What is "passivhaus" and how can we optimise energy systems to protect the planet? In this episode of Smart Regions, we visit a house that has no radiators, a German-based test bed, and explore how to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.
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00:00Buildings represent 40% of the EU's energy consumption.
00:05How can they become more efficient?
00:08At this university in Aachen, Germany,
00:11they developed a test bench to research the energy systems
00:14of the future.
00:16Thanks to the European project Urban Energy Lab 4.0,
00:19they can simulate the real conditions of an entire city.
00:24We analyze the future energy systems for districts, cities,
00:29and single buildings.
00:31And we try to understand the interaction between the user,
00:35the building envelope, the energy system,
00:38and also the electrical grid and the whole interconnection.
00:46The user is key because thermal perception is subjective
00:51and influences how we use energy.
00:54This infrared-controlled room recreates the climate conditions
00:57of a real building to analyze user needs
01:01and their interaction with the energy system
01:03under different scenarios.
01:06The climate room is heated by a heat pump.
01:09In the project, they also study how to create
01:12a more sustainable design.
01:14Heat pumps will be the main technology in the future
01:17heating our buildings.
01:18Emissions from heat pumps come from direct and indirect
01:21emissions.
01:22The direct emissions come from the refrigerant.
01:24And the refrigerants from the 90s and 2000s
01:26have a high global warming potential.
01:28One part of this challenge is using natural refrigerants,
01:31but they are flammable.
01:32So we have to bring this all into our lab
01:34to find the best working fluid for heat pumps.
01:38This project cost 5.5 million euros.
01:4245% was funded by the EU cohesion policy.
01:46Another 45% by the German federal state
01:48of North Rhine-Westphalia.
01:50The remaining 10% was financed by German research centers.
01:56As a youngster, I dreamed of living
01:59in an energy-efficient, zero-energy home.
02:04I am very happy that I was able to do this
02:06and that we live in a passive house.
02:10His house has no radiators, only an electric heat pump
02:15partially powered by solar panels.
02:17The temperature is maintained thanks
02:19to thermal insulation and mechanical ventilation, which
02:21allows for air circulation without losing energy.
02:25Besides preserving the planet, it's also easier on his wallet.
02:30The costs for heating and hot water in the last 20 years
02:36were around 200 euros a year.
02:40100 euros for heating, 100 euros for hot water.
02:44Thomas pays five times less than a regular home.
02:47With these savings, he recovers some
02:49of the extra cost of energy-efficient construction
02:52while also lowering his carbon footprint.