NEXT-BUILDINGS

The NEXT-Buildings project focused on low energy buildings also called active houses, which are not only buildings but active components in the overall integrated energy systems. The target was to demonstrate affordable solutions for social housing and the revitalisation of town areas. The solutions were supposed to reduce CO2 at no or negative cost seen in a total perspective. The targeted CO2 reduction cost was minus € 80/tonne taking the benefits of lower energy bills into account, to even better figures when national grants are included. It is possible to simultaneously save CO2 and money! A key barrier is an initial investment.

The three demonstrators were Amsterdam (the Netherlands), Lyon (France) and Helsingborg (Sweden). In Amsterdam, an old harbour area close to the city centre was developed as a climate neutral, water-rich neighbourhood. SPL Lyon-Confluence set very ambitious energy targets for their P-Plot building: this building should have a balanced energy consumption calculated in primary energy. The Kvarteret Isbanan area was registered and evaluated on multiple parameters for 10 eco topics before, during design and in the evaluation. The houses were built as passive houses and supplemented with renewable energy supply, making the houses active.

The three pilots have a total gross floor area of about 50000 m2. All set the standard for future developments. Within all demonstrations, there was a strong emphasis on the demonstration of competitive techniques like wastewater heat recovery. Demonstrations of ICT-based inhabitant energy feedback systems were included. Existing systems were improved and new ones developed. A system for neighbourhood load control was developed and demonstrated.