Affordable renovation of buildings
A part of the climate solution
While global leaders struggle to reach a global climate agreement at the COP21, the VELUX Group is implementing an affordable and large-scale concept for climate renovations. The full scale renovation case is part of a social housing complex in Brussels, Belgium, and demonstrates how to unleash energy saving potentials in the building sector.
Large-scale climate renovations could be a main contributor to solve the climate change challenge. A new concept demonstrates how this can be materialized through a renovation of the first of the 385 houses in the social housing complex of Bon Air, Brussels, owned by the social housing company “Foyer Anderlechtois”.
The renovation will see carbon emissions reduced significantly as energy use will be cut by 79%.
A greater focus on the potential of energy savings in buildings could be a strong partner in the quest for cutting down the world’s use of energy and carbon emissions to ensure that we stay on a 2 degree course. If we succeed with adding more volume, we will have come a long way,
The social housing complex in Brussel’s Bon Air settlement built in the 1920’s encompasses 385 houses; the climate renovation concept represents a large-scale potential if implemented in all houses, currently 86 units are due for renovation.
Buildings part of the climate solution
Today, buildings account for 40 % of total energy consumption in Europe, and the EU imports fossil fuel for more than a billion euros every day to cover its energy needs.
Buildings represent an overlooked potential and is equally important to the expansion of renewable energy. The effect of energy efficient buildings is tangible and pays off not in 2-5 years but immediately,
Lone Feifer also points out that addressing the energy challenge could stimulate economic growth and job creation across Europe and further elaborates:
One million euros invested in improved energy efficiency in buildings can lead 19 direct jobs.
Affordability
Reducing the cost of renovating is another paramount factor in adding more volume to energy efficiency in buildings. High cost is often the barrier when homeowners decide whether to renovate or not. The renovation concept developed by the VELUX Group thus seeks to bridge that gulf by driving the costs down, thus offering a strong, new incentive to implement climate renovation projects.
The current challenge is not merely to build or renovate to produce an energy efficient building but to do so at a reasonable cost, not compromising the health and well-being of the inhabitants. The large scale renovations comply with the tight budget framework, outlined by the social housing organisation in Brussels,
From an uninhabitable to a healthy home
The house will be transformed from a currently un-inhabitable dwelling into a home with a high level of comfort and healthy building parameters. This unique concept is calledRenovActive and combines health and well-being with increased energy efficiency, based on active house principles balancing three aspects: comfort, energy and environment.
RenovActive
The RenovActive concept provides an affordable and reproducible solution to renovate buildings by balancing three factors: Comfort, Energy and Environment.
The renovation concept is based on the so-called Active House principles focusing on a building’s architectural quality, energy efficiency, human health, comfort and well-being, and environmental benefits.
The RenovActive concept has been developed by the VELUX Group in partnership with the social housing association “Le Foyer Anderlechtois” which owns 3,600 homes in Belgium. Improved quality of life and increased energy efficiency are central concerns of both partners.
The concept was designed by ONO Architectuur after developing an ambitious renovation proposal which not only meets the technical parameters established by the Active House principles but also inspires to improve the overall quality of life of the surrounding area.
The renovation will be completed in spring 2016.
For further information, please see: www.renovactive.velux.be/en/
About the VELUX Group
For more than 80 years, the VELUX Group has created better living environments for people around the world; making the most of daylight and fresh air through the roof. Our product programme includes roof windows and modular skylights, decorative blinds, sun screening products and roller shutters, as well as installation and smart home solutions. These products help to ensure a healthy and sustainable indoor climate, for work and learning, for play and pleasure. We work globally – with sales and manufacturing operations in more than 36 countries and around 11,000 employees worldwide. The VELUX Group is owned by VKR Holding A/S, a limited company wholly owned by non-profit, charitable foundations (THE VELUX FOUNDATIONS) and family. In 2022, the VELUX Group had total revenue of EUR 2.99 billion, VKR Holding had total revenue of EUR 4.29 billion, and THE VELUX FOUNDATIONS donated EUR 181 million in charitable grants.
For more information about VELUX Group, visit velux.com.