The Solar Active House is the third of eight experimental houses financed by VKR Holding A/S. The first Active House, Home for Life in Aarhus (Denmark), was built by VELFAC and VELUX and recently received the BO GRØN Award 2009 for being a Danish example of low energy buildings and thus serving as an inspiration for buildings of the future.
The Danish house was later followed by House of the Future (Haus der Zukunft) in Germany and today by the new Solar Active House in Klagenfurt, Austria. ”The VKR Group’s eight experimental Active Houses will be built in Austria, France, Germany, Great Britain and Denmark, each with its own distinctive character. We hope that each of them will serve as an inspiration for the long-term development of housing by contributing new knowledge of sustainable building and setting new standards – in and outside Denmark”, explains CEO of VKR Holding, Leif Jensen.
As suggested by its name, the Austrian Solar Active House makes optimum use of solar energy, which it can use to cover a family’s entire annual energy demand for heating, hot water and electricity. ”40% of energy consumption in the industrialised nations is attributable to buildings, which makes the building industry one of the most energy-intensive industries. As a player in the industry we are under an obligation to act on this fact. Through eight experimental houses we develop carbon-neutral active houses, which are self-sufficient in energy and have a healthy and comfortable indoor climate with plenty of fresh air and daylight”, says Leif Jensen.
A huge step forward
This Austrian addition to the Active House collection was designed by the internationally recognised architect who specialisies in solar energy and sustainable architecture, Georg W. Reinberger, who says: ”New technology including solar heat, solar cells, solar collectors and solar heat pumps provides us with the tools to build a ‘truly green’ house. The Solar Active House integrates the technologies in its design and forms a beautiful and fascinating architecture without compromising on the demand for a sound indoor climate. It is a huge step forward.”
The centrepiece for the energy supply of the Solar Active House comprises an active solar collector (solar thermal and photovoltaic energy) in conjunction with a solar heater, which switches on automatically according to heat and hot water needs. The intelligent control technology of this combined system is self-actuating, providing the house with enough energy for heat and hot water all year round without the need for additional heating.
The Solar Active House also benefits from a natural ventilation and cooling system that regulates the indoor temperature through a controlled air exchange, which occurs via the windows.
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