SPOTLIGHT ON..

Arne Elmroth Task 20 Operating Agent
Elisabeth Kjellsson Task 20 Assistant Operating Agent

If the saying "two heads are better than one" is true, then Task 20 is in luck. Professor Arne Elmroth, the Swedish Task Operating Agent, works closely with his assistant Elisabeth Kjellsson to lead the activities of Task 20 on Solar Energy in Building Renovation.

Buildings have been Arne's professional interest for many years. After completing his undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering at the Royal Institute of Technology he went on to receive a Ph.D. in Building Technology. Arne has written and coauthored more than 100 articles and given over 100 international lectures on technology and energy conservation in buildings. His latest research is on the Stockholm Project which deals with energy efficient technology in new multifamily buildings. But what he enjoys doing most is teaching. Arne is a professor of Building Physics at Lund University where he has taught since 1988. Before joining the facility at Lund University, he taught at his alma mater, the Royal Institute of Technology. With such a long history of working in the field of energy conservation in buildings, he is well qualified to lead Task 20.

One of the greatest challenges Arne sees facing the building sector is making the transition from traditional energy sources, fossil fuels and nuclear power, to nontraditional energy sources such as solar. He notes that, although new buildings are often constructed using energy efficiency and solar energy technologies, they represent a very small percentage of the building stock. It is in the renovation of buildings where solar energy technologies can have a significant impact. By the year 2000, approximately 80% of the building stock will consist of buildings more than 20 years old. And, a large number of these buildings will require renovation. Arne looks forward to the day when solar systems are part of building renovation programs.

When traveling in the Chinese countryside several years ago, Arne noticed that many villages had only solar heated houses. The houses were made of brick and had windows just on the walls facing south. Inside each home was a brick bench beneath the window that stored heat for the night and if, there was too little sun, a fire could heat the bench from underneath. If solar energy is not a new concept and is a reliable source of energy then why are there not more solar buildings? One reason, Arne points out, is that architects, the individuals responsible for the design of buildings, need training in solar technology so they will instinctively design with the sun in mind.

Arne is married and has four children. He also is the proud grandfather of two grandchildren, who unfortunately do not live in Sweden. However, they do live in the beautiful city of Florence, Italy so visiting them is always fun. When Arne can be pulled away from his work he enjoys walking, gardening, and morning swims (mind you only in the summer) in the strait of Öresund near his home.

Elisabeth Kjellsson started her career in solar energy in 1981 working with the Uppsala Power and District Heating Company. Her first solar project was Lyckebo, an apartment complex heated by solar collectors and a rock cavern for seasonal storage. While working on this project, she became involved in SHC Tasks 6 and 7. Since then, Elisabeth has continued her work in the field of solar and geothermal energy. Presently, she is conducting research on seasonal storage, ground heat storage, and solar renovation topics for the Lund University of Technology.

Elisabeth, her husband, and three sons live in the Stenshuvud national park in the south of Sweden. This past summer they built an active solar heating system for their home consisting of a 12.5 m2 solar collector and a 1,000 liter storage tank. Their hard work has paid off -- from May to the end of August they could provide their own heat from the system.

The close collaboration and teamwork of Arne and Elisabeth has led to a smooth-running Task. We look forward to learning from the Task's achievements.