Subtasks
Subtask A:
Marketing and communication
Co-leads: Netherlands and Norway
Objectives
Research on low energy houses, sustainable solar houses,
environmentally friendly houses, passive houses (and more nice names)
has been done in many fields and also in many interesting combinations
of fields. Research on technical solutions for energy saving has been
combined with research on functional and aesthetic architecture. Important
research has also been done to find out how the occupants use new technical
equipment or how they like the architecture of solar houses. Many issues
have been investigated, but still new questions can be asked. The figure
below illustrates how three different research fields often are related
in interesting projects, the circle in the middle illustrates where the
"marketable housing for a better environment" should be.
The objective of subtask A is to describe the "marketable
housing for a better environment" from the market / occupant point of
view looking at both technical and architectural aspects. What type of
houses will be built in the next 5-10 years? What type of installations
and technical solutions will be used? What cost level is acceptable for
sustainable houses? What qualities on architecture, materials, comfort,
user friendliness etc. will be asked for by the customers?
The objective for the communication part is to link
the housing industry and Task researchers to help set research priorities,
design the demonstration projects and disseminate results
Overview of Results
- Questions and issues from industry and customers
to help fix priorities for Task analytical work.
- A web site: Model Sustainable Solar Housing (1)
- Market/industry input for Task 28 Demonstration projects
- Press kits of Task 28 Demonstration Housing
- Builder workshops to disseminate Task Experience
Activities leading to results
Interview builders to:
- determine what qualities / user benefits such housing should possess
and what are the barriers to market growth.
- identify technical questions they would like to see clarified which
could lead to an improved future housing product.
- collect promotional literature of their "eco" or very low energy
housing.
Interview occupants of existing sustainable solar housing
projects to identify:
- which features of the house were decisive in their purchasing it,
- which features, after living in the house they particularly appreciate
and
- what could be / must be improved.
Evaluate how contemporary government-programs promote
low energy, sustainable housing. Examples programs are: R2000, EPA-Star
Homes, Minergie and E-2000. Define strategies and channels to publicize
Task 28 housing.
Evaluate the above information and develop internal
guidelines to help prioritize the analyses work as well as the design
of the demonstration projects.
Document model housing projects meeting Task criteria.
With a graphic artist, develop a format for communicating the issues,
concepts and features to be reported. Produce a Web site (1) and track
the distribution / or number of hits.
Collect marketing material developed by the builders
to sell the housing units.
Interview the
company sales representatives and : - compile statistics on what population
segment is buying the units. - identify what features are decisive
for buyers. - compile a checklist of marketing features and strategies
for the projects.
Produce Press kits (4) of Task 28 Demonstration Housing.
These can be edited, translated into local language/s as national brochures.
The purpose is to illustrate the diversity, living quality and performance
of such housing, future oriented and affordable.
Plan builder Workshops (5) to disseminate the experience
of the Task and stimulate the demand for the Task publications and tools.
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Subtask B:
Design and Analysis
Lead: Sweden
Objectives
This Subtask is comprised of two coupled sets of activities
and objectives - both design and analyses. The design part involves evaluation
and documentation of the design, construction and performance of sustainable
solar housing projects existing at the Task beginning. Design of new demonstration
projects will also be a part of this subtask.
The analysing part involves life cycle asses of the
energy, environmental and economic performance of combinations of systems
in the context of low energy housing. Optimisation of the demonstration
project designs and production of design-guidelines are also a part of
this subtask.
Overview of Results
- The design-guidelines: Marketable Sustainable Solar
Housing: Plans, Details and Performance (2)
- Designs for Task demonstration housing projects
- The handbook: Guide to Cost Effective Design (3)
Activities leading to results
Design
Define for the purpose of the Task "sustainability"
and "solar use".
- agree on criteria for assessing sustainability and solar use.
- set benchmarks from current best practice
- fix targets for the Task demonstration housing. This activity will
draw on the experience of ECBCS
- Task 31 as well as national activities to achieve a consensus on
working definitions, verifiable criteria and targets for Task 28.
The criteria will address resource consumption, environmental impact,
indoor environmental quality, functionality and costs.
Collect and evaluate information on the design and
construction of housing existing at the start of the Task projects which
fulfilling the above criteria.
Supply the collected material to Subtask A for inclusion
in the Task Web Site: Model Sustainable Solar Housing
Compile this material and with performance data from
Subtask D to co-produce the book: Marketable Sustainable Solar Housing:
Plans, Details and Performance.
Design Task 28 demonstration projects with:
- market input from Subtask A,
- analytical support from Subtask B,
- insights from the evaluation work of Subtask D
- design advice offered by Task experts during the expert meetings.
Analysis
From the designs collected above, develop simplified
abstract computer models ("shoeboxes") of detached, row and multi-family
housing.
Define climate types and fix occupancy and appliance
profiles.
Calculate the energy performance of the base designs
and compare the results from the different Task expert and computer tools.
Identify combinations of conservation, solar and backup-systems
for each of the housing types and climate/occupancy profiles; and suitable
computer models.
Computer model design/system variations over the building
life cycle to quantify:
- energy consumption for heating, water heating, ventilation, lighting
and cooling
- environmental impact of key components and systems with regard to
both "grey energy" and material flows
- first costs and operational costs
Support the design of the demonstration housing with
such life cycle analyses.
From the Task experience:
- identify computer tools which are suitable for analyzing such housing
and
- write user advice and worked through examples.
Combine what is learned from modeling, laboratory testing
of components and produce the Guide to Cost Effective Design (3).
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Subtask C:
Construction and Demonstration
Lead: Australia
Objectives
The objective of this subtask is to assure that the
demonstration houses fulfil the all the Task objectives by writing the
design brief, providing quality control during construction, and debugging
the houses during commissioning.
Overview of Results
- write design brief
- give input to the Guide to Cost Effective design (3) and the Workshops
(5).
Activities leading to results
Design briefs:
These documents state the goals, target values, and constraints for the
demonstration projects. The brief will reflect the marketing input from
Subtask A and the targets set in Subtask B.
Construction:
During project construction Subtask experts will periodically inspect
the construction site, review the selection and delivery of components,
the workshop drawings for systems as part of a quality control process.
Commissioning:
Upon completion of construction the housing will be inspected and
operation of all systems tested. A user's manual will be reviewed
with the occupants. Deficiencies will be noted and revisions inspected
for compliance.
Documentation:
The experience from writing the design
brief, providing quality control and the commissioning will be
documented as input to the Guide to Cost Effective Designs [3] and the
Workshops [5]
Workshops:
The above documented experience will be reported during final Task
workshops for homebuilders.
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Subtask D:
Measurement and Evaluation
Lead: Germany
Objectives
The objective of this subtask is to evaluate the performance
data from housing projects existing at the Task beginning. Laboratory
testing of innovative components and systems and monitoring the demonstration
projects will also be carried out in this subtask.
Overview of Results
- Performance data from projects existing at the Task
begin, evaluated and reported for the documentation co-lead by Subtask
B / Design.
- Test performance data from components and systems evaluated and
reported in the Guide to Cost Effective Design [3].
- Performance data from the Task demonstration housing for the Press
Kits [4].
Activities leading to results
Evaluation:
From the ca. 40 housing projects identified during the Task Definition
Phase, the best projects will be selected for detailed evaluation
of available monitoring and simulation results. The most significant
performance data will be re-calibrated to a common units basis and
presented in Marketable Solar Sustainable Housing (2).
Laboratory testing:
Key components will be tested under controlled laboratory conditions
and results incorporated in the Guide to Cost Effective Design (3).
Task demonstration housing will be monitored using a common monitoring
protocols. Displays of monitoring output will inform visitors of the
energy concept and momentary performance.
Monitoring of demonstration projects:
During the construction of the demonstration projects a detailed monitoring
plan will be completed, considering also the key parameters simulated
in the analysis work of Subtask B. Upon completion of construction the
projects will be monitored. Results will be evaluated and summarized for
the Press Kits (4) and presented at the national Workshops (5) after the
conclusion of the Task.
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