DEVELOPMENT CONCEPT
1) Project’s geographical characteristics
2) The 14 HEQ (High Environmental Quality) Targets
LIMIT THE IMPACT ON THE SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENT
ECO-BUILDING PRINCIPLES
1.Harmonious interaction of building with immediate surroundings
2.Integrated choice of process and building products
3.Work site with limited public inconvenience
ECO-MANAGEMENT
4.Energy Management
5.Water Management
6.Construction Waste Management
7.Maintenance Management
CREATE A SATISFYING INTERIOR ENVIRONMENT
COMFORT
.
8.Hygrothermal Comfort
9.Acoustic Comfort
10.Visual Comfort
11.Olfactory Comfort
.
HEALTH
.
12.Quality index of Indoor Space
13.Air Quality index
14.Water Quality index
3) Composition with surroundings
The project is fully integrated in the urban environment. The house fills an irregular
empty airspace between buildings, and provides a quality setting for both users and
surrounding residents.
This Parisian lot has a Floor Area Ratio in the building code of index 3.0.
The nature of the project is not to entirely fill up the lot space, but rather create a harmonious
relationship between the newly created building and its surrounding urban environment.
A low level structure (Ground + 1) is thus planned at the back of the lot, contributing to a
sense of openness at the heart of the project.
- The height of the main structure (Ground + 5 + Terrace), built street-side, will constitute an
acoustical barrier, thus removing the sound box effect of the current courtyard, and protect
residents from traffic noise and other disruptions. (See illustrations below)
- The botanical garden within the building contributes to the environmental quality of the
project.
- A beautiful planting of trees (larch) in an open patch of the soil reserved for this use, on a
large surface area of the lot, contributing to the site’s water protection and anti-erosion.
- A greenhouse in the front of the building will provide a natural extension of the greenery
that can be found outside on Place Denfert-Rochereau.
The landscaping of the building and its surroundings will be provided by a botanical treatment
of its courtyard and greenhouse walls.
The choice of plants for the greenhouse wall is made according to their capacity to regulate
hygrometry, and to optimize the greenhouse’s atmosphere:
rubber, ivy, spider plant, dracaena, schefflera, spathiphyllum, small wild figtree…
- Automatic sprinkling of these walls is provided by the recycling of rainwater.
4) Low-Disturbance Buildingsite
The choice of wood for the structure and flooring allows for the reduction of building site
distrubance: all the elements are prefabricated in a factory, before being assembled on site.
Only the building’s groundwork will be made of cement, providing a solid and weatherproof
base to the building.
The construction, essentially made of wood, allows for element preparation in outside
workshops. Worksite waste is thus limited, and the actual construction period shortened. Dry
construction: a quick and noiseless assembly of the structure.
The wet construction phase (concrete) is limited to the creation of a lower level and concrete
abuttment walls. During that phase, the use of water and liquid waste will be monitored with
techniques preventing any inconvenience or disturbance (noise, mud) that might affect the
neighbourhood.
Construction companies will be asked to use reduced-noise equipment, and if possible,
electrical equipment that is less noisy than diesel engines.
Access to the work site will be set up so as to avoid any disturbances, and ensure that the
activities and security of the neighbouring residents are respected. Peak hours of traffic
circulation will be taken into account, and site deliveries will be scheduled at off-peak hours.
All precautions will be taken to ensure a clean worksite, and avoid waste by vehicles on
access roads.
This architectural conception is in harmony with the site’s bioclimatic constraints:
- Avoid noise pollution
- Save on energy consumption
5) Passive Energy House
Relying totally on renewable energy, the building’s energy balance is positive.
-
Geothermal energy and double flow
Solar thermal energy (STE) and Photovoltaics (PV)
(Click on map to enlarge)
6) Bioclimatic Design… or Thermal Management (Gain/Loss)
SUMMER COMFORT
-
-
Limit risks of overheating by reducing the exposition of direct sunlight (Southern
exposure façade equipped with sunbreaker window blinds), allowing over-ventilation
if necessary.
Pair up Geothermal energy (using ground thermal differential) and Double Flow
ventilation to limit overheating due to ventilation
Cooling of building with a Cooling Floor
WINTER COMFORT
- Limit coldness of walls by using double glazed efficient glass
- Pair up Geothermal energy (using ground inertia via thermal probes) and Double Flow
ventilation to limit heat loss due to ventilation
- Improve sensation of heat with a heating floor that provides uniform heat
SUMMER & WINTER COMFORT
- Implement Triple Glazing so as to reduce energy loss as much as possible, striving towards
the environmentally respectful concept of a Zero Energy house.
7) Architectural standpoint
FLEXIBILITY
The choice of a Post & Beam construction system allows an opening of broad flooring levels,
to provide modular adjustments, and to allow façades to have broad access.
This is an “open plan” and “open façade” principle.
8) Vertical Geometric Sensor
Geometric Vertical Sensors (geothermic probes or geoprobes) are thermal exchangers that
collect heat accumulated from the lower level via thermal conduction (heat pump).
They are made of one or several vertical shafts drilled into the land, several dozen feet deep,
sometimes more, in which polymer-based tubes are inserted (usually made of PolyEthylene
High-Density, or PEHD), and connected to a heat pump.
Tubes can be connected together; either by a common chamber, or two by two, with a
Double-U as base. An anti-freeze heat transfer fluid –glycolized water with a 30% minimum
of Monopropylene glycol– circulates inside the tubes to collect heat from surrounding lower
level.
The heat pump distributes the heat collected from the lower level to the surface, preferably via
a heated floor. During summertime, the system can be reversed in cooling mode (in case of a
reversible heat pump)
This technique is adapted to individual housing, individual homes in a collective habitat,
collective residences and/or the industrial sector.
9) Water Management summary
Target: Water Management
Treatment Level: Efficient
1 – Context
The water quality is essential in this type of housing. Whether using recycled rainwater for
toilet usage (amongst other possibilities) or the production of solar heated water, water
management is at the forefront of considerations for such a home.
Rain Water Recycling
Anti- Legionellosis treatment
2 – H.E.Q. (High Environmental Quality) Philosophy
To respond to target #5 (Water Management), is to take the following into account :
Non-drinking water management (equipment, water quality, water counting…)
Guarantee that wastewater is neutralised (separated branch pipes, equipment…)
Installation of a rain water collector tank (natural clean water, free water supply…)
Legionellosis Treatment Systems (temperature, stagnation, deposit, equipment…)
3 – Brief description
Recycled rainwater is chemical-free (no herbicide, pesticide, nitrate or heavy metals…), as
opposed to water originating from a well, water table or even from an urban water network.
This near perfect water still needs to be processed before being distributed and utilized. Two
standard-issue filters are then needed:
The first filter, with a washable replacement cartridge (20 Micron), removes the mud.
The second filter, further downstream, has a woven cartridge (10 Micron) that removes any
water impurities (vegetable remnants, roof dust, etc.)
Once filtered, this water shall be distributed both to the lavatory facilities and external faucets
for various watering purposes (plants, etc.)
Domestic hot water is treated for Legionellosis.
There are many risk factors to take into account:
Temperature (minimum of 50° Celsius for the network)
Calcium deposit
Corrosion
Stagnation (Minimum of 3 litres between the drawing of water and the ring main)
Domestic hot water will be provided with an adequate reserve to satisfy all users at
distribution points.
Possibility to draw water temperature to 65° Celsius to create a thermal shock on the domestic
hot water
Organise water production’s control and cleaning
Distribution: General guidelines
- Avoid piping circuits with standing water, or rarely used draw-off points
- Decrease as close as possible to draw-off points
- Reduce the length of waterpipe networks as much as possible
Domestic hot water ring main, the requirements:
Temperature must be above 50° Celsius
Limited thermal loss
Speed above 0,2 m/s (turbulent speed)
Adjustable flows via levelling controls
Equipment
Degassing device
Automatic pressure safety valves
Levelling control
Probe and temperature monitors
Draining and sampling
Temperature, flow volumes and speed
Terminals
Easily disassembled and cleaned
Secure the draw-off points that may expose high-risk users to aerosols.
Scaling prevention
Depends on water characteristics (softener)
From conception to installation (temperature advisory, thermal flow)
Corrosion prevention
Avoid abrupt curves and important flow changes
Degassing device
Incline (approx. 2mm/m for a horizontal waterway)
10) Summary note on Air Quality
Target: Air Quality
Treatment level: efficient
1 – Context
The greenhouse will have a tree in its centre. During winter, the hygrometric air quality of the
greenhouse will be monitored. Air that is too dry is harmful to the vegetation.
Both the house and greenhouse shall be ventilated with double-flow ventilation that uses a
high-performance recovery device:
Hygrometric Control
Hygienic Double Flow
Natural Ventilation
2 – The HEQ (High Environmental Quality) characteristics
Take into account pollution risks regarding building products, equipment and installation
maintenance
Monitoring the potential pollution of fresh air entering the system
Hygienic double flow ventilation with high volume recovery to heat and recycle the air
throughout the building, as well as humidify the greenhouse.
Natural ventilation of the greenhouse for summer comfort in order to avoid overheating due to
the window façade.
Building’s air and heat loss prevention
3 – Brief description
Greenhouse
Desire for a pleasant interior temperature.
Heating will be ensured by a double flow humidifying system recycling all air.
Air renewal will be handled by a hygienic double flow ventilation unit of fresh air, blowing
from a linear grid off the ground, and relayed at the upper section of the greenhouse.
In order to avoid overheating during the summer due to solar exposure on the window façade,
a natural ventilation system will be installed.
The lower ventilation will be installed on the window façade, at the top of the ground level. It
will be equipped with swivelling shutters that can open and close in relation to the desired
inside temperature. The upper ventilation will open at roof level.
Dwelling area
Fresh air supplying the double flow hygienic system will be taken from the area below street
level (giving light to basement windows), garden side. This will ensure a better air quality
than the one that could be found street-side.
The double flow system will be equipped with a G4 filter. The ventilation fan motors will be
high performance industrial quality.
Fresh air will be introduced in dry rooms.
Fouled air will be removed via the more damp rooms.
10) Energy Management summary
Target: Energy Management
Treatment Level: Very efficient
1 – Context
It is the Project Developer’s wish to reduce energy consumption of the house as much as
possible, by working on the home’s envelope and relying on sustainable energy.
1) Solar Energy:
Electrical energy production
Thermal energy production
2) Vertical Geothermal Energy:
Energy production for heating
2 – HEQ (High Environmental Quality) characteristics
Reach a target of -35% (Ubat réf.) and -50% (Créf.) with a C ≤ 50 kWh/m².
Claim a THPE 2005 (very high energy performance certification) and BBC label (typically
awarded to low energy consumption buildings)
In wintertime, ensure a dry temperature of 19° Celsius. In summertime, air cooling without air
refrigeration, and creation of a dynamic thermal simulation to stabilize the evolution of
ambient temperature.
Install photovoltaic cell panels on the roof of the greenhouse
Install thermal transfer solar panels to generate domestic hot water and pool heating
Recycle air energy from the greenhouse and home via a double flow unit that includes and an
exchanger and high volume ventilation engines
Pool Dehumidification
Maintain proper Hygrometry by using an effective dehumidification system that uses a heat
pump, heating the pool via a condenser recovery.
Home isolation :
Outside woodwork – home and greenhouse with triple glazing
UJN : 0.85 W/m²°C
Walls:
Wood wool insulation width: 17.5 cm
R : 4.60 m²°C/W
Terrace:
Insulation width: 20 cm
R : 5.263 m²°C/W
Floor:
Insulation width: 15 cm
R : 3.947 m²C/W
3 – Brief Description
Heating
The heat pump, using vertical geothermal captors (vertical probes or geoprobes), harnesses
underground heat from the lower level nearby, from the natural ground level to a depth of
approximately 100 meters, without tapping into the water-bearing or water table.
It’s a cost-effective heating method, both efficient and respectful of the environment, and
particularly well adapted to homes.
The heat pump will supply the heating floors with low-temperature hot water, and the
domestic hot water tank
Domestic Hot Water
The domestic hot water will be generated by a vacuum-tubed thermal solar installation.
Excess energy will be used to heat the pool water.
Ventilation
A double flow system with a high-performance recovery device coupled with the ventilation
of the greenhouse will ensure an air-blowing temperature close to the home’s ambient
temperature by recovering the greenhouse’s heat.
For summer comfort, cooling will be made via geothermal probes that will directly supply a
brazed plate exchanger; cooling floors.
A natural summer ventilation in the greenhouse is ensured by motorized frames with blades of
glass that can control the ambient temperature. They are installed in lower and upper sections
of the greenhouse.
Electrical Production
The photovoltaic collectors transform solar light in electricity. The photovoltaic cell panels
maintain a certain translucence. Each module is a glass panel that filters diffused light in the
chinks of the active surface. This characteristic enables it to act as the greenhouse’s roof.
The solar panels will:
- protect against overheating while circumventing blinding light
- generate electricity while diffusing a soft light
4 – Technical characteristics