06 Feb THE ENERGY EFFICIENT SPACE AND THE NZEB PROGRAM
Currently, the energy consumption of European Union’s edification as a whole represent the 40% of global emissions. Furthermore, the CO2 emissions that derive from our inhabited environments account for a third of the total issued. Beyond the construction process, usage from building is the main responsible for these emissions. Following the commitments of the Kyoto Protocol, the EU approved Directive 2010/31 / EU in which defined the NZEB program (near zero emission building) with which the EU wants to reduce to zero the consumption of new buildings built in the member states before December 31 from 2020.
In our projects, energy efficiency and emission reduction is one of the priorities, and during last years a series of active (geothermy, aerothermy, heat recovery system, etc.) and passive (solar capitation/protection, thermal transmittance, ventilation, dampness, etc) strategies have been introduced in the design of buildings that improve passive behaviour, thus optimizing their thermal performance. The reduction of demand in almost 80-85% that we can achieve allows us to use high efficiency air conditioning systems that are considered renewable energy. Reducing energy consumption almost to zero, with the consequent reduction of greenhouse gases allows us to qualify with A classification in our projects for houses, apartments and buildings.
“I believe that sustainability needs more human sensibility…It is not so much about permanence, but it has to do with the infinite flows in which human beings take part in.”
Kengo Kuma
Text: Gabriel Gomera. Image: Om house’s energy exchange section/ Gabriel Gomera Studio