First sustainable single-family house in Russia on the way

VELUX Russia has entered an agreement with the Russian property company Zagorodny Project to build the first sustainable single-family house in Russia.
The house will combine sustainability, a good indoor climate and innovative architecture. The first sod in this ambitious project was turned on 21 September.
The idea behind the project is to build an intelligent home that, with the help of existing technology, is capable of generating its own heating and electricity – something that has never been seen before in Russia. The concept of the new Russian experiment was developed in close teamwork between the VELUX Group and the Russian standard house company Zagorodny Project, both of whom decided to jointly develop the very first sustainable single-family house in Russia.
"We are delighted to see that there is also an interest in sustainable building outside Europe. The challenges facing the global community in terms of CO2 emissions and shortage of fossil fuels make it imperative to focus on energy consumption in both existing and new buildings. Buildings account for no less than 40 per cent of all energy consumption in Europe and must be a prime candidate for action. The VELUX Group is therefore entering into several projects in the hope that, using existing technology, we can combine sustainability and energy-efficient building with a good indoor climate and exciting architecture," says Jørgen Tang-Jensen, CEO of the VELUX Group.
The Group is also the instigator of the Model Home 2020 project, an experiment that is part of a VELUX strategy to play an active role in the development of sustainable buildings of the future. It is the VELUX vision for how daylight and fresh air can make future buildings climate neutral and yet still have a good indoor climate and be attractive places to live in. The project underpins thinking about the next generation of building design, often referred to as "active houses".
The Model Home 2020 buildings will be open to the public for 6-12 months after their completion and then sold. They will be tested and monitored to determine how the theory behind the experiments turns out in practice. The two buildings in Denmark – Home for Life in Århus and Green Lighthouse in Copenhagen – are finished and occupied, with those in Austria and Germany scheduled for completion later this year and those in France and the UK in 2011.
"Russia is not known for having the most energy-efficient buildings but this new project will hopefully set new standards for sustainable building and renovation and put them on the agenda. We hope that will bring about a substantial improvement in quality compared to the building traditions we are fighting against in existing building around the world. The universal problem has been insufficient technology and knowledge to ensure energy-efficient structures that make use of the free energy of the sun at the same time as providing daylight and fresh air to the people living and working in them. Energy-efficient buildings nowadays must be able to do much more than just retain heat," says Jørgen Tang-Jensen.
The home of the future is innovative and green
Russia's first sustainable single-family house will be built 20 km outside Moscow. It is expected to have a floor area of 180 square metres and employ affordable technology and materials at the same time as meeting the demands of future housing and expected legislation. The house will be a pre-fabricated construction that can easily be mass produced and built elsewhere in Russia. Together with architects, engineers and energy experts, VELUX Russia will continually assess and measure factors such as daylight, ventilation and indoor climate to gain even more knowledge of how, without compromising a good indoor climate, we should build in the future and of the people who will live in those buildings.
The Zagorodny Project, development partners of the Russian sustainable house along with the VELUX Group, is one of the leading property companies in Moscow. Its local knowledge will be an invaluable asset in ensuring that materials and technology are the most suitable for the climate and the Moscow neighbourhood. The project will begin in October 2010 and is expected to be completed as early as April next year. The house will then be open to the public for six months before being put on the market.
About the VELUX Group
The VELUX Group creates better living environments with daylight and fresh air through the roof. The VELUX product programme contains a wide range of roof windows and skylights, along with solutions for flat roofs. The Group also supplies many types of decoration and sun screening, roller shutters, installation products, products for remote control and thermal solar panels for installation in roofs. The VELUX Group, which has manufacturing companies in 11 countries and sales companies in just under 40 countries, represents one of the strongest brands in the global building materials sector and its products are sold in most parts of the world. The VELUX Group has about 10,000 employees and is owned by VKR Holding A/S, a limited company wholly owned by foundations and family. For more details, visit www.velux.com.