CLEANTECH
Green Building: Scandinavia and Israel Take the Lead
Crossing the boundaries between urban planning, architecture, design and environmental technologies, “green building” is playing an increasingly important role in the real estate, construction and cleantech industries.
Green building covers a broad spectrum of activities and technologies, ranging from where to build a structure, what to build it with, how energy is used in it and how it interacts with the surrounding infrastructure.
Israel Scandinavia Business does a survey through Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Israel to sample green building services and technologies being developed and marketed. One thing is clear – “green” does not have to come at the expense of livability or breathtaking design.
Denmark: Playground for Efficient Energy
In 2009, the Danish Technological Institute (www.dtu.dk), in cooperation with Henning Larsen Architects (www.henninglarsen.com), built an energy-neutral residence named EnergyFlex House to serve as a high-tech laboratory to guide the future of green building. The purpose is to implement and analyze cost-effective sustainable technologies and materials that can be brought to market.
The EnergyFlex House automatically monitors 790 data points around the clock, including solar heating and photovoltaic capacity along with electricity use and water consumption. With an online dashboard, this house can monitor all parameters. It even keeps tabs on whether the electric car is in the garage and is charging.
Sweden: "Lo-carb" Neighbourhoods
One of Sweden’s many claims to fame is its reputation for lowering the carbon footprint of entire city districts. Sweden is the European leader in energy use from renewable sources, partly thanks to pioneering waste-to-energy and extensive district heating/cooling system technologies.
One of Scandinavia’s highest skyscrapers, Malmö’s Turning Torso Residential Tower, is a prime example of an energy-efficient, residential apartment building which gives back to the neighborhood. It runs largely on renewable energy obtained from locally provided solar, wind, bedrock and water power.
All security systems, including sprinklers and emergency lighting, have independent reserve power supplies. Organic waste from the building is compacted and transported for decomposition and biogas production at Malmö’s waste incinerator and heat plant.
Norway: Norwegian Wood
For two years running, Norway has topped the UK Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors’ Global Zero Carbon Capacity Index, a list of countries working towards zero carbon buildings. The Norwegian Barents Secretariat plans to take green building to “new heights” by building the world’s tallest wooden building.
The Barents House, a project of Reiulf Ramstad Architects (www.reiulframstadarkitekter.no) will be located in Kirkenes, is designed to be sustainable and carbon-neutral. It will be constructed from natural and recycled materials and incorporate innovative environmental solutions, such as integrated systems that allow the building to adapt to seasonal climate change and waste-to-biogas technology.
Finland - Everything's Under Control
Extreme weather and remoteness are no strangers to Finland. Levering excellence in communications and information technology, one Finnish company, Fidelix Oy, (www.fidelix.fi) has developed an Internet browser-based automated building management system which enables integrated management of climate and security systems.
The system enables communication between the security and climate control functions, so that the use of energy can be automatically adjusted for the comings and goings of the building’s occupants.
The company’s solution is good for single unit buildings as well as for multi-building residential and business complexes.
Israel - Clear as Daylight
Israel has long been recognized as a leader in developing solar energy technology.
Pythagoras Solar (http://www.pythagoras-solar.com) builds solar power directly in a building’s windows, obviating the need for unsightly solar panels.
Unlike other building-integrated PV systems, Pythagoras’s system is transparent, so that occupants can enjoy both solar energy and a great view. The company recently entered an agreement with solar manufacturer, China Sunergy Co.
