Energy and Environment (2008) – E-DOM AS A SUSTAINABLE BUILDING
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E-DOM AS A SUSTAINABLE BUILDING
Zvonimir Glasnovic1, Mladen Sesartic2, Werner Schmidt3
Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, University of Zagreb, Savska 16, HR-10000
Zagreb, Croatia, Tel: +385 1 4597 108; Fax: +385 1 4597 260, +385 1 4597 138, E-mail:
zvonglas@fkit.hr ; 2ENCON Energy Consulting Sesartic, 9050 Appenzell, Switzerland; 3Atelier
Werner Schmidt, Switzerland;
1
Abstract: The energetic-ecological project E-dom will attempt to encourage the development and
use of innovative technologies in building construction. A concrete objective of this project,
which has basically been introduced by the pilot-project of the hotel building intended for
congress tourism in the vicinity of the capital of Croatia, is to show the systematic application of
new technologies in order to achieve full power independence (self-supply) and ecological
sustainability of the project, as well as providing healthy living conditions in such environment,
naturally, with minimum investment costs. The main building materials of E-dom will be natural
(wood, straw, clay, sheep wool, etc.), so that the exterior wall of the building will represent the
best known insulated structure today. The required thermal energy for heating of the rooms and
consumable hot water will be provided parallel from two sources, i.e. with geothermal heat pump
and solar thermal collectors, for which flat, vacuum pipe and hybrid thermal-photovoltaic
collectors will be used, while on the south side of the building, solar walls with stage alterable
materials will be used. In order to achieve full energy independence in relation to electric power,
solar photovoltaic collectors and hydrogen storage of electric power are foreseen on the
building. All active systems for capture and storage of energy will be optimized, i.e. sized, in
order to satisfy in the best way possible, the demands for energy in the climate of the E-dom
building. The basic elements of healthy living in E-dom will be provided by controlled ventilation
system, where, among other, the radon concentration will be reduced to quantities not deemed
harmful for human health. On the other hand, plants in the hotel space (the so-called green
walls) will not only contribute to the aesthetic appearance, but will improve the air quality, as the
plants will produce oxygen and bind poisonous components.
Key words: environment protection, building, energy efficiency, renewable energy sources,
natural materials, healthy living.
1. INTRODUCTION
Considering that building construction individually represents the biggest segment of energy
consumption in EU (over 40%), it is logical that, in the last few years, it has aroused the interest
of the scientific and professional community in finding new technologies to increase the energy
efficiency of the buildings and for application of renewable energy sources [1].
Energy consumption in buildings is usually related to heat energy, necessary for heating and
providing consumable hot water, electric power and the so-called embedded energy. Whilst the
first three mentioned parts of energy consumption are well known, the wide, even professional
community has little knowledge precisely of embedded energy. It is the energy that enables
production and supply to the point of use of certain construction materials or technology and
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varies depending on the product. While the standard building elements require a relatively large
quantity of embedded energy, it is clear that the use of natural materials require the least
embedded energy (even 10 times less) [2-4].
Apart from the energetic-ecological aspect, the health aspect of the buildings where we reside
is being increasingly considered, i.e. the aspect of residing in such environment that will not have
negative effects on human health. It is primarily related to heating comfort and providing fresh
air, so in this sense, the priority is given to the controlled ventilation systems. Special attention is
given to radon protection. Radon is very frequently mentioned as one of the harmful factors for
human health.
Both stated aspects, i.e. energetic-ecological and the latter which provides healthy living, have
aroused great interest of the EU for buildings built with natural materials.
2. WHAT IS THE OBJECTIVE OF THE E-DOM PROJECT?
The mentioned energetic-ecological conditions of the new type of construction represent the
base for technological development project named „E-dom“, represented by a small hotel in the
vicinity of Zagreb. The objective of the project is to show the systematic application of new
technologies in order to achieve full power independence and ecological sustainability of the
hotel building, as well as providing healthy living conditions in such environment, naturally, with
minimum investment costs.
The main purpose of E-dom as hotel accommodation is enriching the offer of Zagreb, in the
sense of congress tourism. Its relatively small congress hall would provide space for workshops,
meetings, conventions, exhibitions, seminars, etc., when break outs are organized within a world
congress. This is a chance to direct attention, regardless the topic of one such congress, to the
importance of energy and ecology topics which reflect on all segments of human life. Due to
this, E-dom is foreseen as an exclusive space (wellness centre, swimming pool, as well as all
facilities that a five-star hotel comprises), with lots of imagination in making the stay in it
comfortable (whether for delegates, or attendants) with top-rate technical-technological
conditions and equipment. The hotel will have about 20 suites, distributed on two floors, to show
the possibility of floors in such structures.
However, although E-dom is primarily intended for congress tourism, this building could
serve as paradigm of similar structures that could be built in Croatia and in the world. They
would not be an end on themselves, or just have experimental character, but would be the space
where people would be happy to live and stay.
Due to this, the E-dom project has numerous purposes, and in that sense, such structures
could: be the base for agro-tourism; promote the new type of construction and new technologies
of energy efficiency; point to maximum protection of cultural values of nature and environment;
develop the conception of improving the quality of living and working conditions, economic
efficiency which will provide a stable income and appropriate standard for farmers in rural areas
and development of agricultural areas; increase the possibility of sustainable development of
rural areas with actual development programmes; increase employment and direct the
development towards tertiary activities, and the development of the tourist market system (rural
tourism, eco-tourism, congress tourism and recreational tourism). E-dom will turn to the socalled fair tourism, with the objective to satisfy both the consumer and provider of the service
and the local community.
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Fig. 1. The first preliminary sketch of E-dom.
Fig. 2. The corridors of the future E-dom, made of wood.
Furthermore, such type of construction and applied technologies of energy efficiency and
renewable energy sources is not only suitable for individual residential structures, but smaller
office buildings can also be built with natural materials and with new technologies.
However, in the first phase, considering the scope of this type of project, the Faculty of
Chemical Engineering and Technology gathered a team of experienced experts of various
professions: chemical, civil, mechanical and electrical engineer. Therefore, it is realistic to expect
that the construction of E-dom will also become the basis for an entirely new standard of
construction that could regulate this type of building in the future.
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3. CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY FROM NATURAL
MATERIALS TO FULL ENERGY INDEPENDENCE
3.1. Building materials
The main building materials will be natural. They include wood, straw, clay, sheep wool, etc.
The walls will be of pressed straw, 90 to 120 cm thick. Thus, a very small thermal transmittance
coefficient is achieved (below 0.1 W/m2K), which classifies such wall among the best insulated
structures [5-8]
Fig. 3. Apartment under construction.
Fig. 4. Apartment after construction.
Fig. 5. An example of house with straw walls under construction and after construction, in
Wahlen bei Laufen, Switzerland.
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Energy efficient windows, of thermal transmittance coefficient below 0.5 W/m2K, are
foreseen on the building, with solar walls with phase change material (PCM) on the south side,
capturing solar energy, thus reducing the necessity for heating of the indoor space in that part of
the building up to 35%. The ceilings and parts of the facade would be made of thermwood which
has shown very good characteristics and resistance to atmospheric conditions. Precisely due to
increased interest for natural building materials, the Faculty of Chemical Engineering and
Technology will intensify its activities in development and use of the new technologies in that
area.
3.2. Heating energy (heating of rooms and hot water)
Approximate energy estimates of the building show that energy consumption for heating of
the rooms could be below 6 kWh/m2a., which is considerably lower than the passive, i.e.
Minergie-P standard of the structure (15 kWh/m2a.). Considering that the structure in question is
a hotel, it is logical to plan relatively big demand for hot water. Rough estimates also show that
demand between 15 and 20 kWh/m2a. could be expected. The required thermal energy for
heating of the rooms and hot water will be provided parallely from two sources, i.e. with
geothermal heat pump and solar thermal collectors, for which flat, vacuum tube solar and hybrid
thermal-photovoltaic collectors will be used.
However, considering that the Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology has set
another demanding objective, i.e. obtaining full energy independence of such structure and the
fact that in the summer period relatively large quantities of thermal energy can be obtained from
solar collectors, while in winter there is lack of this energy, the project foresees a seasonal energy
storage that will balance out the excess and lack of thermal energy. On the other hand, the
planned seasonal energy storage would reduce the necessary capacity of geothermal heat pumps,
because in the winter period it could provide energy for heating the hotel space.
The hotel building will be designed with a special room (engine room) from where thermal
energy will be distributed into all parts of the building. Floor heating and ceiling cooling is
foreseen in the building, thus providing maximum efficiency of energy distribution. The
ventilation system will also contribute to cooling and heating of the hotel space.
3.3. Electric power
Although energetically efficient electrical appliances (all A class) will be used in E-dom, due
to space exclusivity, relatively big electric power consumption is expected. The power will
mostly be used for lighting. Therefore, it will be carefully planned, as maximum comfort is
required (relatively high lighting level, as well as light of required colours) at the same time as
minimum power consumption.
Apart from lighting, other relatively big power consumers could be the hotel restaurant and
heating pump with the peak power during the winter months when there is minimum insolation.
In the view of the set objective of the project, achieving full energy independence (selfsupply), the power demand will be covered with solar photovoltaic collectors. They will be
located on the roof of the main hotel building and on some suites (hybrid solar-thermal collectors
will also be used, as well as solar glazings and laminates). The nominal electric power of
photovoltaic collectors will be defined based on electric power demand and the possibility of its
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production from the collectors. In this case the necessary storage of electric power is foreseen,
with hydrogen energy system, which will balance the daily and seasonal excesses and lacks of
electric power.
Fig. 6. Photovoltaic collectors and solar glazings and laminates.
3.4. Technology adjusting
All active systems for capture and storage of energy will be optimized, i.e. sized, in order to
satisfy in the best way possible, the demands for energy in the climate of the E-dom building.
Economic-technical conditions should be taken into account, as well as the relationship between
these two technologies (e.g. a greater number of thermal collectors means smaller heat pump and
smaller electric power of the photovoltaic collectors, which could result in relatively smaller
investment – or if , for example, relatively larger heat storage is designed, it could have similar
repercussions, etc.). Considering the fact that such complex system and the subject issue of
optimal sizing of equipment in the said technologies are demanding, which is the subject of
system engineering, it is of particular interest for the Faculty of Chemical Engineering and
Technology.
In order to provide maximum comfort in the E-dom hotel and in order to achieve maximum
energy efficiency and protection of the structure (fire, burglary, flood etc.), the building will be
designed as intelligent. To simplify, it means that the building will be equipped with various
sensors and actuators which will control all systems in the building, according to situations which
these intelligent systems will previously be learned, i.e. for which they will previously be
programmed.
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4. HEALTHY STAY
4.1. Air conditioning
The base of healthy living is healthy air. In E-dom it will be provided by controlled ventilation
system, where, among other, the radon concentration will be reduced to quantities not deemed
harmful for human health. In addition, plants in the hotel space are not only important for
aesthetic appearance, but will improve the air quality, as the plants will produce oxygen and bind
toxins components. It is best achieved by the so-called green walls, i.e. walls overgrown with
plants, that unite the functionality and modern design (interesting information is that they save up
to 10% of the energy required for ventilation and that the optimal air quality is obtained when
green walls cover about 1% of the ground plan surface of a certain area). Owing to microorganisms that live in the plant root, the air polluters, such as formaldehyde, toluene and benzene,
can transform into harmless water and carbon dioxide. Namely, the plants alone do not have such
effect on decomposition of toxins in the air, but provide environment for efficient functioning of
the micro-organism.
Fig. 7. Green wall as part
of the future interior.
The main air polluters in living areas are the VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) which
include a wide range of organic substances, contained in paint, varnish and electrical equipment.
They contain carbon and various ratios of other elements, such as hydrogen, oxygen, fluorine,
chlorine, bromine, sulphur and nitrogen. They easily turn into vapour or gas at room temperature
and often have very pungent odour. VOC take part in creating superficial ozone, which makes up
a significant component of pollution. Exposure to VOC can cause health problems such as
headache, weariness, dry eyes and illness of the respiratory system, such as asthma. Some plants
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(e.g. Howea forsteriana, Spathiphyllum wallisii var Petite and Dracaena sp.) can in 24 hours
remove almost 100% of all VOC in the air.
Philodendron, Chlorophytum comosum, Sanseveria trifasciata and Aloe barbadensis are
mostly used for eliminating formaldehyde. Flowers, such as Gerbera Jamesonii and
Chrysanthemum clean the air of benzene. Dracaena massangeana and Spathyphyllum wallisii
also eliminate benzene efficiently. Spathyphyllum additionally neutralizes static electricity,
caused by electric appliances in the rooms. Apart from the fact that they clean the air and produce
oxygen, green walls can reduce costs, because mechanical filters are not necessary. It is obvious
that plants have positive psychological effect on people, and it is also known that they increase
their productivity.
4.2. Roof
The roof of E-dom will be constructed as the so-called green roof, which will not only
contribute to nicer appearance of the whole building, but will also create economical and
environmental advantages. Namely, green roofs will considerably reduce maintenance costs, as
they will protect various parts of the E-dom building from UV radiation, extreme climate changes
and temperature oscillations.
Roof plants will also serve as filters that bind dust and other harmful substances, and will even
be able to absorb the noise, and therefore improve the sound insulation of the building. By careful
selection of plants, ecological oasis can be created for the local flora and fauna. For this purpose
low plants are suitable, as they don’t require additional care and are capable of reproduction. This
minimizes the need for maintenance and maximizes the positive ecological effect. Plants suitable
for green roofs are: Allium sp. Bromus tectorum, Centaurea scabiosa, Hieracium sp., Potentilla
sp., Sedum sp. and Sempervivum sp.
4.3. E-dom environment
When planning the environment of E-dom, efforts will be made to close the local biological
circles and to preserve the area in ecologically acceptable way. The surroundings will also
include fruit and vegetable plantations, where domestic fruit and vegetables will be planted, as
well as old and forgotten species, with the aim to increase the biodiversity.
5. CONCLUSION
Energetic-ecological conditions of the new type of construction represent the base for
technological development project named „E-dom“, represented by a small hotel in the vicinity
of Zagreb. The objective of the project is to show the systematic application of new technologies
in order to achieve full power independence and ecological sustainability of the hotel building, as
well as providing healthy living conditions in such environment, naturally, with minimum
investment costs.
Considering that the E-dom building is also a pilot project, i.e. a „living laboratory”, the
Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology has foreseen all required measuring on
technological equipment (measuring of thermal transmittance through walls of natural materials
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and solar walls, on solar thermal and photovoltaic collectors, geothermal heat pump, seasonal
heat storage, hydrogen cogeneration etc.), and indicators of healthy living, i.e. stay in those areas,
all with the aim to obtain experience in Croatian climate conditions and to align the road towards
innovations and their transfer to economy.
However, alongside the E-dom, a laboratory building is foreseen, where laboratory for the
research and development of building elements of plant fibers will be located on one side and on
the other side laboratories for research and development of applied technologies of energy
efficiency, such as: energy efficient windows, solar walls with PCM, solar thermal collectors,
geothermal heat pumps, seasonal heat storage, hybrid thermal-photovoltaic collectors,
photovoltaic collectors, solar glazings and laminates.
6. LITERATURE
[1] Sesartic, M., Glasnovic, Z., Matijasevic, Lj., Filipan, V., Doerig, T., Dejanovic, I., Jukic, A.
Energy efficiency technology in Agria building in Osijek – Feasibility study, Faculty of
Chemical Engineering and Technology, University of Zagreb, 2007.
[2] Wimmer, R., Hohensinner, H.,Drack, M., Beitel A.M., Planen und bauen für die Zukunft:
Das S-HOUSE, Impulsprogramm “Nachhaltig Wirtschaften”.Bundesministerium für
Verkher, Innovation und Technologie, und Gruppe Angepaste Technologie
(GrAT),Technische Universität Wien, 2005.
[3]
Meingast R., Lehm-Passiv Bürohaus Tattendorf, Impulsprogramm “Nachhaltig
Wirtschaften”.Bundesministerium für Verkher, Innovation und Technologie, Wien, 2005.
[4] Sesartic, A., Opportunities for implementation of low-energy building standards in Croatia
and the resulting benefits. Professorship of Environmental Physics, Department of
Environmental Sciences, ETH Zurich, 2006.
[5] Wimmer R., Hohensinner H., Janisch L.,Drack M., Wandsysteme aus nachwachsenden
Rohstoffen, Impulsprogramm “Nachhaltig Wirtschaften”.Bundesministerium für Verkher,
Innovation und Technologie, Wien, 2001.
[6] Wimmer R., Hohensinner H., Drack M., Kunze Ch. Inovative Nutzung von nachwachsenden
Rohstoffen am Beispiel eines Büro-und Ausstellungsgebäudes, Impulsprogramm “Nachhaltig
Wirtschaften”.Bundesministerium für Verkher, Innovation und Technologie, Wien, 2004.
[7] Schmidt, W., Projektvorstellung: Autarkes Wohnen, Trun Schweiz, 2006.
[8] Enz D., Hastings, R., Inovative Wandkonstruktionen für Minergie-P und Passivhäuser, C.F.
Müller Verlag, Heidelbereg 2006.
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E-DOM KAO PRIMJER ODRŽIVE GRADNJE
Zvonimir Glasnović1, Mladen Sesartić2, Werner Schmidt3
Fakultet kemijskog inženjerstva i tehnologije Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Savska 16, HR-10000
Zagreb, Croatia, Tel: +385 1 4597 108, Fax: +385 1 4597 260, E-mail: zvonglas@fkit.hr
2
ENCON Energy Consulting Sesartic, 9050 Appenzell, Switzerland; 3Atelier Werner Schmidt,
Switzerland;
1
Sažetak: Energetsko-ekološki projekt E-dom pokrenut je radi primjene tehnologija energetske
učinkovitosti na zgradama od prirodnih materijala. Pri tome je E-dom predstavljen pilotprojektom hotelske zgrade namijenjene kongresnom turizmu u blizini glavnog grada Hrvatske.
Projektom će se na sustavni način primijeniti nove tehnologije u svrhu postizanja potpune
energetske neovisnosti i ekološke održivosti projekta te osiguranje što zdravijih uvjeta boravka u
takvim prostorima, a uz naravno što manje troškove ulaganja. Osnovni građevinski materijali od
kojih će se zgrada E-doma izgraditi će biti prirodnog porijekla (drvo, slama, glina, ovčja vuna i
sl.), ali tako da će vanjska ovojnica zgrade predstavljati danas najbolje poznatu izoliranu
konstrukciju. Potrebna toplinska energije i za grijanje prostora i za potrošnu toplu vodu će se
osiguravati paralelno iz dva izvora, tj, uz pomoć geotermalne dizalice topline i solarnih termalnih
kolektora, pri čemu će se koristiti: ravni, vakuumski cijevni i hibridni termalno-fotonaponski
kolektori, dok će se na južnoj strani zgrade koristiti i tehnologije solarnih zidova s fazno
promjenjivim materijalima. U svrhu postizanja potpune energetske neovisnosti i u odnosu na
električnu energiju, na zgradi se predviđaju i solarni fotonaponski kolektori te vodikovo
skladištenje električne energije. Svi aktivni sustavi za zahvat i spremanje energije će biti
optimirani, odnosno dimenzionirani tako da se na najbolji način zadovolje potrebe za energijom u
klimatskom području zgrade E-doma. Osnovni elementi zdravog stanovanja će se s jedne strane
osiguravati kontroliranom ventilacijom, pri čemu će se, između ostalog, i moguća koncentracija
radona smanjiti na količine neopasne za ljudsko zdravlje, dok će se s druge strane, smještanjem
biljaka u takve prostore (tzv. „zelenim zidovima“), dobiti ne samo na estetskoj vrijednosti, već i
na poboljšanju kvalitete zraka jer će te biljke stvarati kisik i vezivati na sebe otrovne
komponente.
Ključne riječi: zaštita okoliša, zgrada, energetska učinkovitost, obnovljivi izvori energije,
prirodni materijali, zdravo stanovanje