Future dwellings
The Danish project "Fremtidens parcelhuse" near the city of Køge, has demonstrated that it is possible to build energy efficient and environmentally sound houses without compromising on architectural quality.
SWAN LABELED. Architects from Thyholm Huse have created this house that has an energy expendure 30 percent lower than traditional similar houses. (Photo: Fremtidens Pardelhuse)
Fremtidens Parcelhuse - The single-family house of the future - is an area of detached eco-labelled houses in Køge, south of Copenhagen. All the houses have been built with strict energy-efficiency and environmental requirements. The houses were exhibited in 2006 and 2007.
Requirements for energy, building process and materials
Houses carrying the eco-label "Swan" are compact and must be produced according to strict requirements regarding the building process, materials and energy consumption. The houses must also meet strict insulation standards. Heat escape points must be minimised, and the heating systems must include an energy saving system, such as heat recycling or solar technology.
Several architects and designers have found the Swan label's criteria for small houses intriguing. Now 76 Swan labeled homes have been planned near the Danish city Køge. Some of the houses are 25 percent more energy efficient than houses built according to today's energy requirements. A further reduction can be achieved through the use of solar cells or solar panels.
TRADITIONAL DESIGN. Architects from Grønnelykke aps have shown that low-energy houses can be built in traditional designs, still meeting the strict criteria of the Nordic Swan label. (Photo: Fremtidens Parcelhuse)
Collaborating on making the houses of the future
The project in Køge aims at making low-energy housing available to all and includes 55 planned single-family houses, 5 two family houses, and 24 terraced houses. They are all unique and built by different construction companies. The building companies intend to include these houses in their catalogues, making Swan labelled houses available to their customers.
The Køge project illustrates how builders, engineers, architects and planners take part in an innovative process to find solutions for the future, solutions that lower energy consumption, secure a healthy indoor climate and include environmental considerations throughout the building process and throughout the lifetime of the houses. The houses in Køge are not several buildings that look identical. On the contrary, the variety of architectural solutions shows the many opportunities for those who want to protect the environment, take care of how their housing impacts on their health while saving 25 percent or more of the energy usually spent in dwellings.
Project manager Ole Alm at Det Grønne Hus, The Green House Denmark, said the project Fremtidens Parcelhuse is created to offer examples on how to build modern houses with a minimum of energy consumption and an optimal indoor climate. The Green House Denmark is the largest independent centre for knowledge on energy and the environment on the island of Sealand in Denmark.
MODERN DESIGN. Those who want an energy efficient house in modern design might consider building this house from Reform Arkitekter. (Photo: Fremtidens Parcelhuse)
Climate considerations
Low-energy houses must consume 20 to 50 percent less energy than ordinary houses. This requires a minimum of heat escape made possible through for example better insulation and better windows. Renewable energy sources are emphasised. In total, these solutions contribute to mitigate global warming.
WOOD. This house from Trelleborg Typehuse Holding A/S offers a wooden solution for those who want to combine energy efficiency with Nordic building traditions. (Photo: Fremtidens Parcelhuse)
Not more expensive
One could suspect that a low-energy house would increase construction costs, but in fact people who decide to build a low-energy house will experience considerable lower electricity costs when compared to similar houses built with less concern for energy expenditure.
"Our goal is to show Danes that healthy low-energy houses do not have to be more expensive for the buyer. At the same time, the buyers may save a lot of money on operating their houses", said project manager Ole Alm.
Further reading:
- Ecolabel.no: Swan-labelling of Small houses [pdf]
- Fremtidens Parcelhuse - Home for the future
- Danish Architectural Policy 2007 (pdf)
- Housing for the future (pdf)
- Nordic Council of Ministers: Nordic Environmental Technology (pdf)
- An energy efficient Swan labeled house
- Folkecenter.net - Passive house
