035 Grenoble 

FRANCE 

Telephone number + 33 4 76 20 51 40 

Telefax number + 33 4 76 20 51 47 

e-mail mgibert@opac38.fr 

HERNING BOLIGSELSKAB, HERNING 

Name of company Herning Boligselskab 

Contact person Erik Lund 

Address Dalgasgade 28 A 

7400 Herning 

Denmark 

Telephone number +45 9712 5822 

Telefax number +45 9712 7522 

e-mail info@herning-boligselskab.dk 

HULSHOUT, BELGIUM 

Name of company ZONNIGE KEMPEN CV 

Contact person Luc Stijnen 

Address Grote Markt 39 

B-2260 Westerlo 

Belgium 

Telephone number +32 14 541941 

Telefax number +32 14 541951 

e-mail zonnige.kempen@village.uunet.be 

PIRTTI SCHOOL, KUOPIO, FINLAND 

Name of company City of Kuopio 

Contact person Asko Kauppinen 

Address Suokatu 42 B, PO Box 1097 

FIN-70111 KUOPIO 

Telephone number + 358 17 185 601, + 358 447 185 601 

Telefax number + 358 17 185 606 

e-mail asko.kauppinen@kuopio.fi 

3



LEAMINGTON HOUSE, PORTSMOUTH 

December 2001 

Name of company Portsmouth City Council; Housing Services 

Contact person John Wellington 

Address Portsmouth City Council 

Civic Offices 

Guildhall Square 

Portsmouth 

PO1 2AX 

Telephone number +44 (0)23 9283 4539 

Telefax number +44 (0)23 9283 4523 

e-mail jwellington@portsmouthcc.co.uk 

RADSTADT, AUSTRIA 

Name of company SIR 

Contact person Inge Strassl 

Address Alpenstraße 47, 5020 SALZBURG - Austria 

Telephone number +43 - (0)662 - 623455 

Telefax number +43 - (0)662 - 629915 

e-mail inge.strassl@salzburg.gv.at 

Name of company GSWB – Gemeinnützige Salzburger 

Wohnbaugesellschaft m.b.H. 

Contact person Loidl Franz 

Address Ignaz-Harrer-Strasse 84 

5020 Salzburg, Austria 

Telephone number 


e-mail 

VILANOVA i la GELTRÚ, SPAIN 

Name of company Institut Cerdà 

Contact person Elisabet Viladomiu, 

Alexandra Lozano 

Address Numància 185, 06034 Barcelona, Spain 

Telephone number Tel.:+34 93 280 23 23 

Telefax number Fax: +34 93 280 11 66 

e-mail eviladomiu@icerda.es 

4



VOLOS, GREECE 

Name of company 

Contact person Georgios Ganges 

Address 

Telephone number 003042128251 

Telefax number 003042128255 

e-mail rect@volos-m.gr 

1.2 The Management Team 

Name of company Institut Cerdá 

Contact person Elisabet Viladomiu 

Address Institut Cerdá 

185 Numancia Street 

08034 Barcelona Spain 

Telephone number +34932802323 

Telefax number +34932801166 

e-mail eviladomiu@icerda.es 

Name of company Cenergia Energy Consultants 

Contact person Peder Vejsig Pedersen 

Address Sct. Jacobs Vej 4 

2750 Ballerup 

Denmark 



e-mail pvp@cenergia.dk 

Name of company Metec Engineering 

Contact person Salvatore Cali Quaglia 

Address Corso Quintino Sella, 20 

10131 Torino 

Italy 



e-mail metec.eng@galactica.it 

December 2001 

5



Name of company Green City Denmark 

Contact person Jens Frendrup 

Address Gl. Kongevej 1 

1610 Copenhagen V 

Denmark 

Telephone number +45 33 26 89 81 

Telefax number +45 33 26 89 80 

e-mail jf@greencity.dk 

1.3 Report prepared by 

Name of company Cenergia Energy Consultants 

Contact person Ole Balslev-Olesen 

Address Sct. Jacobs Vej 4 

2750 Ballerup 

Denmark 



e-mail obo@cenergia.dk 

December 2001 

6



2 AIM AND GENERAL DESCRIPTION 

2.1 Aim of the project 

December 2001 

European Green Cities is a targeted EU-Thermie project within the building sector, which 

in 1996 received funding of a total of 2.9 million Euro. Cenergia coordinates the project 

in cooperation with Green City Denmark and the focus on large-scale urban renewal plan 

and new building in 11 European cities and it will involve close to 30.000 residences. An 

important part of the project is to realise local solar energy/low-energy demonstration 

project with a total of 645 solar energy/low-energy dwellings in Denmark, France, Spain, 

Italy, England, Belgium and Austria and also public buildings in Finland and Greece. 

The objective of the European Green Cities, Integrated Quality Target Project is to 

introduce an integrated sustainable global solar low-energy design using best available 

technologies in new-built and retrofit building projects based on energy and 

environmental assessment together with a total energy and total economy approach, e.g. 

using new energy saving measures as the background for creating a realistic market for 

sustainable and energy efficient building. To ensure that the most cost-effective solutions 

are selected, early price calculations will be performed in cooperation with contractors for 

all projects. 

It is proposed to develop guidelines and establish an early state education process 

together with leading institutions in Europe, the target group being city authorities, 

builders and consultants focusing at five different selected target action areas: 

− Sustainable and healthy building design. 

− Energy and environmental assessment incl. total economy assessment. 

− Optimised energy and water supply systems. 

− Building integrated solar energy design. 

− Sustainable urban planning. 

Based on this, working groups will be established to define improved energy and 

environmental standards for sustainable and energy efficient building including energy 

supply systems. Buildings, which meet a certain standard can, based on this, obtain a 

”green cities” certificate. 

A cooperation with the city of Gdansk and other East and Central European cities is also 

foreseen in the project in an attempt to transfer project results to East and Central 

European countries. 

Most of the technical solutions that has been used in the European Green City projects are 

well-documented and developed on the basis of research and development. When many 

new technologies are used together there are, however, increased technical risks than in 

traditional building projects. The new aspect in this projects is to integrate the many 

tested technologies in nine different countries to obtain savings of between 40 and 60% of 

the energy consumption for heating and domestic hot water and between 30 and 35% of 

the electricity and water consumption. 

7



December 2001 

European Green Cities includes demonstration projects in the following European 

cities/countries: 

New building: 

− Herning, Denmark 

− Radstadt, Austria 

− Kuopio, Finland 

− Vilanova i la Geltrú, Spain 

− Hulshout, Belgium 

One family houses, Denmark 

Renovation: 

− Copenhagen, Denmark 

− Grenoble, France 

− Brescia, Italy 

− Regione Abruzzo, Italy 

− Volos, Greece 

− Portsmouth, England 

2.1.1 Abruzzo, Italy 

The project will demonstrate how low energy interventions can be introduced with 

respect to the original qualities of the existing buildings. The aim is to have an urban area 

designed with low energy and environmental criteria starting from introducing Rational 

Use of Energy and integration of Renewable Energies in housing blocks with a high 

energy consumption, built before 1975. 

2.1.2 Brescia, Italy 

The aim of the proposal is to show the technical feasibility of energy efficient retrofit in a 

building refurbishment project (building scale) and its portability to the city of Brescia. 

The aim of this project is not only to save energy and to make Brescia "greener", but also 

to improve winter thermal comfort, to avoid summer overheating and to avoid tenants' 

nuisances during refurbishment. 

8



Figure 2.1. Building facade in Brescia after renovation. 

2.1.3 Copenhagen, Denmark 

Figure 2.2: Photo of the Copenhagen project before renovation. 

December 2001 

This project in Copenhagen seeks to maximise the use of solar energy and to minimise 

the output of CO2 from heating, hot water and electricity use. It is also the aim of the 

project to reduce the use of water. 

The project is carried out in an area of Copenhagen with many old building blocks. These 

old buildings will be renovated in the next years and the Copenhagen project will 

demonstrate new energy savings technology. 

Many of these old buildings in the centre of Copenhagen have not installations like bath 

and heating. The project also demonstrates how to implement new and modern facilities 

into old buildings without changing the original architectural design. 

It is also the aim of the project to establish good indoor climate with effective ventilation 

and by use of material without any emission. 

The aim of this project has also been to investigate and demonstrate the efficiency of PV 

solar modules installed on both roofs, facades and integrated into the building envelope. 

In this project both crystalline and amorphous panels have been used. 

The objective of the one family house project is to develop an efficient heat supply 

system that corresponds the low heat demand in new energy efficient houses. It is the aim 

to develop a cost effective heat distribution system that combines central heating, low 

energy housing scheme and cost effective solar energy system for domestic hot water and 

space heating. An ordinary distribution network for domestic hot water will be developed 

also to supply the houses with space heating. 

9



December 2001 

Ventilation with heat recovery is often used in low energy housing scheme to reduce the 

ventilation losses and to secure a high indoor air quality. The ventilation system will be 

developed to cover the space heating demand also and then avoid a conventional radiator 

installation. 

2.1.4 Grenoble, France 

Figure 2.3.: Photo of the solar collector on the roof in the Grenoble project. 

The project is 505 dwellings retrofit program in Echirolles, a city near Grenoble, in 

France. 

Urban aspects have been improved, with a new cultural centre and a new tramway line, 

and all the dwellings have been retrofitted. 

It was the aim to have an energetic performance high level. So, it was decided to use 705 

m² solar panels for hot domestic water and 95 m² photovoltaic panels for ventilation and 

common light. There was also a total energy approach concerning commons electricity 

and heating consumption with insulation. 

Social goals 

The first aim is social : the first benefit is for the end users. The maintenance costs will 

decrease and it is important for the tenants who have often social problems like 

unemployment. 

It was the aim to demonstrate the renewable energies possibilities to reduce maintenance 

costs and external social costs. 

Concerning this project, the maintenance cost reduction aim is 80 Euro per dwelling per 

year. 

The secondly interests are for the OPAC 38 which hope good social effects through the 

reduction of maintenance costs : turn over, vacancies and social difficulties reduction. 

Environmental aspects 

Another important aim is the fight against pollution: renewable energies are one of the 

most important potentials to reduce green house effect and pollutants emissions. 

2.1.5 Herning, Denmark 

In order to optimise the assessment of individual environmental approaches, this project 

consists in two similar blocks, one traditional, and one “green”. The aim is thus to 

compare the quantity of energy used in the two blocks, each containing 42 apartments for 

students. 

10



December 2001 

Eventually the plan is to evaluate the cost/benefit of each choice of environmental 

subjects, for future use in other “green” projects. 

Figure 2.4.: Photo of the Herning project. 

2.1.6 Hulshout, Belgium 

Figure 2.5.: Photo of the Hulshout project. 

The general objective of social housing companies is to build houses for low-income 

people at reasonable costs. Usually, limited attention is paid to energy saving 

technologies. Energy saving is, however, important because of the limited family budget 

and because of the important share of energy costs in the budget. The project “Energy 

efficient and environmentally friendly social houses in Hulshout” will pay special 

attention to energy savings and sustainable building at acceptable incremental 

construction and installation costs while maintaining a high level of comfort. Energy and 

water savings realised, as a result of the project, will improve the quality of life of the 

inhabitants. 

The aim of the project is to demonstrate an integrated global energy design for 23 new 

energy efficient social houses in the municipality of Hulshout. The investor is the social 

housing company Zonnige Kempen (Westerlo). The architect of the project is Mr. E. 

Maes (Westerlo) and the engineering work is done by Mr. J. Daenen (Bertem). The 

project will be closely monitored by the technological research institute Vito (Mol) and 

by the building physics laboratories of the university KUL (Leuven). 

The objective of the project Hulshout is (1) to reduce the energy use for heating by more 

than 70% with respect to standard houses in Belgium, (2) to reduce the energy use for 

domestic hot water by 50%, (3) to reduce electricity consumption by 10%, (4) the reduce 

water consumption by 30%, and (5) to meet high environmental standards by using 

environmentally friendly building materials and by realising water savings based on the 

use of rain water, water conserving toilets, … 

11



2.1.7 Kuopio, Finland 

Figure 2.6.: Photo of the school in Kuopio 

December 2001 

The goal of the project was to experiment and introduce various energy saving techniques 

and products in a new construction project situated in the cold northern zone. The 

duration of the heating period for the site is about ¾ of a year. There is practically no 

need for cooling the rooms. The construction is a public building, primarily intended as a 

basic school. The builder and main financier was the city of Kuopio. 

Energy conservation was striven towards by insulating the envelope surface of the 

building, the base floor, walls and roof as well as the windows to a level above the 

standard required by construction regulations, and by implementing new technology in 

heating and ventilation and lighting control. An automated building management system, 

Local Operating Network (LON) technology was experimented with. 

The project did not quite achieve the goals of the energy saving in the consumption of 

heat, electricity and water. The experimental construction was still regarded as useful 

because new experience was gained on the functionality of new techniques and the city 

has been able to implement or adapt them for use in other municipal construction 

projects. It is proposed that research and experimenting on the use of solar energy on a 

medium scale will be continued. 

The goal of the project was to create important energy savings compared to standard 

construction practices in building: 

− 40 % in heating 

− 30 % in electricity 

− 20 % in water consumption 

Carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere in the production and use of energy would 

decrease in proportion to the savings achieved. 

In Kuopio as with elsewhere in Finland, schools form about a third of the building stock 

owned by the municipalities. The utility and maintenance costs of school buildings have 

risen continuously as the buildings and equipment age, the number of electrical 

appliances increases and energy prices go up. Simultaneously, quality requirements for 

indoor air and lighting have risen. The project aims to introduce new standards for 

construction planning with higher global goals in new energy-saving technology and in 

environmental impact compared to what is common in present investment practice. 

2.1.8 Portsmouth, GB 

The refurbishment of a high rise block of flats near Portsmouth City centre looks to 

demonstrate low energy retrofit measures and utilise a number of energy saving features 

designed to reduce energy use and improve the efficiency of energy delivered. 

12



December 2001 

The project includes a number of both conventional and innovative energy efficient 

measures: 

− Use of a combined heat and power plant in conjunction with a district heating scheme 

to absorb the waste heat provided. 

− Load management via a Building Energy Management system. 

− District heating system with improved efficiency resulting from reduced distribution 

losses and reduced pumping costs. 

− Electricity savings to tenants resulting from the removal of electric water heating and 

replacement with district heating. Low electricity use for ventilation and lighting. 

− Improved insulation brought about by replacing windows with double glazing, 

external cladding and provision of pitched insulated roofs to replace the existing flat 

roof. 

− Improved ventilation with heat recovery systems from extracted stale air. 

− PV modules for generation of electrical power serving heat recovery ventilation fans. 

− Solar DHW heating to 8 no flats. 

The project demonstrates an energy efficient refurbishment in the city centre as part of a 

programme designed to ‘green’ the city environment. Portsmouth promotes an energy 

and environment policy commitment to the development of ‘green’ technologies such as 

combined heat and power and renewables 

Figure 2.7: CAD image of new cladding and windows to East/West Elevations 

2.1.9 Radstadt, Austria 

The new building project Radstadt-West consists of three houses with 36 dwellings and is 

one part of a bigger program to reactive the part of the city Radstadt-West. Other parts are 

a traffic concept, a new green-area planning and the renovation of five houses from the 

40ties. As a new way in social housing-construction, the local project committee decided 

to charge a study of an economic and ecological analysis of the project. The study was 

done by Dr. Manfred Bruck and Dr. Harald Koch from Vienna in co-operation with the 

Architect. 

Therefor 10 different variants of construction and heating systems have been analysed 

relating to their ecological effects. 

The study consists of two parts: 

13



December 2001 

In the economic part the lifecycle costs of the project (raw material, construction, 

maintenance and demolition) have been calculated. 

In the ecological analysis the environmental effects of the different variants have been 

investigated. Further the use of primary energy, the contribution to the global warming 

potential and the sour of ground was calculated. 

According to the results of this study it was possible to find the best combination of 

construction, material and heating system. With this combination it is possible to preserve 

the environment and to promote renewable sources of energy without a reduction of the 

users living comfort and keeping the rates low. 

Figure 2.8.: Photo of the project in Radstadt. 

2.1.10 Vilanova, Spain 

The project aims to demonstrate the feasibility of incorporating high environmental 

quality standards and a rational use of energy to social housing buildings, before applying 

them to more constructions in the city. 

Figure 2.9: Building under construction in February 2000. 

14



December 2001 

The innovative technologies developed in the project, from the Spanish market point of 

view, can be summarised in three main areas of development: 

− Heating and domestic hot water based on solar energy and natural gas. 

− Bioclimatic and low energy building design. 

− Sustainable design regarding the use of materials and water management. 

Figure 2.10: Picture of the project in Vilanova i la Geltrú, January 2001 

The interest of the measures applied in the Project, in the context of the Spanish market, 

is related to: 

− The type of development - social housing, 

− The innovative service approach, 

− The energy efficient solutions, 

− The use of renewable energies, 

− The improvement of the comfort conditions in summer and winter by bioclimatic 

criteria 

Other technologies and environmentally positive approaches without the EU support, but 

which have been included in the project are: 

• Bioclimatic and, low energy design by considering orientation, openings and 

dimensions: 

- Cross ventilation and natural light. 

- Solar protections by overhangs. 

• Environmentally friendly construction materials: 

- Eco-brick high-insulation materials 

- Electrical installation without PVC. 

• Domestic water saving appliances 

• Ecological paint 

2.1.11 Volos, Greece 

In the framework of the THERMIE programme the Demekav/Rect was funded for the 

realization of energy saving applications in rehabilitated municipal buildings. Four 

industrial buildings of a reputed historical brick and tile factory (“Tsalapatas” factory) 

and one grain sanitation building were transformed in modern high energy efficiency 

bioclimatic buildings satisfying public purposes (museum, cinema, exposition hall, video 

wall room, Regional Energy Center, etc.). Direct solar thermal applications, solar water 

heating collectors, insulation, summer shading, passive solar ventilation (e.g. solar 

chimneys), double glazing, light penetration enhancement, etc. are some of the 

applications realized. Partial energy savings of up to 70% are expected compared to the 

initial state of the buildings. A very important replication effect is also expected from 

15



December 2001 

those applications, because of the experience gained by local engineers and of the very 

high demonstrative value of the buildings in which they have been realized. 

after 

Figure 2.11.: The old grain sanitation building (before) transformed to the new 

bioclimatic building hosting the Regional Energy Center of Thessaly (after). 

2.2 Description of the Sites 

The EGC projects include building projects in Europe from Greece in south to Finland in 

the North. The climate is very different from the mild and sunny weather in south to the 

cold weather in the north. It raises different demand to the insulation of the building 

envelope and the energy savings technologies have different benefit depending on the 

location. The performance of a solar system is higher in the southern countries and the 

design has to be designed to the specific location. The numbers of heating degree-day in 

the EGC projects are given in Figure 2.12. The heating degree-day of Austria is not 

available because of very big difference between locations. 

Volos, Greece 

Vilanova, Spain 

Radstadt, Austria 

Portsmouth, GB 

Kuopio 

Hulshout 

Herning 

Grenoble 

Copenhagen 

Brescia 

Abruzzo 

Heating Degree Days 

0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 

Degree Days 

Figure 2.12.: Heating degree-days in the EGC projects according to norms. 

16




December 2001 

The global retrofit project consists of 2 buildings for total 54 apartments located in “La 

Pulcina” area in a small Italian town called Avezzano. 

Table 2.1.: Meteorological data for project. 

Abruzzo 

Latitude 42°01’ 

Altitude 695 m 

Average global radiation 3.99 kWh/m²/day 

Average degree days 2561 

Design heating temperature - 5 °C 


The Brescia project is located in the city of Brescia in Via Tiziano. 

Table 2.2.: Meteorological data for project. 

Brescia 





Design heating temperature -7 


The Copenhagen project consists of three buildings, which make part of a courtyard with 

totally 360 dwelling, called Hedebygade. The Copenhagen project also include a housing 

scheme in Rødekro with a cost effective low energy design. 

Table 2.3.: Meteorological data for Copenhagen project. 

Copenhagen 


Altitude 19 m 




The projects are: 

Tøndergade 3-3A 

17



Tøndergade/Sundevedsgade 

The building is on the corner of 

Sundevedsgade and Tøndergade and is 

from 1880 and has five stories. The facade 

facing the street has kept the original 

architectural design. The building include 

21 dwellings and a restaurant on ground 

floor. 

The facade facing the courtyard has 

changed completely. The ventilation units 

with heat recovery are installed outside the 

facade and covered by glass and PVmodules. 

Sundevedsgade 26-28 

The building is from 1880 and has 5 

storeys, before the renovation there was 

only one layer of glazing. The apartments 

were heated individually (electricity, gas, 

and petroleum) and are now supplied with 

district heating. 

Facade to the courtyard with two rows of 

PV-modules between big window area to 

utilise passive solar and daylight. 

December 2001 

18



One family house 

Energy optimised retrofit for one family 

house in Virum near Copenhagen. 

Byskoven 

The high efficient distribution system is 

demonstrated in a social housing scheme in 

Rødekro in south of Jutland near the 

German border. The project includes total 

90 low energy houses. 

December 2001 

The size of the buildings and the floor area per building unit are illustrated in the table 

below. 

Building block Number of units Total floor area Average floor area 

(units) 

(m²) 

(m²/unit) 

Tøndergade 3-3A 20 1040 52.0 

Tøndergade/Sunde 

vedsgade 

20 1137 56.9 

Sundevedsgade 21 1201 57.2 

Byskoven 57 4845 85.0 

Total 117 8223 70.3 


The dwellings are divided into three groups corresponding to three district heating rooms. 

The size of these groups and the floor areas are illustrated in the table below. 

Building group Number of units Total floor area Average floor area 

(units) 

(m²) 

(m²/unit) 

Berry 190 13 765 72,4 

Beaumarchais 1 193 14 105 73,1 

Beaumarchais 2 122 8 826 72,3 

Total 505 36 696 72,7 

Number of inhabitants 1308 

Table 2.4.: Meteorological specifications of the project. The global solar radiation on 

horizontal (kWh/m²) is monitored on a nearby weather station called Saint Martin 

d’Hères. The calculation of the degree days are based on 18°C. 

19



Grenoble 



Average global radiation 3,61 kWh/m²/day 




December 2001 

The Herning project consists in 2 new similar buildings situated in a former industrial 

area, close to Herning City and railway-station. The urban plan is to convert a larger 

elderly industrial area in to a resident area within a timeframe of 10 years. Our buildings 

in Tietgensgade is the second project in this area, and the next is scheduled to year 2003, 

also apartments for students. 

Figure 2.13.: Photo of the Herning project. 

There are a total of 84 apartments, 48 apartments with bath and kitchen/room (33 m2), 

and 36 apartments with bath, kitchen/room and a room (48 m2), with a total of 3299 m2, 

plus basement 369 m2 (laundry, assembly hall, engineering room, and two study-rooms) 

and app. 120 tenants. 


The project in Hulshout consists of 23 new energy efficient social houses. The building 

project consists of three blocks of respectively 3, 12 and 8 building units. The size of the 

buildings and the floor area per building unit are illustrated in the table below. 

Building block Number of units 

(units) 

Total floor area 

(m²) 

Average floor area 

(m²/unit) 

20



1 3 351 117 

2 12 1231 103 

3 8 620 78 

Total 23 2202 96 

December 2001 

Table 2.5.: Meteorological specifications of the project. The degree days are based on 

15°C. 

Hulshout 

Latitude 50°48 

Altitude 





Figure 2.14.: Photo of the experimental solar wall. 

The Pirtti school is the third new school in the southern suburb of Kuopio, in the Pirtti 

district within the Petonen area. It is situated 10 km south from the centre of the city. 

Petonen is the most important expansion zone of the city, with a target population of 

15,000 in 2005. City planning aims to exploit the best features of the natural surroundings 

and to combine these with the ideas of a traditional city. Technical service networks such 

as district heating, water and sewage lines and cable TV had been extended to the 

residential area surrounding the construction site prior to the residential construction. 

Table 2.6.: Meteorological specifications of the project. 

Kuopio 


Altitude 



Design heating temperature 

The goal of the project was to try out, introduce and develop energy-effective planning, 

construction and equipment in a new construction project in Kuopio. The project was a 

public building, a basic school for a new residential area. The school was intended 

21



December 2001 

originally as a school for grades 1-6, but as different school grades are united, it may also 

house teaching for the secondary school, grades 6-9. 

The project included modern architecture, durable materials that are advantageous for the 

indoor air and have low emission levels, and advanced automated building management 

combined with the school construction. A basic school was chosen for the experimental 

construction project because schools are an important group of buildings within local 

government property management in the public sector, in respect of new construction 

work, basic repairs, maintenance and utility costs. 


The tower block, Leamington House, was constructed in the 1970’s and is a 17 story high 

‘Bison’ large panel system design building located in the City Centre of Portsmouth. It 

has a twin building, Solihull House, which is not being refurbished and can therefore 

provide a comparison in the monitoring programme. 


Portsmouth 


Altitude 




Figure 2.15: Work in progress photo of Leamington House. It is 17 stories with one, two 

and three bedroom flats. Photo taken from Solihull House. Boiler House is at bottom left 

under the car park shown. 

The block has one, two and three bedroom flats located on each floor with communal 

areas and storerooms located on the ground floor. The block is having a public laundry 

installed as part of the refurbishment. 


Radstadt is an old city 75km south of Salzburg, in the centre of Austria. It has about 4700 

inhabitants. Radstadt has its city-rights since 1289. The old citywall from the 13th century 

22



December 2001 

is completely preserved. The economy is mainly agricultural and touristic, in summer for 

hiking, golf and mountainbiking and in winter it is a very famous skiing-area. 

The western part of the city Radstadt was in spite of a good site and infrastructure not 

integrated in the development of the centre in the last years. 

The community has decided to change this situation. Architect Heiner Hierzegger from 

Graz was asked to draw up a town-planning study of this area to show the possibilities of 

development. 

On a free area of about 4.400 m² it is intended to build dwellings, as the first part of a 

dwelling program for this part of the city. Until now this area was used as a parking lot. 

For the area beside a second part of the dwelling project is planned. Nearby there is an 

old housing-estate, that shall be renovated. 

The project was chosen by the government of Salzburg to be the first "Modellwohnbau" 

of the country of Salzburg – a project, that shall bring best living quality by considering 

aspects of ecology, energy, architecture and economy. The SIR is charged with the coordination 

and moderation of this project. 

In 1993 there was an official architectural competition. Architect Hanns Peter Köck from 

Saalfelden won the first price. He was charged with the develop-planning and the detailed 

planning of the new dwellings. 

The whole project consists about 50 dwellings. In the first part 36 dwellings will be built, 

30 shall be for rent and 6 shall be for sale. 


Radstadt 




The project concerns an 80 bioclimatic apartment building in Vilanova i la Geltrú, 60 km 

south of Barcelona City. It is the first step of a bigger development that will account for 

up to 1.332 dwellings. 

Figure 2.16: Close view of a finished building in El Llimonet, January 2001 

23



December 2001 

The 80 individual flats form a single building and are either 70m 2 or 90m 2 . The ground 

floor is dedicated to commercial activity and underground car parking has also been 

constructed. 

Table 2.9.: Meteorological specifications of the project (Data Source: Servei de 

Meteorologia de la Generalitat de Catalunya). 

Vilanova 


Altitude 14 m 



Design heating temperature 


This project concerns energy saving interventions realized in the following four 

rehabilitated buildings of the municipality of Volos: 

− Three buildings of an old brick and tiles factory (‘ Tsalapatas’ factory). Two brick 

drying stores and the Kiln. 

− An ex grain sterilization hangar of the Ministry of Agriculture. 

Both cases had some particular interest. The three industrial buildings of the old factory, 

were subject to restrictions by the Ministry of Culture, since they have been characterized 

as parts of our Cultural Heritage. The fourth building was interesting because its initial 

state and use were by far incompatible to the final ones and a lot of imagination was 

needed. 


Volos 


Altitude 3 

Average global radiation 4.7kWh/m²/day 


Design heating temperature -3°C 

Figure 2.17: The bioclimatic building of a total of 530 m 2 

24



December 2001 

The brick & tiles factory “Tsalapatas” is situated in the neighborhood of Palaia, west side 

of the castle of the city of Volos. It was established in 1925 from Tsalapatas brothers and 

operated until 1975. 

It includes a group of industrial buildings of 7600 m 2 and shed places of 4900 m 2 , in a 

land of 22,65 thousand m 2 inside the urban area of the city (fig. ). It is a very rare sample 

of preserved industrial complex of its kind in Europe. Has a unique kiln Hoffmann type 

and preserved elements of production methods from steam engines to electricity of today. 

The Ministry of Culture in Greece preserves the whole complex as Culture Heritage. 

The grain sanitation building is located in the south-west part of the city and was owned 

by the Ministry of Agriculture. Sanitation was realized by fumigation using methyl 

bromide. The operation of the site ceased in 1975 and remained closed for 20 years. 

Finally in 1995, the building was granted to the Municipality of Volos, for 20 years, in 

the state shown in figure (before). 

The building was in such a state that it could not be imagined that it could serve any other 

purpose. However, the imagination of local architects and engineers transformed this 

building to the state shown in figure (after), incorporating in it several elements of 

modern bioclimatic design. 

From August 2000, the bioclimatic building of a total of 530 m 2 , shown in Figure 2.17 

(after), hosts the Regional Energy Center of Thessaly and a total of 16 persons are now 

working in it. 

2.3 Description of the Installation 

Table 2.11.: Overview of the energy savings technologies in EGC projects. 

Energy Savings Technology 

Low energy windows x x x x x x x x x x 

Extra wall insulation x x x x x x x x x x x 

Solar heating for DHW x x x x x x x x x x 

Solar heating for SH x x 

Passive solar x x x x x x x x x 

Improved daylight x x x x 

Centralised heating system x x x x x x x x 

Condensing gasboilers x x 

Combined heat and power x x x x 

Individual heating control x x x x x x x x x 

Natural ventilation x x 

Mechanical ventilation x x x x x x x 

Mechanical ventilation with preheating of air x x 

Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery x x x x x x 

PV modules x x x x x 

Individual heat meters x x x x x x x 

Individual water meters x x x 

Water savings x x x x x 

Electricity savings x x x x x x x x x x x 

BEMS x x x x x x x x x 

An overview of the low energy savings technologies used in the EGC projects are given 

in Table 2.11. All the projects have higher insulation standard of the building envelope 

Abruzzo 

Brescia 

Copenhagen 

Grenoble 

Herning 

Hulshout 

Kuopio 

Portsmouth 

Radstadt 

Vilanova 

Volos 

25



December 2001 

compared to the national building regulations. Also windows and the ventilation have 

been improved. 

The specific heat losses (W/°C) of a standard building of 100 m² are calculated with the 

Thermie specifications used in the projects and the results are given in Figure 2.18. The 

calculated values include transmission losses through external surfaces and from 

ventilation. 

Volos, Greece 

Vilanova, Spain 

Radstadt, Austria 

Portsmouth, GB 

Kuopio 

Hulshout 

Herning 

Grenoble 

Copenhagen 

Brescia 

Abruzzo 

Specific Heat Losses 

0.0 50.0 100.0 150.0 200.0 250.0 300.0 

Figure 2.18.: Calculated specific heat losses using the actual Thermie specifications of 

each EGC projects. 


Window replacement 

946 m 2 of windows have been replaced of which 852 m 2 with a thermal cut steel frame 

and low energy glasses with U-value = ≈ 2.0 W/m²Kn have been installed. 

The reduction of the U-value of the windows from 5,8 to 2 W/m 2 K permitts the reduction 

of the building total thermal losses from 396000 to 136000 kWht/year with an energy 

saving of about 260000 kWht/year (66%). 

External walls insulation 

External insulating coat of the building envelope by means of polystyrene panels 

(conductivity = 0,035 W/mK): 

W/°C 

External walls: 5390 m² - 60 mm of polystyrene panels 

First floor: 1195 m² - 30 mm of polystyrene panels 

Last floor under the roof: 1195 m² - 40 mm of polystyrene panels 

The intervention produced a reduction of energy consumption of 191000 kWh/year with 

an energy saving of 323000 kWh/year. 

26



December 2001 

This action has been very efficient because the buildings were built before the Italian Law 

about energy saving (Law n. 373/76) and the building envelopes were characterised by 

high thermal losses. 

The U-values of the building: 

floor 0.71 W/m²K 

roof 0.56 W/m²K 

Windows 2.00 W/m²K 

External wall 0,24 W/m²K 

Solar collectors for DHW production 

A Solar heating system for DHW production was installed: 

− 9 solar units of 15 m² each for a total surface of 135 m² (tilt = 30°). 

− Each solar unit serves a stair of 6 apartments 

− Each solar unit is provided with a local storing heat exchanger (600 lt) heated by 

solar energy and auxiliary heat produced by a furnace during the heating season, by 

solar energy and electricity as auxiliary in the summer period. 

− Satellitar units (“modusat”) have been installed in each apartment and these 

accomplish the same task of the original autonomous boilers, being supplied both by 

the solar units and the centralised boiler. 

Figure 2.19. Water solar collectors on the roof. 

New centralised heating system 

The new centralised heating system consists in a high efficient condensing multicells 

furnace (6 modules of 50 kWt each, parallel connected). The thermal power of the 

multicells furnace is variable from 10 to 300 kWt. 

27



Figure 2.20. Multicells furnace 

The main consequences of the modified heating system are: 

− Centralised heat production for space heating and DHW production 

− Autonomous management for each apartment 

− Individual energy consumption metering 

December 2001 

− The existing radiators, actually over-sized comparing with the heat demand of the 

rooms, because of the improvement of the building insulation permits to supply the 

radiators with a low water temperature (45°C) and this turns to the advantage of the 

thermal efficiency of the condensing boiler. 

Heat meter for each apartment 

Each modusat was provided with a heat meter connected to the EMS. 

The main objectives are: 

− the partition of the fuel costs on the base of the real consumption; solar energy is 

considered as free energy for all the apartments. 

− The measurement of the energy consumption both for space heating and for DHW 

production 

− The Acquisition of data about energy consumption by the telemonitoring system 

(EMS). 

Thermostatic valves on radiators 

Thermostatic valves have been installed on each radiator. 

The existing radiators have been susituted with aluminium ones, in order to install the 

thermostatic valves. 

The main consequence is the automatic regulation of the water flow in the radiators on 

the base of a fixed temperature in the room. 

PV modules 

Photovoltaic modules for electricity production from solar energy have been placed on 

the roof of one of the building (building No. 1317, 30 apartments): the total PVM surface 

is 10 m² and the system is sized for a pick power of 1 kW. An inverter changes the direct 

current produced by PV modules in alternate current and the produced electricity will 

cover electric demand of the pumps of two solar units. A batteries system (12 lead-acid 

accumulators) has been installed to guarantee the working of the PV system also in less 

sunny days. 

28



December 2001 

The produced electricity will cover electric demand of the pumps of two solar units. 

EMS 

An energy management system (EMS) to which each local energy meter is connected was 

realised. A central unit is connected to a computer located in an office of ATER of 

L’Aquila, to store and to analyse data collected referring to a monitoring programme 

selected by the user. The EMS was designed to accomplish the following important 

functions: 

− To permit an autonomous management of the energy consumption of each apartment 

− To acquire all data for the continuous monitoring of each plant system (solar plant, 

PV system, condensing multicells furnace). 

− To provide expected performance 

− To guarantee it for the total lifetime. 


New low-energy windows 

New low-energy windows with special insulating external frame have been installed: two 

glass layers 4 mm thick with a 9 mm air gap with U = 2,732 W/m²K. 

The special insulating external frames permit to eliminate the thermal bridges and to 

facilitate the junction between wall cladding and windows. 

External wall insulation 

The intervention consists in improving the insulation characteristics of the building 

envelope by means of the following actions: 

External insulating coat of the external walls: 5 cm polyurethane foam panel - U = 0,32 

W/m²K 

Floor insulation: 5 cm polystyrene foam panels 

Roof insulation: insulation improvement U = 0,32 W/m²K 

The main consequence is the elimination of the existing thermal bridges with an efficient 

external walls insulation as more homogeneous as possible. 

Table of the building insulation interventions: 

PROJECT 

Elements Type U (W/m²K) 

External Walls on loggias Prefabricated panels 0.322 

External Wall Prefabricated concrete panels 0.321 

External Wall (closed loggias) Insulated concrete panels 0.570 

Load-carrying members Insulated concrete structure 0.549 

Floor type 1 Insulated concrete floor 0.549 

Floor type 2 Insulated concrete floor 0.298 

Buildings roofs Insulated concrete roof 0,342 

Apartment roof type 1 Insulated roof 0,370 

Apartment roof type 2 Insulated roof 0.298 

Passive solar design 

29



December 2001 

Existing loggias on the south facade have been equipped with external windows frames 

with a “fan” opening which allow the use of them during winter as sun-space and a 

consequent improving of thermal comfort of the near living room. During summer period, 

the conservatory can be completely opened and darkening systems are in function. 

The conservatories are used as sun-space and the intervention permits the improvement of 

improving of thermal comfort of the near living room during winter. 

DHW combined solar and district heating 

A solar heating plant for the DHW production was integrated with the actual heating 

system connected to the district heating network. The project provided the elimination of 

centralised DHW production, foreseeing two local storing heat exchangers installed in 

three common rooms at the first floor of each block, supplied by district heating, during 

winter, and by solar system during the summer period. The local storing heat exchangers 

serve all the apartments of the related block. In each local storing room two heat storing 

tanks have been located. The volume of the storage tanks and the collector area are given 

in the following table: 

Solar Storage Collector 

Block Tank 1 Tank 2 Area 

Block 1 4000 litre 2000 litre 97 m² 



The intervention included the refurbishment of the three thermal central heating in order 

to make it in line with recent Italian regulations regarding electrical and mechanical 

plants security. 

Figure 2.21. Solar collector on the roof. 

The solar system is provided with an automatic regulation and monitoring system of the 

temperatures; this is a DDC type too and is connected to the central unit of the EMS. 

Mechanical ventilation system 

It has been foreseen to provide the building blocks with a mechanical ventilation system: 

the intervention was not eligible but it was considered necessary because of the extra 

insulation of the building envelope after the Thermie interventions. 

The ventilators have been located on the roof of the three building blocks together with 

the solar panels. 

30



December 2001 

The objective is to control the air change of the rooms in consequence of the high 

insulation characteristics of the buildings (0,5 ÷ 0,7 Vol./h in each room and 6 Vol./h in 

the bathroom without windows). 

The intervention was not eligible. 

Local energy meters 

The buildings were originally provided with an obsolete technology of energy metering 

system so they have been provided with a new improved system in line with European 

standard and with the possibility to communicate with Energy Management System. 

Each apartments is provided with: 

− energy metering system 

− volumetric metering system for hot and cold water metering 

− new heat detector with timer in order to control internal temperature. 

The energy meters permit to display energy consumption of each apartment: 

− space heating 

− solar domestic hot water production 

− domestic hot water supplied by district heating. 

All energy metering will be connected with the central energy management system. 

EMS 

The system is DDC type (direct digital control) and it consists in single autonomous 

peripheral units connected to a central unit by a communication bus. 

The central unit manages a communication register with head control and each apartment. 

All energy metering are connected with the main unit and are able to share energy 

consumption. 

The solar heating plant is provided with an automatic regulation and monitoring system 

connected to the EMS. 

The central unit is provided with a software for the operator interface. 

The central unit is connected to a computer located in the office of ALER Brescia, in 

order to storage and analyse data collected according to a monitoring program selected by 

the user. 


The following innovative elements are used in the project: 


− Low energy windows 

− Ventilation with heat recovery. 

− PV-modules 

− Preheating of ventilation air 

− Energy meters for SH and DHW 

− Flow meters for sanitary water 


− Low energy windows 

31



− Ventilation with heat recovery 

− PV-modules 

− Preheating of the ventilation air 

− Air solar collector for space heating and domestic hot water 

− Hydraulic board for DHW 

− Building energy management system 


− Low temperature heating with centrally situated radiator. 

− Double frame window system with low energy glass 

− Ventilation with heat recovery 

− Solar preheating of the ventilation air 

− Improved daylight conditions 

− Solar collector system on the roof for DHW 

− Energy meters for SH and DHW 

− Flow meters for sanitary water 

Space heating 

December 2001 

The tree buildings are heat supplied from a district heating system, with a branch into a 

boiler room in each building. 

Figure 2.22.: Photo of the buffer storage in the boiler room. 

The project uses a low temperature heating system, this means that the water 

temperatures in the piping system and radiators will be lower than in a conventional 

heating system. Therefore the radiators and the piping system should be based on an 

increased surface area than in conventional system. Radiators are controlled by 

thermostatic valves and placed in the centre of the dwellings. The central location gives 

lower installation costs and lower heating losses. 

PV-modules and passive solar 

All tree projects in Copenhagen have PV-modules integrated in the building facade as 

part of a special PV initiative concerning this aiming at preheating ventilation air in the 

PV-modules in co-operation with local architects. 


Amorphous modules are placed as an integrated part of a facade renovation of the south 

facade of the building. The modules are placed under the windows. In this project, the use 

of PV is also combined with a ventilation strategy for forced ventilation, where air for 

32



December 2001 

ventilation is pre-heated behind the panels. The ventilation system has heat recuperation 

and low energy ventilator fans. The pre-heated air is taken in behind the PV panels. 

The total area of the PV-modules is 32m² with total peak power of 1.34 kWp. 

There are facade integrated sunspaces to the south. 


A general low energy retrofit design has been developed for urban renewable incl. special 

development of optimised daylighting for the old flats. 

For 8 apartments the used individual heat recovery ventilation systems was made with a 

special design so it also functioned as an air heating system. 

PV-modules were integrated in facades in combination with optimised sunspaces. 


The PV-modules are semi-transparent monocrystalline modules placed vertical on the 

staircase facade facing the courtyard. The orientation of the modules is south/west. The 

PV-modules are ventilated in the air gab between modules and the wall and the preheated 

air, entrance into to the staircase. The air flow through the staircase is forced be natural 

ventilation. 

The total area of PV-modules is 39m² with a total peak power of 3 kWp. 

33



December 2001 

Figure 2.23.: Photo of the semi-transparent monocrystalline modules placed vertical on 

the staircase. 

Solar heating System 


The solar heating system is a combined system for domestic hot water and space heating. 

The solar collector is an air collector type. The solar heat from the collector is transferred 

to an air/water heat exchanger placed in the roof space. A water piping system transfer 

the solar heat to a buffer storage in the boiler room located in the basement. The 

advantages of using air collector are that there are no problems with freezing or boiling. 


The solar heating system is designed for 

domestic hot water. The solar collector is a 

roof integrated system (see the photo to the 

right). A storage tank of 1.6 m³ is located in 

the boiler room on the ground floor. The 

piping between the collector and storage 

tank goes through an old chimney, which is 

not used anymore. 

Ventilation 


The ventilation system with heat recovery is installed in the loft space and each unit 

covers 10 dwellings. The ventilation unit includes a cross flow heat exchanger. 


The ventilation of the building include low energy heat recovery DC ventilation systems, 

supplied with electricity from PV modules integrated in the building facade. 

For 8 apartments the used individual heat recovery ventilation systems was made with a 

special design so it also functioned as an air heating system. 

34



Retrofit of one-family houses 

December 2001 

2 one-family houses went through an energy optimised retrofit, one in Virum and one in 

Tåstrup 

New build housing project 

The following innovative elements are used in the new build housing project at Rødekro. 

− super low energy windows. 

− Combined space heating and ventilation system with heat recovery of the ventilation 

air. 

− Central heating with an energy efficient heat distribution system. Single pipe system 

with low investment costs and low heat losses. 

− Water and electricity savings. 

Efficient space heating system in many low energy project ventilation with heat recovery 

is used together with a traditional heating system. Therefore extra investment costs are 

introduced. The project is going to demonstrate the possibility of using ventilation with 

heat recovery as the heating system for space heating. A traditional heating system with 

radiators is saved with reduced investment costs concerning this. 

Destribution 

network 

Heat recovery unit 

Flow temp. = 60°C 

Hot water 

tap 

Water / air heat 

exchanger 

Hot air 

inlet 

Figure 2.24: Principle of the combined heating, ventilation and hot water system. 

Figure 2.24 shows the combined heating, ventilation and hot water system. The heat 

recovery unit with a temperature effectiveness of 80% transfer heat from exhaust air to 

the fresh air. The preheated air from the heat recovery goes through a heating coil and 

heats the air up to 40°C depending on the demand in the rooms. Different heating coils 

for different zones will be controlled by individual room thermostat. The distribution 

network supplies the houses with domestic hot water and space heating during the heating 

coils in the ventilation system. 

35



December 2001 

Figure 2.25: Photo of the prefabricated heating, ventilation and hot water installation. 

The principle of the integrated 

heating, ventilation and hot water 

system is illustrated in the figure 2.9. 

The ducts for the fresh air supply and 

heat supply is installed in the 

insulation in the ceiling. The total 

heating and ventilation unit is 

fabricated in a factory to get high 

quality and low cost. The complete 

unit is delivered to the site in one 

unit as a 60cm x 60cm cabinet. The 

cabinet includes heat exchanger, 

fans, heating coils, filters and control 

system. A simple connection to the 

domestic hot water system and the 

ducts in the ceiling and system is 

ready for use. 


The retrofit intervention includes : 

− Windows replacement 

− External walls insulation 

− Closure of loggias 

− Solar collector for domestic hot water 

− Electricity savings 

Some parts of the project deal with one block of 122 dwellings, and some others part, 

insulation, windows replacement, DHW, deal with the four blocks of 505 apartments. 

Windows replacement 

New windows have been installed with a PVC frame a double layer glass. This 

intervention has concerned the 505 dwellings. 

36



External wall insulation 

December 2001 

External wall insulation was done in all the buildings. The polystyrene panels have been 

erected on the lateral facades (the facades without windows). Some comfort 

improvements are expected because the apartments, which are interested by the 

intervention, face NW and NW is the direction of prevailing winds. 

Closure of the loggias 

The intervention has concerned only 75 apartments located at ground floor and facing 

NW. 

Water solar collectors for DHW 

4 solar collectors systems (705 m²) have been installed and connected to 3 district heating 

rooms. The solar tanks have been installed in the three heating substation. 

System type Domestic hot water system 

Number of dwellings 505 

Solar collector orientation and slope South, 43 degrees 

Total collector area 705 m² 

Storage volume 42 m³ 

Electricity saving 

The stairs of the blocks of 505 dwellings, were lighted by old traditional incandescent 

lamps. These lamps have been replaced with fluorescent bulbs. It was the aim to control 

them by person sensors and photoelectric daylighting linking. 

It was also the aim to improve the existing mechanical ventilation system : to identify the 

real air flow, to control the air supply grid and air intake condition and to measure the 

ventilators efficiency. Aims of this modification was the reduction of energy consumption 

for the ventilators and the improve of indoor air quality. 

Photovoltaïc module for electricity production from solar energy have been placed on the 

south façade of the block of 122 apartments for a total surface of 95 m². They have been 

combined with a new body insulation. 

PV panels orientation and slope South, 90 degree 

Total collector area 95 m² 

Total power 9,9 kW 

Electricity produced by the photovoltaic modules is covered electric demand of the 

ventilators and the staircases lighting. Depending on the electricity produced the balance 

is provided by the EDF network. 

The architectural integration was an important aim to convince about the architectural 

possibilities of renewable energies. 

In order to protect the water tightness of the flat roof underneath, and to solve the 

problem of the solar panels heaviness, and to join the idea of using an usual constructing 

element of a building, the solution adopted was to install ridge roves in order to bear the 

thermal solar panels. 

37



Figure 2.10: Photo of the project - Surieux. View from the thermal solar panels. 

Figure 2.11: Photo of the project – Surieux. PV-modules on the façade 


December 2001 

The innovative elements implemented in the project (the “green block”) are following: 

- Ventilation with heat recovery. 

- Ventilated solar wall. 

- Extra insulation in wall and roof. 

- Solar panels on roof for water heating. 

- Space heating in apartments is situated under wooden floor. 

- Building energy management system 

- Local energy meters 

- Low energy light bulbs and movement sensors. 

- Low energy glazing 

- Accumulating of rainwater for toilet flushing. 

38



December 2001 

The ventilation system with recovery is situated in the loft, and with all 42 app. connected 

to this one system. Pressure difference measure-units controls the level of revolutions, 

and thus the effect. The exhaustions are situated in the bathroom and the cooker hood in 

the kitchen. The warm air input (22-23 °C) is placed in the living room. 

The ventilated solar wall is a 3,5 by 7 metres glazing on the south façade, behind which 

cold fresh air passes, before it is send through a heating unit, and further to the dwellings. 

Behind the glazing, 0,1 metres space, a heavy concrete construction is placed to absorb 

sunbeam, in order to warm-up the passing air. 

Extra insulation in wall and roof gives a total of 300 mm in the roof, and 150 mm 

between the two brick walls. 

Solar panels on the roof warm up the space heating in app., and hot water for use in app. 

In all of these 42 app. in the green block, the space heating is all situated under the 

wooden panel floor, and is constructed as a low temperature system, app 30-35 °C. Each 

app. has a thermostatic valve for setting dwellers own room temperature. 

A building energy management system is implemented, and supervises all units and 

temperatures in the building. 

Local energy metres give each dweller a possibility for supervising his own consumption 

of heating and power. 

Low energy light bulbs and movement sensors are used consistently in order to minimize 

light costs. 

Low energy glazing is used to minimize the heating costs. 

Under the parking area, a 11 m³ tank is placed to accumulate rainwater for flushing 

toilets. Double piping is made to ensure no mixing with drinking water. 


A general energy performance standard for the project of Hulshout has been used. Instead 

of using the global insulation level K55 applied by the Flemish government (NBN B62- 

301), a performance standard based on the energy requirements for heating is applied. 

This performance standard takes into account both transmission / ventilation heat losses, 

internal/external heat gains and the efficiency of the heating and ventilation installation. 

The objective of this project is to satisfy a performance standard of 50 kWh/m²/year 

(energy consumption for heating), based on an average inside temperature of 18°C, a 

ventilation level of 0.5 air changes per hour (ac/h) and an overall heating installation 

efficiency of 75%. 

In order to decrease transmission losses, special attention is paid to increased insulation 

(sloping and flat roofs, walls, floors and glazing), compact building and passive solar 

energy design (orientation of living spaces, windows, …). The table below gives an 

overview of the insulation level of the different building parts. Ventilation losses are 

limited by applying mechanical ventilation with heat recovery in combination with 

airtight building. Remaining heating requirements are met by high performance heating 

installations. Solar collectors are installed to decrease energy consumption for domestic 

hot water. An energy management system collects and processes energy consumption 

data per individual building unit. 

39



December 2001 

Construction 

part 

Legally required Project Hulshout 

U-Value U-Value insulation 

Sloping roof 0.6 W/m²/K 0.17 W/m²/K 15 cm mineral wool 

+ 6 cm polystyrene 

Flat roof 0.6 W/m²/K 0.17 W/m²/K 20 cm mineral wool 

Walls 0.6 W/m²/K 0.25 W/m²/K 10 cm mineral wool 

(brick wall) + 12 cm 

mineral wool (wooden 

coating) 

Floor 1.2 W/m²/K 0.30 W/m²/K 8 cm polystyrene 

Glazing 3.5 W/m²/K 1.50 W/m²/K special double glazing 

+ wooden frames 

The total energy consumption for heating amounts to 220 kWh/m²/year for a standard 

house in Belgium. Paying special attention to compact building, airtight building, passive 

solar energy design, … and meeting the legally required insulation level K55, total energy 

consumption decreases to 190 kWh/m²/year. In this project Hulshout the total energy 

consumption for heating further decreases: (1) from 190 kWh/m²/year to 

162 kWh/m²/year as a result of high performance heating systems based on condensation 

of exhaust gasses, (2) from 162 kWh/m²/year to 79 kWh/m²/year as a result of increased 

insulation of roofs, walls, floors and glazing, and (3) from 79 kWh/m²/year to 

50 kWh/m²/year as a result of mechanical ventilation with heat recovery and with low 

electricity use. So, energy requirements for heating in the project of Hulshout are 

supposed to be more than 70% lower than in standard building projects in Belgium. 

In order to decrease the energy requirements for domestic hot water, solar collectors are 

installed in building block 1 and building block 2. The solar collectors are supposed to 

supply about 50% of the hot water needs. 

Compactness 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 

Average inside temperature (°C) 18 18 18 18 

Ventilation rate (ac/h) 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 

Heating system efficiency (%) 64 75 75 75 

Global insulation level K55 K55 K24 K24 

Average heat loss coefficient 

0.62 0.62 0.27 0.27 

(W/m²/K) 

Type of ventilation natural natural natural mech. 

Heat recovery of ventilation air no no no yes 

Annual energy requirements (kWh) 22,185 18,930 9,200 5,900 

Performance number (kWh/m²) 190 162 79 50 

The following innovative technologies are applied: 

− high performance heating system: low temperature heating is applied in order to 

increase the energy efficiency of the system; condensing gas boilers with efficiencies 

above 100% are applied. 

− superinsulation of roofs (U=0.17 kWh/m²/year compared to U=0.6 kWh/m²/year 

traditionally): a sarking roof consisting of 6 cm of extruded polystyrene (XPS) 

combined with 15 cm of mineral wool (MW); 

40



December 2001 

− superinsulaition of walls (U=0,.25 kWh/m²/year compared to U=0.6 kWh/m²/year 

traditionally): insulating porotonblocks combined with a cavity wall integrally filled 

with 10 cm of MW (= brick wall) or 12 cm of MW (= wall with wooden coating) 

− superinsulation of floors (U = 0.3 kWh/m²/year compared to U=1.2 kWh/m²/year 

traditionally): 8 cm of XPS 

− superinsulation of windows (U=1.5 kWh/m²/year compared to U=3.5 kWh/m²/year 

traditionally): double glazing is applied provided with a heating reflecting coating 

and a gas filled cavity space; wooden window frames are applied 

− mechanical ventilation with heat recovery in combination with airtight building: a 

heat recovery system with a high energy efficiency (heat recuperation of 60% - 80%, 

motors with limited electricity consumption, …) are installed 

− solar heating for domestic hot water: solar heating collectors are installed covering 

about 50% of the total demand for domestic hot water 

− energy management system: a collective heating system is installed in building 

block 2 combined with an energy management system enabling individual room 

temperature control and individual metering of energy consumption, motivating 

individual users to reduce energy consumption 


The main energy conservation concepts in the Pirtti school project were: 

− functional, energy conservation and environmental considerations are taken into 

account in town planning 

− construction planning uses systems, building parts and materials commonly available 

for other construction projects 

− introduction of a construction concept requiring low heating 

− introduction of a low consumption electricity system 

− to achieve cost savings with a heating system where the pipelines are short and 

heating elements can be placed freely 

− passive solar energy is used by pre-heating the incoming air and by choosing optimal 

windows 

− natural light is used with the aid of optimal window design and advanced lighting 

control 

− to use solar-generated electricity in the training equipment 

− to use a small sun wall for the preheating of the incoming air in the mechanical 

ventilation. 

− to introduce electricity savings by lighting and mechanical ventilation system controls 

directed by usage 

− to introduce water savings by low flow water equipment 

− to introduce a common control system for ventilation, lighting and access control 

using LON technology. 

Description of the building 

41



December 2001 

The building consists partly of one and partly of two floors. The gross area is 4,900 m2, 

with a net area of 3,200 m 2 and a volume of 21,000 m 3 . The school is intended for 400 

students. It has 14 basic classrooms, special classrooms for technical work, textile work 

and biology, a sports hall, dining room, kitchen and offices for the teachers and the 

headmaster. The school also includes an area for health care, which also functions as a 

health advisory centre for small children, and an area for one pre-school group. 

The main structure of the building consists of reinforced concrete walls and pillars. 

Horizontal structures are reinforced concrete plates or plaster cast on site. The surface of 

the outer walls is mainly brick or concrete with a screen coating. 

Heating equipment 

The building is on the district heating network of Kuopio Energy. The heat distribution 

centre is situated in the technical room on the second floor along with the district heating 

measuring centre. The heat distribution centre houses heat exchangers for the radiator 

network, mechanical ventilation system, domestic hot water and post-cooling (pre-heating 

for the mechanical ventilation system). The innovative solution of the heating system is 

based on the heat exchanger of the post-cooling and the lower than ordinary temperature 

used in the design of the radiator network. 

Figure 2.26.: Heating centre. 

Prior to pre-heating, ventilation heat recovery equipment was installed in some of the 

Mechanical ventilation system equipment (in the mechanical ventilation system unit TK 

4 of the kitchen and the serving area, there is glycol heat recovery and condensator heat 

recovery in the cooling compressor serving the freezers of the kitchen and connected to 

the same network). The design efficiency of the glycol network is 115 kW. 

The building is heated entirely (including the sports hall) with a radiator network 

equipped with dual piping connections. The radiators are placed in general under the 

windows. 

Water and sewage equipment 

The building gets its water from the mains supply of Kuopion Vesi (Kuopio Water), 

where the pressure at the usage point is 6.5-7.0 bar. The system is equipped with vents to 

reduce the pressure and there is an innovative solution where the heat exchanger for 

mains water is equipped with a membrane expansion vessel that diminishes the pressure 

peaks in water flow (capacity 5 l). 

42



Figure 2.27.: Environmental Laguna. 

December 2001 

Sanitary ware was chosen with low water consumption in mind, and for example toilet 

bowls have alternative flushing functions using two different amounts of water. The 

building has separate piping for sewage and rainwater. Water from a natural spring under 

the building is circulated through the water pool in the hall. The drainage water and from 

the drained through pump pits. Kitchen waste water goes through a fat-trap before it 

continues into the main sewage system. The fat-trap has an overfill alarm connected to 

the Building automation system. The separating efficiency of the fat trap is 5.0 l with a 

delay of 9 minutes. 

Mechanical ventilation system equipment 

The innovative solutions in the ventilation system are based on mechanical ventilation 

system according to need in the classrooms, where data transfer between the mechanical 

ventilation system controls in the classrooms and the building monitoring centre takes 

place via a LON-WORKS cable. 

The mechanical ventilation system makes it possible to take into account the changes in 

the load changes in one room in the mechanical ventilation system of the entire building. 

Pressure within the ducting is maintained as low as possible and always at the right level, 

which saves energy in blower use, adds to comfort and enables flexible expansions and 

changes in the use of the rooms. 

Mechanical ventilation system according to need and varying from room to room is 

suitable for buildings where the loading changes significantly for example due to the 

number of people, such as schools, offices, meeting facilities, restaurants and hotels. 

An intelligent airflow control system is based on a computerised model of the ducting 

network, where the calculating unit assigns functions to current controls. When in use, the 

system will automatically drive the controls according to desired settings. 

The system includes a current control, room terminal, calculating unit and the LON data 

transfer network. It is possible to manage the system through the building control 

computer. The system will give the control order concerning the maintenance of pressure 

in the ducts to the building control system. 

The system functions according to the following principles: 

− You want to change the airflow in various rooms, for example according to the 

concentration of CO2 present in the air in the measured room. 

− The calculating unit assigns the new settings for airflow controls according to need. 

Under the control of the calculating unit, every airflow control connected into the 

system sets itself to the new settings according to the measuring situation. 

43



December 2001 

Airflow controls are structurally similar both in the incoming and outgoing ventilation. 

The airflow control unit includes an adjustment damper, a function device, a 

communicating adjustment unit and an air flow measurement unit. As well as the room 

terminal, the motion sensor, temperature sensor and a CO2 sensor are connected to the 

control unit. The flow controls are connected with the ducting adjustment damper, where 

the room controls and selected sensors are also connected. The current controls are 

connected with one another through the LON data transfer system. LonWorks open 

technology enables data transfer between equipment belonging to the system or nodes 

through an economical double helix two-core cable. Lighting controls, access control, 

burglar alarms and other air, heating and water technology can also be connected with the 

same data transfer network. 

The building monitoring centre PC computer allows you to read the air flows, 

temperatures and for example the amount of CO2 in the air in each room connected to the 

system. The parameters can be freely modified through the building control computer. 

Room temperature control 

The temperature of the air blown into a room is controlled according to the temperature of 

the outgoing air. The system measures the average temperature of the outgoing air. The 

temperature of the intake air must be high enough in a replacement ventilation system in 

order for there to be no drafts in the room. The minimum and maximum temperatures of 

the air to be blown in can be set at the building control unit. 

For example, the minimum temperature can be set at 17 degrees Celsius and maximum at 

22 degrees. The control limit for outgoing air can be set in the winter at for example +22 

degrees C and for the summer +23 degrees C. 

Controlling CO 2 in the indoor air 

As the concentration rises above the set limit, the volume of the air blown into the room 

increases. (The volume can also increase because the room temperature has risen above 

the set limit.) 

In rooms that have the CO 2 and temperature sensors, desired limits can be set according 

to each room. As the limit is passed, the volume of air blown into the room starts to rise 

by small increments, and if the concentration does not drop below the level, air volume 

can be increased to its maximum value, which means that it will have risen from 20% at 

the starting situation to 100%. The limit for CO2 concentration in good quality air is set at 

800 ppm to start with, but during cold periods the level can be raised up to 1000 ppm. 

44



Building automation management system 

December 2001 

The entire monitoring and control system of the building is based on a centralised control 

system DDC where the sub-control units are in mechanical ventilation system technical 

rooms (2) and the building monitoring centre in the control area next to the mechanical 

ventilation system technical room. The property monitoring centre has a traditional 

central control with Atmostech control, reporting and follow-up programmes set in a PC 

microcomputer. The system also has an alarm and report printer. The monitoring centre 

computer has a modem for contacting the city’s central control computer. 

The innovative solutions in the monitoring centre are the LON network control and 

installation computer (a PC micro) and the Master-PC (a PC micro without a screen) used 

for controlling the mechanical ventilation system. Data transfer between the controls in 

the rooms and the monitoring centre computer takes place through the LON network. The 

master PC controls the air pressure maintenance system of the mechanical ventilation 

system unit in order to maintain the calculated minimum duct pressure. The desired duct 

pressure varies according to need, which means that the air blowers use less energy and 

noise levels in the rooms are lower than in standard systems. The LON network also 

provides information on lighting levels, air volumes, temperatures and CO2 

concentrations in each room. The desired settings can be changed from the monitoring 

centre computer. 

Cooling systems 

The cold-storage rooms of the kitchens are equipped with their own refrigerating devices 

so that a cold compressor is placed in the mechanical ventilation system technical room 

and the condenser with condensation circuits for each compressor is in the outgoing 

ventilation ducting of the toilets where there is also a glycol radiator for the recovery of 

the condensation heat. The cooling substance is R134 A. The outgoing fan is controlled 

through the timing programme of the monitoring system and also by the pressostates of 

the condensation pressure of the cooling system. The utilisation of the system together 

with glycol heat recovery that would be built anyway is more economical than separate 

condensation equipment mounted outside. In this case, the significance is minor from the 

point of view of energy economy, because the condensation efficiency is only about 6 

kWh. 

Lighting 

The fluorescent lamps within the premises are equipped with electronic devices and the 

fluorescent tubes are chosen from an efficiency range with a high luminous intensity ( 

about 90 lm/W, 58 W tubes). 

The light fittings in the classrooms are high quality lamps where the luminescence of the 

light gap is small. 

A bus system based on LON technology supplied by Helvar Ltd was chosen as the 

lighting control system. 

The classroom light fittings are equipped with electronic devices with a 1-10 V dimmer 

switch, except for the lamp for the board which is not adjustable. There are three 

controllable groups of lamps: the front of the classroom, the back and the board lamps. 

In offices and small classrooms the connecting devices for the lamps are the same as in 

the classrooms, but the lamps function as one group in the lighting controls. 

The LON network control system also covers corridor lighting and lighting in the entry 

ways where the control devices consist of a PIR sensor and push-button switches. 

45



December 2001 

For reasons of economy, the scope of the originally planned LON control system was 

reduced in connection with the contract negotiations so that the central hall, dining room 

and sports hall and adjacent space are not covered by the system. 

The existing network nevertheless has over 300 nodes on the LON system (including the 

water, heating and mechanical ventilation system equipment nodes). 

Functioning of the controls in a classroom: 

As a person enters the room, the PIR sensor turns the lighting on according to the energy 

saving situation. 

In the energy saving situation the given pre-set value for the control of the lights and for 

the result measured by the standard light sensor is 450 lx, and the lighting intensity will 

be set at that level. 

The lighting situation can be varied through the situation control buttons situated on the 

window side of the board in the classroom. 

The situation control switch includes four different situations as described in the chart 

below: 

Situation Name of situation Board lights Front Back 

1 Energy conservation 0 % Standard Standard 

lighting lighting 

2 Full lighting 100% 100% 100% 

3 Audio-visual 0% 20% 20% 

4 Turning off 0% 0% 0% 

By choosing the situations 2..4 standard lighting automation is switched off and lighting 

is forced to set at a level given by the situation control. The automatic function is 

switched on by choosing position 1. 

If the lighting situation has been controlled by the switches, the PIR sensor will not go 

back to position 1 before it has decided that the room is empty. 

Board lights have their own switch where they can be turned on and off regardless of the 

situation settings. 

Situation 4 (turning off) sets on (light groups are turned off automatically) if the PIR 

sensor has not detected any movement during the set turn off delay (5 minutes). 

The settings of the lights, such as the standard light setting and the length of the turn off 

delay can be changed by the tools programme in the LON system. 

Functioning of the controls in a small classroom and offices: 

As a person enters the room, the PIR sensor turns on the lights according to the energy 

saving situation. 

In the energy saving situation the given pre-set value for the control of the lights and for 

the result measured by the standard light sensor is 450 lx, and the lighting intensity will 

be set at that level. 

The lighting situation can be varied through the situation control buttons situated on the 

window side of the board in the classroom or by the side of the door in an office. 

The situation control switch includes four different situations as described in the chart 

below: 

46



Situation Name Lighting level 

1 Energy saving Standard light 

2 Full lighting 100% 

3 Terminal work 50% 

4 Turning off 0% 

December 2001 

By choosing the situations 2..4 standard light automation is switched off and the lighting 

is forced to be at a level given by the situation control. Automation is switched on by 

choosing situation 1. 

If the lighting situation has been controlled by the switches, the PIR sensor will not go 

back to situation 1 before it has decided that the room is empty. 

Situation 4 (turning off) sets on (light groups are turned off automatically) if the PIR 

sensor has not detected any movement during the set turn off delay (5 minutes). 

The settings of the lights, such as the standard light setting and the length of the turn off 

delay can be changed by the tools programme in the LON system. 

Additionally, these rooms have a potentiometer for the lighting level, which allows the 

user to decide the intensity of the lighting. 

Functioning of the controls in the corridors: 

As a person enters the corridor, one of the PIR sensors will turn the lights on. The tools 

programme of the LON system allows the user to decide whether the PIR sensor will turn 

on both of the corridor light groups or just one of them. 

In addition to the PIR sensors and the switches, lighting can be manually controlled to 

turn off in two groups, until the PIR sensor sees that the corridor is empty. 

The lights will go off automatically if the PIR sensor detects no movement within the preset 

turn off delay. 

Functioning of the controls in the entry ways 

As a person enters, the PIR sensor will turn the light on. 

In addition to the PIR sensors, there is a one-piece switch in the entry way where light 

can be manually turned on or off. If the light is turned off manually, the PIR sensor will 

not turn on the light until it has detected that the space is empty for a while first. 

The light will turn off automatically if the PIR sensor detects no movement within the 

pre-set turn off delay. 

Access control 

The eight exterior doors of the building are physically connected to the same LON 

network segments as the lighting and mechanical ventilation system controls. The 

exterior doors are locked with Kaba electric striking plates controlled by access control 

terminals and by a timing programme. The striking plates, card reader/code keyboards 

and opening switches around doors are connected to the LON network. Additionally, the 

network has a log unit where use of the doors is recorded. The control programme of the 

system is in the monitoring unit PC computer. 

LON network 

The LON network has six segments and altogether 313 nodes. The network type is LPT- 

10 and the segments are connected to a bus of the same type that connects the routers. 

47



December 2001 

There is a programme in the monitoring centre PC with a graphic user interface. The 

programme reads measuring and setting values from the classroom through the LON bus 

and overlays them on the plan of the building. Readings include: 

- presence of people in a room 

- percentage setting of lighting groups 

- volume of the air flow in the mechanical ventilation system 

- CO2 concentration of the air 

Some of these readings are collected on the Atmostec property automation system for 

statistical purposes. 

Solar panels 

The building has a solar-generated electricity system for teaching purposes. The system 

has two 63 W solar panels that load a 230 Ah / 12 V battery. 

The system uses two different voltages: a 12 V direct voltage and 230 V alternating 

voltage. 

The 12 V voltage serves lighting and the 230 V voltage serves power points that are used 

to run mixers that can for example turn paper into a pulp suitable for recycling. 


The conventional approach to refurbishment of high rise blocks is to provide a package of 

insulation measures to reduce heating demand and install a electrical heating system 

which has low installation cost but high running costs and high greenhouse gas emissions. 

This approach is not compatible with the principles of Home Energy Conservation Act 

(HECA), Local Agenda 21 and Local Government Act, which looks to promote amongst 

other issues affordable warmth, a reduction in greenhouse gasses and tenant well being. 

The aim is to produce a balanced package of measures tackling both energy demand and 

supply issues within a wider framework of a rejuvenation of the city environment, whilst 

maintaining residents use of their homes. The salvaging of the original structure 

contributed an important financial element in both the economic and environmental 

arguments when Portsmouth City Council decided to proceed with this retrofit of 136 

apartments. 

Leamington House was built in the 1970s to much lower standards of energy efficiency 

than those of today and required upgrading to meet modern standards of affordable 

warmth. This situation is common to many local authorities in the UK with high rise 

housing stock. The approach is to provide a package of measures designed to reduce 

energy use and to improve the efficiency of energy delivery and subsequently create 

affordable accommodation. 

A package of measures has improved the visual appearance of the block whilst reducing 

energy losses. The existing flat roof replaced with a 150 mm insulated pitched roof, 

existing singled glazed windows replaced with double-glazing and external walls fitted 

with cladding including 75 mm insulation. 

48



Before 

After 

[W/m²/K] 

[W/m²/K] 

Walls 0.65 0.30 

Roof 2.20 0.24 

Windows 6.00 1.70 

December 2001 

The existing heating system comprised of old obsolete gas boilers providing heat only to 

radiators with poor system and local control. Electric immersion heaters which where 

expensive to operate provided DHW. 

New boilers and a Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant where installed and now 

supplies heating, electricity and DHW. The system is controlled by a Building Energy 

Management System and radiators fitted with TRV’s. 

The CHP engine can produce 185 kW of heat and 108 kW electricity. Electricity from the 

CHP plant provides power to the communal plant such as lifts, public lighting, 

community facilities and offices. The surplus electricity is exported to the grid for which 

an income is received. 

A solar heating system for DHW with 14 m² collector area has been installed for 8 flats 

on the top floor of the block. 

Figure 2.28 : Refurbished boiler house with CHP. 

Photovoltaics (PV) modules are installed on the roof providing 200Wp supplying 

electricity for a ventilation system with heat recovery installed within 8 top floor flats. 

A ‘Trend’ Building Energy Management System (BEMS) has been installed to monitor 

and control the CHP, boilers, pumps and ventilation fans. The BEMS will control energy 

use to ensure internal comfort requirements are met for the least energy input e.g. 

sequencing of boilers and CHP. The system will also be used to ensure that equipment is 

regularly maintained and attended to promptly. 

Advisory leaflets have been produced for the use and control of the heating and DHW 

system. 

Water savings have been achieved by fitting flow restrictors to wash hand basin taps and 

reduced flushing capacity of WC cisterns. There is no provision for rainwater use. 


On the base of studies the committee choosed the construction and material: 

− combination of two-leaf brick walls and wood construction (The two-leaf brick wall 

is situated in the north because of heat storage and noise protection) 

− central heating plant with wood-sheets 

49



December 2001 

− domestic hot water heating with solar energy (108m² collector area, 9000l waterstorage) 

− heat recovery from air ventilation with a heat exchanger in the loft 

− collecting and using of rainwater 

A very good insulation shall help to keep the energy consumption for heating low, though 

Radstadt has a rough climate. 

External wall (Wood with 20cm Rockwool and 25cm brick/ 16cm 

Rockwool/ 7cm brick outside) 

U-value W/m²K 

0,20 

Glass (3 glasses) / Whole window 0,70 / 1,10 

Loft insulation steel-concrete with 20cm polystyrene foam 0,19 

Ground floor 0,24 

Air ventilation and heat recovery 

In each dwelling the air is taken from the kitchen, bath and entrance-hall. It is taken in the 

loft, where a heat exchanger warms up the fresh air. This is taken down by a shaft beside 

the chimneys and blown into the living and sleeping rooms. It is calculated for a air 

change-rate of 0.5 a hour. 

Simple installation in the dwellings 

In the cellar of the house is the technique-room, where the supply-pipe of the wood-sheet 

heating plant gives its heat to the supply-system of the building. The heat from the solarpanels 

on the roof is accumulated here too. From here only one pipe is going up to the 

dwellings. In each dwelling the heat is handed over in a small station, situated in the 

toilette, where the heat is handed over to the dwelling and counted. Here it is split in the 

heat for the domestic hot water and the room heating. 

Good architecture causes quality 

The houses are very compact, to keep the cool surface area small. Each dwelling has a 

glass veranda in the south in front of the living room to use the passiv solar energy. The 

dwellings are planned very useful, so that even smaller dwellings have enough place for 

living and storing. 


Figure 2.29: Solar collector installed on the roof. 

50



Architectural characteristics 

December 2001 

The main architectural characteristics of the action in Vilanova i la Geltrú “El Llimonet” 

are related to the application of bioclimatic elements during the design stages of the 

project. 

With a low energy design, good quality materials and the application of the best 

technology and the latest energy control system of the market, it is possible to minimise 

the energy requirements of the building. 

The bioclimatic elements introduced during the design period of the project have a deep 

influence on the building’s heating and cooling requirements. 

− The energy demand of the building, for heating and for cooling, is 25% lower than by 

using traditional construction, reaching an amount of 406.000 kWh/year: 

− The demand for heating is 25% lower than in a standard dwelling: this means 33 

kWh/m 2 year. 

− The demand for cooling is 24% lower than in a standard building, which means 27 

kWh/m 2 year 

The optimisation of the building response considering comfort criteria, hygiene and a 

rational use of the energy, is unavoidably related to the general integration of component 

systems and installations of the building. 

The building has 80 dwellings (the average dwelling surface is about 80 square meters 

with slight variations), divided into 7 stairs: 

− 5 of them including 10 dwellings, 

− and two of them including 15 dwellings. 

The main factors considered during the project design, after a compilation of those that 

allow achieving a comfortable dwelling, in order to select the optimum characteristics for 

the building, are: 

a) Orientation of the building (North / south) facing facade, which is related to optimum 

thermal performance. The orientation of the building introduces the possibility to 

control solar gains, as well as solar protections allow to reach the expected comfort 

level. 

b) The main characteristic is the maximisation of the solar incidence during winter 

periods, minimisation of solar incidence during summer periods, and avoidance of the 

overheating of the building, which is a very important point to be taken into account 

in Mediterranean climates. 

c) Ventilation channels through the building: The distribution of the dwellings allows 

using the building as a natural ventilation corridor. This is a main factor in avoiding 

unwanted issues like the sick building syndrome. 

d) Treatment of openings: Solar collection (winter), as a complement for the bioclimatic 

orientation of the building. The building openings were treated to interact as an 

optimum thermal factor, maximising solar gains during winter, and reducing solar 

incidence during the hot days of summer periods. 

e) Solar protection (summer): The use of balconies is another element which interacts 

with the previously mentioned ones, achieving an optimum control over the 

building’s thermal performance, which implies the blockage of the sun’s incidence 

during summer periods. 

51



December 2001 

f) Improvement of natural illumination: Windows are structured in order to maximise 

solar light collection 

g) Treatment of the envelope: Paint, coatings, external materials, etc. The paint used in 

the building is considered a non-polluting substance. 

h) Moreover, the use of Low-K bricks for the building exteriors reduces heat losses 

through materials. Low-K bricks are thermal isolating bricks used to reduce heat flow 

from hot to cold areas of the building. The thermal isolation is achieved including air 

cells inside the material as well as macropores inside the brick mass. Main factors 

are: 

− Small thermal conductivity 

− Excellent thermal inertia 

− Mechanical resistance (Over 100 Kg/ cm2 of compression) 

− Fire resistance 

− Water impermeability 

− Acoustic isolation 

− Avoid thermal bridges 

Figure 2.30: Termoarcilla low K-brick 

Heating and domestic hot water system and its control 

Summarising, the project consists of heating based on individual efficient natural gas 

boilers combined with solar energy (with individual tanks). 

Hot water requirement of the dwellings in the case of Vilanova i la Geltru “El Llimonet” 

is 114.300 kWh/year. 

The energy supplied by the Low Temperature solar thermal collectors’ field, placed on 

the roof of each block is 74.280 kWh/year, which is 65% energy coverage for domestic 

hot water. 

Individual natural gas boiler for heating. 

− The heating system is supplied by a combined gas boiler in each dwelling, which 

provides the advantages of comfort, reliability, security and respect for the 

environment. Hot water at an average temperature of 70ºC is supplied to the radiators 

system in each dwelling. 

52



Figure 2.31.: Individual natural gas boiler and the solar storage tank. 

Solar energy for domestic hot water: 

December 2001 

− The solar thermal installation consists of 62 solar collectors of 2.13 m 2 , which sum up 

a total of 132,1 m 2 . It is placed on the roof of each block, and supplies domestic hot 

water to both staircases separately: 

− 8 solar panels supply the stairs with 10 dwellings, 

− and 11 panels supply the 15 dwellings stairs. 

− The solar collectors are in most cases facing south to achieve optimum performance. 

− The collectors (MADE-4000E) are installed with a 50º slope from the horizontal, and 

they supply hot water at 45ºC to the storage tank. 

− Through a heat exchanger connected to an 8m 3 tank the hot water is distributed to all 

the individual storage tank’s, one per dwelling. 

− The supply temperature is 45ºC, and the storage temperature is 58ºC. 

Solar System Control 

− The solar installation is controlled by a specific control system, which has as main 

inputs the temperature of the water inside the storage tank and the relation with the 

secondary circuit. 

− The control of the solar hot water system is carried out by a crepuscular switch for the 

central system, and a differential thermostat and Electro-valve for each dwelling. 

The system allows great temperature stability for SHW and heating as well as low energy 

consumption. 

53



Figure 2.32: Diagram of the solar energy system for domestic hot water 

December 2001 

The main characteristic of the system is the use of an only boiler to supply heating and 

hot water (as secondary supply) to each dwelling. The main advantage of the watertight 

circuit in each dwelling is the supply of oxygen and extraction of the fumes inside the 

boilers, therefore achieving optimum performance. The use of heat plate exchangers 

provides hot water supply of the buildings at a maximum speed, compared to traditional 

exchangers. 

Some comments about the innovative aspects 

One of the most interesting and innovative systems is the introduction of solar technology 

for water heating. 

Solar water-heating systems are composed of a solar collector array and commercially 

available pumps and storage tanks interconnected with traditional pluming systems. The 

most common type of solar collector is a flat plate collector, which absorbs heat when 

exposed to sunlight. This is called the absorber. The piping system is connected to the 

absorber and circulates and collects the heat. The heated water is pumped to the storage 

tank ready to be used. In particular dwellings, the storage tank serves as a pre-heater for 

the boiler, which can be heated, e.g. by natural gas. 

The solar collectors are connected to the gas boilers. The modules, pumps and storage 

tanks installed on the roof supply hot water by means of a copper traditional piping 

system. 


In the framework of this project the following applications were realized, among others: 

in the kiln → exposition hall and restaurant. 

54



December 2001 

− Insulation of the roof and of the floor 

− Construction of roof windows to enhance direct solar thermal gains and lighting 

in the old brick drying rooms → cinema, library and video wall room 

− Rehabilitation of the old chimneys to solar chimneys to enhance natural ventilation 

(fig. ) 

− Installation of solar water heating collectors on the old chimneys. 

− Installation of double glazed sidewall windows to enhance direct solar gains. 

− Insulation of the floor and of the roof. 

in the new brick drying rooms → handcraft shops 

− Installation of glazed wall, with glass bricks, to enhance direct solar gains and natural 

lighting. 

− Insulation of the whole shell of the building and of the floor. 

− Installation of electronic light modulators. 

− Adaptation of a solar atrium connecting the old and the new brick drying rooms. 

Some of the bioclimatic design and construction features of the new building, are listed 

below: 

− The orientation of the roof was adjusted so that to maximize direct incident solar 

radiation in order to host photovoltaic panels 

− The height of the building was increased and ventilation openings were fitted on the 

sidewalls just below the roof in order to favor natural draft ventilation. 

− The relative position and dimensions of the sidewall widows and of the roof was 

calculated in such a way to maximize the penetration and diffusion of natural light 

during winter and to provide shade during the summer. 

− Double standard insulation was installed around the building and in selected places 

additional external insulation was added serving the architectural esthetic of the 

building as well. 

− Double glazed windows and patio doors were installed to increase thermal insulation 

of the building. 

The total cost of the above-mentioned interventions was about 300 thousands Euro and 

was funded by the THERMIE programme (32%) and by the Municipality of Volos 

(68%). 

2.4 Description of the Performance Monitoring System 


The monitoring programme interests some different levels: 

Apartments: 

− Each apartment was provided with a heat meter and a regulation and programming 

unit (Slave Unit) that permits to define the desired regulation cycle and to set the 

internal temperature. 

− All apartments were connected to a centralised regulation system of the delivery 

temperature of the radiators on the base of the external temperature. 

Thermal Central plant: 

55



December 2001 

The heat meters and the Slave Units are connected to a Master Unit, with the following 

functions: 

Apartment level Thermal central plant level 

1. monthly energy consumption 

measurement 

1. survey of the delivery and return temperatures 

of the water of the multicells furnace 

2. check of the internal temperature 2. survey of the delivery and return temperatures 

of the water of the Modusat circuits 

3. check of the selected regulation 

cycle 

4. check of the water temperature of the 

radiators 

Solar plant: 

3. measurement of the total energy consumption 

by means of a central heat meter 

4. measurement of the natural gas consumption 

by means of a general meter 

− check of the delivery and return temperatures of the solar units 

− survey of the solar energy captured by each solar unit by means of a dedicated 

heat meter 

Other regulation actions: 

− automatic regulation of the action of the circulation pump of each solar unit when 

the difference between the return temperature of water and the lower part of the 

local storing heat exchanger is higher than 3°C. 

− linear regulation of the thermal power of the multicells furnace from 10 to 300 

kWt order to maintain the water delivery temperature around 70°C and the return 

one not lower than 50°C (enough for the supply of the DHW ). 

Tele-monitoring: 

The Master Unit transmits via modem the measured data to an administrative operative 

unit set up in the offices of the ATER of L’Aquila; this permit the storing and the 

following processing of the data according to a previous defined monitoring programme. 


The management operations are made from the PC and they consist in the following 

possible actions: 

− To fast discover a point in the display of graphical images 

− To control in real time, the system status, the alarms and the commands with 

reference to all the operating times 

− To operate on a part of the plant via mouse 

− To graphically modify the programmed time-tables 

− To define different access levels to the system 

− To represent the alarms and the messages coming from the system 

− To file and elaborate the processing data 

− To create reports and trends concerning the plant data 

− To automatically mail messages to service personnel, by means of a radio paging 

system connected to the telephone network 

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Monitored data: 

December 2001 

1. Space heating consumption (MWh): data from the heat meter of each apartment 

2. DHW consumption (m³): data from volumetric meter of each apartment 

3. DHW consumption (MWh): data from the heat meters located in the three thermal 

central plant (heat supplied by local district heating network) 

4. Solar contribution (MWh): data from the heat meter of each solar central plant 

5. Global heat consumption for DHW and space heating supplied by the local district 

heating network (MWh): data from the heat meters located in the three thermal 

central plant 

6. Cold water consumption (m³): data from the volumetric meter of each apartment. 



Manual readings of the heat meter and the hot water meter is has been don every month. 

A datalogging system is installed to monitor the output of the PV modules. 


The BEMS has been used for the monitoring. A direct phone connection between the 

project site and the offices of Cenergia has been used for transferring monitoring data. 

Also manually readings has been carried out as a complement to the BEMS data. 

The monitoring data are as follows: 

− total district heating energy to the building 

− heat from solar collector to the storage tank 

− common electricity use 

− total hot water consumption 

− individual heat meters in the dwellings 

− individual flow meters in the dwellings 


An outline of the monitoring programme for heating are illustrated in the following 

sankey diagram: 

Heat: 

1. total heat input from the district heating system 

2. the heat input from the solar heating system 

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3. the total heat output for domestic hot water 

4. the individual heat use in each apartment for domestic hot water 

5. the individual heat use in each apartment for space heating. 

Electricity: 

1. The electrical-energy output from the PV-modules, 

2. The electrical-energy input for common use. 

The weather data are taken from a nearby weather station. 


December 2001 

The installations have a monitoring system and performances are monthly evaluated. 

There is also a results guaranty contract. 

Monitored data : 

− Global solar radiation on horizontal (kWh/m²) 

− Total district heating input (kWh) 

− Cold water temperature (°C) 

− Heat from solar heating system into the storage tank 

− Energy for heating domestic hot water 

− Domestic hot water consumption (m³) 

All the meters are read by a telemonitoring system every month. 

The monitored system performance is given as the solar input to the domestic hot storage 

tank. 

The predicted solar heating performance is based on simulations. 


The following parameters has been monitored since taking up residence: 

- Heating consumption for apartments for apartments 

- Heating consumption for ventilation 

- Hot water 

- Cold water 

- Supply water for tank for flushing toilets (due to lack of rain water) 

- Heating supplied by solar collector on roof 

Power used in dwellings is individual accounted for to the local power plant by tenants, 

and not included in the monitoring system. 

By measuring the green block, as well as the “not green block”, it is possible to compare 

the value of the environmental approaches. 


The following parameters will be measured during a monitoring period of one year: 

Building block 1 (in one dwelling) 

- heat produced by the condensing boiler for space heating (Vito) 

- heat produced by the condensing boiler for after heating domestic hot water (Vito) 

- gas consumption of condensing boiler (Vito) 

- temperature of fresh air before and after heat recovery unit (KUL) 

- relative humidity of fresh air before and after heat recovery unit (KUL) 

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- temperature of extraction air before and after heat recovery unit (KUL) 

- relative humidity of extraction air before and after heat recovery unit (KUL) 

- heat produced by the solar collectors (Vito) 

- solar radiation (Vito) 

Building block 2 (collective heating system) 

December 2001 

- heat produced by the collective condensing boiler for space heating (Vito) 

- heat produced by the collective condensing boiler for after heating domestic hot water 

(Vito) 

- gas consumption of collective condensing boiler (Zonnige Kempen) 

- temperature of fresh air before and after heat recovery unit (KUL) 

- relative humidity of fresh air before and after heat recovery unit (KUL) 

- temperature of extraction air before and after heat recovery unit (KUL) 

- relative humidity of extraction air before and after heat recovery unit (KUL) 

- heat produced by the collective solar collectors (Vito) 

- solar radiation (Vito) 


Water, heating and mechanical ventilation equipment 

The functioning of the planned equipment was monitored through a measuring and 

reporting system continuously for a year. 

Results were collected on the monitoring computer with the aid of calculation parameters 

acquired from recorded airflow measurements, temperatures and usage times. The total 

energy consumption in the report is based on figures from temperature gauges and 

electricity metres provided by the energy supplier Kuopio Energy. Airflow (l/s) are 

recorded from the room controls on the monitoring centre computer. Measurements took 

place at intervals of about 10 minutes, and the calculated air flow is an average of the 

measurement results. Airflow of the incoming air machines with standard air volumes can 

also be calculated using the pressure differences measured over the ventilation blower. 

The energy consumption of the ventilation system can thus be calculated on the basis of 

continuous airflow measurements and the measurement results from the temperature 

sensors situated on both sides of the radiators and connected to the ventilation machines. 

The energy consumption arising from water usage can be calculated from the 

measurements of the water gauge installed in the feed water pipe of the exchanger and 

from the temperature sensors. The energy consumption of air leakage and conduction 

losses can be calculated by subtracting the other measured/calculated consumption 

figures from the measured total energy consumption. This includes internal energy 

coming from lighting and presence of people, which have not been measured in the oneyear 

continuous reporting. 

The monitoring system records the room temperatures, CO 2 concentration and lighting 

levels at 10 minute intervals. The monthly energy consumption of the air and water 

systems (MWh) were read from kWh gauges installed for the follow-up. The number of 

days when heating was required during the follow-up year were provided by the Finnish 

Meteorological Institute Rissala weather station. 

Electrical equipment 

The electricity consumption of the building is monitored through gauges installed in the 

monitoring centre as follows: 

− the main measurement of electrical energy 

− sub-measurements of the main measurement 

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− energy consumption of the kitchen 

− energy consumption of car heating 

− energy consumption of the air and water technical room (JK22) 

− energy consumption of the air and water technical room (JK23) 

− lighting: sports field lights 

December 2001 

The LON network enables the monitoring of air flows of the mechanical ventilation 

system, CO2 concentration and lighting settings in the monitoring centre on a percentage 

scale and the results can be read in real time on the monitoring centre PC computer. The 

programme is called Building Browser and it overlays the readings on the floor plan of 

the building over the appropriate rooms. 


An outline of the data collection/monitoring procedures are as follows: 

− Historic electricity and gas consumption data was collected from invoices for both 

Leamington and Solihull House. 

− Electricity, gas, heat and water meters were read on a monthly basis since December 

2000. 

− Weather data for the Portsmouth area was obtained from the UK Met Office. 


The energy for heating and domestic hot water comes from a wood-sheet-district-heating 

plant and the solar panels on the roofs. Both energies are collected in the puffer tanks. 

From this the supply-system goes to all dwellings. In all dwellings there are thermes with 

integrated heat-exchangers. Here the energy is split for the heating (2 tube radiators) and 

the domestic hot water. Also the counter for the heating costs is integrated. 

Following meters for the monitoring were installed: 

− Heat-volume-counter at the entrance from the biomass-district heating 

− Heat-volume-counter in the secondary solar-circle between solar-heat exchanger and 

puffer tank 

− The counter in each dwelling were not used for the total monitoring 

− In seven dwellings we have installed cold water counter to get a difference of the 

energy that is used for the heating and for the hot water. 

Monitoring 

One of the tenants is responsible for the heating and has to look after it. The whole 

system is connected via computer to the technical section of the gswb, so they can see on 

the monitor everything and they do the monitoring. 

Results of the monitoring: 

Measures of the energy flow in the heating centre in Radstadt-West 

Total energy use and how it is split into biomass- energy and solar-energy 

The total kWh energy come from the collectors. 

Specific energy-use of the project Radstadt-West compared with other housing areas in 

Salzburg. 

60




December 2001 

The monitoring program of the project is intended to evaluate the energy consumption, 

environmental impact, economical feasibility and user’s satisfaction. In order to do that, 

the calculated parameters are: 

a) Total heat consumption 

b) Total water consumption 

c) Solar heating system performance 

d) Electricity consumption 

The way these points are monitored follows: 

− Evaluation of the results by energy performance follow-up of the elements 

implemented which will last for one complete heating season. 

− An analytic monitoring based on the own characteristics of the EMS installed will be 

carried out. 

− A full energy analysis will be carried out to determine the comparative efficiency that 

the installed system has, and the efficiency that would have been obtained if the 

traditional solution had been applied. As said before, this will be possible due to the 

complete monitoring scheme facilitated by the installation. 

− An economic analysis will be applied on the results of the previous study. The 

economic feasibility of this solution will be deduced after comparing the extra 

investments of the installation with the savings obtained during the operation period. 

− Also an environmental balance will be done to analyse the emissions saved in this 

alternative solution, 

− The last important point will be the results of the user follow-up analysis to check the 

degree of user satisfaction that the solution implies. This will include the study of the 

service approach used and the perception of the users towards it. 

Data acquisition 

The system used for the data acquisition is made by company CAMPBELL SCIENTIFIC 

(model cr10). The system collects the following data: 

− interior air temperature, 

− exterior temperature, 

− temperature of the water going into and out of the collectors, 

− temperature of the storage tank in the vertical and collector angle solar radiation. 

The monitoring is going to be carried out on two dwellings that are inhabited during the 

whole year. The data acquisition system has been installed on the common roof, next to 

the solar collectors’ field. Two temperature sensors installed in each dwelling will 

provide information about interior and exterior air temperatures. To complete the sensible 

data, another sensor will measure the water temperature supplied by the collectors. 

The data will be collected every 10 minutes, although there will be a continuous 

circulation of data. The data storage capability of the DataLogic system is of one month 

(thirty days). 

Every dwelling (apart from the monitoring system) has a control system for the hot water 

and the heating system. The control elements are two devices able to count the energy 

supplied as well as other data (e.g. volume, temperature, failures occurred, thermal 

power, etc.). 

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An outline of the data collection/monitoring procedures are as follows: 

December 2001 

- electricity and oil consumption data was collected from the invoices of the energy 

center. 

- Exterior and interior air temperature for the energy center building from the station 

based on the building. 

Concerning the Tsalapatas building the measurements will be taken when the site will be 

in operation. Now the building is ready but we wait for the auction for the companies to 

operate the site. 

62

Final Technical Report - EGC - European Green Cities Net

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