Energy efficient low energy houses

In energy efficient low energy houses the CO2 emissions from heating and electricity is modest. The low electricity consumption and the thermal comfort in these energy efficient homes is achieved by e.g. efficient insulation, passive solar heat, efficient windows, natural ventilation, heat recovery, low temperature heating systems and efficient cooling systems.
Moreover the CO2 emissions can be reduced by providing the building with low carbon or CO2 neutral heating and cooling from individual plants or from district heating and cooling if available.
 

The low carbon heating and cooling to the building, which depends on the local opportunities could be district heating or block heating based on CHP and renewable energy or it could be individual solutions such as heat pumps and solar panels.

The low temperature heating systems, e.g. floor heating, can improve the efficiency of all the low carbon heat sources and thermal storages, which is available.
Likewise efficient and eventual high temperature cooling systems combined with natural ventilation can provide loc carbon cooling from individual or district cooling.

This means that the layout of the building has to be carefully thought through and co-ordinated with the supply options.
Ramboll has designed passive houses in Denmark, Greenland, Sweden, Norway and Britain, and our experience within this field will be utilised in future building projects.