We relate sustainability to buildings and we have defined our conceptual thinking in this large and globally relevant issue as Sustainable Living. It is based on:
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Maximised energy efficiency and minimised CO2 emissions
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Visionary architecture combined with improved health, well-being and comfort for people
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Renewable energy sources, with focus on thermal solar energy
The VELUX Group has devised a strategy to take an active part in developing sustainable buildings. Part of this strategy is the project Model Home 2020 - our vision for how we should construct future buildings that reflect the balance between energy design and livability, thus creating optimal indoor climate through a dynamic building envelope that is climate neutral and meets regulatory standards. Such a building can be called Active House - a paradigm for the next generation of building construction.
The vision and principles behind Model Home 2020 need to be developed and tested; so six real-life experimental demo-houses will be built in six different locations in five countries. They will then be occupied by families and monitored after they have moved in.
Green Lighthouse, Denmark’s first public C02-neutral building, and Home for Life, are two of the experiments built last year as a partnership between the VELUX Group and VELFAC. A collaborative approach was taken with both of these experiments having a number of local and regional partners, suppliers, architects, engineers and researchers.
UK, Austria, Germany and France are to follow suit this year, and we are delighted to have been granted planning permission for the build of two zero carbon homes in Rothwell, Kettering in the UK. More progress updates to follow.
See Green Lighthouse film
See Home for Life film