Demonstration projects of nearly zero-energy housing renovation as a vehicle to market development

The EU ‘Energy Performance of Buildings Directive’ (2010/31/EU) requires Member States to ensure that all new buildings which are constructed by 2021 are nearly zero-energy buildings. This requirement takes effect in 2019 for public buildings. Actions and measures must be taken to increase the number of nearly zero-energy buildings for both new...

Learning from best practice low energy housing retrofit

Europe now expects an evolution of the building sector towards „near zero energy? buildings. In Belgium, the passive house concept offers a feasible portal towards 0-energy developments. Meanwhile, for the major market of renovations, we still have to learn-by-doing what is achievable from demonstration projects. Different technological options...

Innovative solutions in passive house details

For the realization of the first passive house demonstration projects in Belgium, passive houses were requested by convinced clients, designed by architects with experience in low energy building, and built by contractors with a feeling for working in building teams. These first passive house examples were not limited to one specific building...