HOUSE+: Energy-neutral housing concept moving forward

Innovative thinking and uniform concept
HOUSE+ is new thinking because the concept prioritises the whole building’s energy consumption – including household energy consumption. Simultaneously, the concept brings together the different parties across a range of disciplines, including architects, engineers, building materials producers and implementers.

The concept has gained so much attention that the first energy-neutral homes will be built in Aalborg in 2010. The site and the development owner have both been found.

Read more about HOUSE+

The 5 HOUSE+ dogmas
The HOUSE+ concept is founded on 5 dogmas for the energy-neutral home:

1. Energy neutral on an annual basis, including electricity used for lighting and electrically powered appliances and equipment (washing machines, TVs, PCs, etc.).
2. Intelligent and user-friendly homes
3. Flexible in use and over time
4. Homes with pleasant and healthy indoor climate
5. Construction of a high architectural quality adapted to local context

HOUSE+ Management group
The organisations behind HOUSE+ are:

• The Danish Energy Saving Trust
• The Danish Technological Institute
• The Danish Building Research Institute (SBi)
• The Architects’ Association of Denmark (AA)
• The Danish Society of Engineers (IDA)
• The Danish Ecological Council

HOUSE+ Supporting group
The HOUSE+ concept covers all the branches of the building industry so that energy is factored in from start to finish, with all the specialist trades contributing to energy savings in their respective fields. The HOUSE+ supporting group includes the following organisations:

• TECNIQ
• The Danish Society for Nature Conservation
• Building Lab DK
• The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts – School of Architecture
• Aarhus School of Architecture
• The Engineering College of Aarhus
• The Samsø Energy Academy
• Energy Service Denmark (Energitjenesten)
• The Confederation of Danish Industry
• The Danish Energy Association
• The Danish Federation of Non-profit Housing Associations
• Danish Energy Industries Federation
• The Danish Association of Architectural Firms (Danske Ark)
• The Danish Association of Consulting Engineers (FRI)
• Aalborg University
• The Danish Energy Agency
• The Danish Enterprise and Construction Authority
• The Danish Construction Association
• Building Materials Industry (c/o the Confederation of Danish Industry)

Energy-neutral homes:
Total energy consumption – total energy production = 0
The HOUSE+ vision is a housing concept for providing energy-neutral and healthy homes with a pleasant indoor environment. These energy-neutral homes only use the same amount of heat and electricity as they produce themselves. The energy requirements for heating, lighting and electrical appliances are very low, with the building producing just as much energy in the course of 1 year as it uses.

Background to HOUSE+ concept
The idea for HOUSE+ was conceived at Energy Camp 2005. In 2006, the Trust decided to support both the concept and the development of an international project competition, and the creation of a secretariat with funds of EUR 362,000.

The Danish Ecological Council has also supported HOUSE+ which has been further developed in association with the Danish Energy Saving Trust, the Danish Technological Institute, the Danish Building Research Institute (SBi), The Architects’ Association of Denmark (AA), and the Danish Society of Engineers (IDA).

HOUSE+ will demonstrate the opportunities for minimising resource consumption with the help of intelligent and creative partnerships between parties in the Danish building industry and through the use of the best possible technology.

One of the tools for keeping electricity consumption in check in homes is intelligent control of domestic electrical appliances and equipment.
Read more about using electricity intelligently.