Domea.dk will apply the Living Places principles to establish sustainable communities and homes with a low carbon footprint and healthy indoor climates. So far, the plan is to initially develop a housing project of 40 new rental homes for Domea Faxe in the southern part of Zealand.

Making low-carbon emission housing affordable for many

Going forward, the concept is expected to play a significant role in Domea.dk's upcoming new construction and development plans. Hopefully, this new partnership will contribute to scaling the concept, principles, and the extensive knowledge that Living Places has provided, making it accessible to far more people than is currently the case.

Through the agreement, the VELUX Group shares analyses, calculations and simulations from Living Places as well as detailed information about the five principles behind the Living Places concept with Domea.dk.

In July and August 2024, VELUX Group invited nearly 100 architects, entrepreneurs, designers and journalists from 12 countries to live at Living Places Copenhagen as part of an experiment that builds on years of research led by VELUX Group in scientifically monitoring different model homes to better understand how building design impacts residents' comfort and satisfaction while assessing indoor environmental quality and its effects on human well-being.

Living Places explores how to build homes with an ultra-low CO₂ footprint and an optimal indoor climate using standard materials, methods and technologies available today.

Using 17 environmental sensors strategically placed in the two houses, a questionnaire as well as personal testimonies, VELUX Group examined the houses' indoor comfort performance in terms of indoor air quality, thermal comfort, natural light levels and noise as well as guests’ perceptions of the houses’ functional comfort, such as the layout, their experiences with the community and atmosphere, and their overall satisfaction with the houses.

Five key conclusions from the Living Places Living experiment

1. Living Places can inspire and showcase how to build sustainably
For over 20 years, the VELUX Group has initiated and participated in more than 30 demonstration buildings exploring the future of healthy buildings through full scale experiments. In 2021, VELUX Group launched an open innovation process to change the way we build today towards more sustainable practices and to decarbonize buildings. The result, Living Places, shows that it is possible to build more sustainable and healthy buildings using standard materials, methods and technologies that are available today.

2. Healthy buildings that are good for people and the planet can be achieved by applying a holistic approach focusing more on comfort, energy and environment parameters
Advocating for the well-being of people and the planet requires a holistic approach to sustainable living and building practices that looks at the entire life cycle of a building, from design and construction to use.

3. The way we design our homes can significantly influence residents' well-being and their way of living
Our homes are an important part of our overall health. We spend 90% of our time indoors, yet 1 out of 3 Europeans is exposed to at least one indoor climate hazard such as lack of daylight, cold, damp or noise, according to the Healthy Homes Barometer 2022 and Healthy Buildings Barometer 2024. The way we build and live directly impacts our physical and mental health. The design of the house and indoor environment has a strong positive impact on residents' well-being, with over 70% of Living Places guests reporting improved mood, increased relaxation, and a sense of connection to nature while experiencing minimal negative effects.

4. The design of Living Places Copenhagen, which optimizes daylight and natural ventilation, has been well-received by guests
Designed to optimize daylight and natural ventilation, 83% of all guests favoured spending time in rooms with more natural light while 90% also found it easy to adjust the shadings to ensure an optimal indoor environment. As part of creating well-being at home, functional factors like design, layout, temperature, lighting, and indoor climate can invoke immediate feelings of physical comfort in a building. During their stay, 85% of the guests perceived the houses to fit their functional needs.

5. Living Places Copenhagen has achieved an indoor thermal environment within the comfortable range according to the European Standard
On a conceptual basis, Living Places had been awarded a first-class indoor climate. The results indicate "comfortable ranges" which reflect the actual performance during the experiment period which included the indoor temperature being within the best level of the European Standard (EN 16798-1:2019 standard (Category I)) 89% of the time in one house and 90% of the time in the other and within the comfortable range of the European Standard (EN 16798-1:2019 standard (Category II)) 98% of the time in both houses.

To learn more visit: Build for Life - Living Places Learnings 

Up to now, the combination of both roof window and solar panel installations on roofs has not always been without issues. Homeowners have typically either prioritised solar panels or roof windows, alone or dealt with clunky compromises. This often results in loss of potential solar energy use or less daylight and fresh air and a suboptimal indoor climate in the valuable space under pitched roofs. VELUX Solar Integrator is an aesthetically pleasing solution that fulfils homeowners’ energy, natural ventilation and light needs.

Capturing best of both worlds
This building-integrated photovoltaic solution means that what is on the roof works in harmony with what’s beneath it. In other words, it captures the best of both worlds - from an outside-in and an inside-out perspective. Whichever way you look at it, with VELUX Solar Integrator, you get green energy production plus daylight and fresh air and nice vistas of the sky. It allows for natural solutions for sustainable and healthy living.
 

Flexible and robust installation
The new roof window flashing system does not cover any active part of the solar panels. This ensures full utilisation of the solar panels and thereby maximum generation of energy. VELUX Solar Integrator’s unique side-section design allows for up to 25 mm sideway flexibility, allowing for easy installation and perfect positioning of solar panels and roof windows. It is flexible to suit multiple solar panel grid systems. The complete energy roof, integrated with VELUX roof windows, is tested to withstand extreme weather conditions (wind and water) over 50 years.
 

On average we spend 90% of our time indoors¹, so the quality of the air we breathe can make a big impact on our health. More than half of the body’s air intake during a lifetime is inhaled in the home². However, for 92% of us, the air around our homes is not safe to breathe³ and is linked to a range of health hazards.

Poor insulation and construction of buildings is often the cause of low energy efficiency and can compromise the occupant’s comfort and health. Around 65% of Europeans living in major urban areas are exposed to dangerously high levels of noise pollution⁴. This can lead to health issues such as stress, high blood pressure, hypertension and strokes⁴.

One study about living in a dark home found health worsened by 50% with headaches, insomnia and depression amongst other reported negative health impacts⁵. Therefore, good quality light, daylight when possible, is essential for a healthy life. Natural lighting is also an important energy reduction strategy in the home.
 

The guide recommends action to making a home healthier such as:

• Ventilate your home to clear away the hidden indoor toxins and bring fresh and clean air into your home
• Invest in insulation to boost energy efficiency, thermal comfort, less noise and lower energy bills
• Maximise the use of daylight and be efficient with lighting to lower carbon emissions, reduce energy costs and unlock health benefits.
   

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About the World Green Building Council

The World Green Building Council is a global network of Green Building Councils that is transforming the places where we live, work, play, heal and learn.

The goal is to help reduce the building and construction sector’s CO₂ emissions by 84 gigatonnes and ensure all buildings have net zero emissions by 2050.

We believe green buildings can and must be at the centre of our lives. Our changing climate means we must reshape the way we grow and build, enabling people to thrive both today and tomorrow.

We take action – championing local and global leadership and empowering our community to drive change. Together, we are greater than the sum of our parts, and commit to green buildings for everyone, everywhere. www.worldgbc.org.

References

1. Klepeis, N, Nelson, W, Ott, W et al. 2001. ‘The National Human Activity Pattern Survey (NHAPS). A Resource for Assessing Exposure to Environmental Pollutants’ Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.https://indoor.lbl.gov/sites/all/files/lbnl-47713.pdf.
2. Sundell, J. 2014. ‘On the history of indoor air quality and health’ Indoor Air. 2004;14 Suppl 7:51-8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15330772.
3. World Health Organisation. Public Health, Environmental and Social Determinants of Health. http://www.who.int/phe/infographics/breathe-life/en/Health issues such as stress.
4. Münzel, T., Gori, T., Babisch, W. and Basner, M. (2014) Cardiovascular effects of environmental noise exposure. European Heart Journal. DOI:10.1093/eurheartj/ehu030) from European Commission study ‘Science for Environment Policy’ Thematic Issue: Noise impacts on Health January 2015, Issue 47. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3971384/.
5. Velux. 2017. Healthy Homes Barometer. https://www.velux.com/health/healthy-homes-barometer-2017.
6. International Energy Agency. Buildings. https://www.iea.org/buildings/.
    

• Europe’s suburbs have grown 54% more than urban areas over recent decades, and are made up of 62% single-family homes
• Single-family homes are up to 33% more likely to result in residents reporting ill-health than multi-family homes
• Investing in healthy office buildings should be a no-brainer for companies.

Suburbanisation and the (un)healthy home
Urbanisation is a familiar topic to many, but in Europe as a whole, it is actually suburban areas which are growing fastest, outpacing urban growth by 54% between 1961 and 2011 (when the last 10-year dataset is available). A house in the suburbs is still the dream for many Europeans, who move out of cities looking for more space, lower costs and better quality of life. Single-family homes dominate the suburban landscape, comprising 62% of dwellings in these areas. Yet many of them are old and deficient, and they are significantly more likely to cause poor health. For example, occupants of single-family homes with overheating issues are 33% more likely to report poor health than those in multi-family homes with the same problem.

Renovation: a sound investment for society
The report shows that money exists in the system to catalyse the required levels of renovation, but goes on to detail the major – and often unnecessary – barriers that can deter homeowners from making this type of investment. The long-term benefits of renovation are also demonstrated. While the one-time cost of bringing housing up to standard across Europe is thought to be around €295 billion, inadequate housing is estimated to cost EU economies €194 billion every single year.

Healthy offices: a win-win
When not at home, many Europeans spend the majority of their time in an office. For the first time, this year’s edition of the Healthy Homes Barometer also looks at European office environments. With 90% of a business’ operating costs going on its employees, and better indoor environments leading to significant improvements in productivity and well-being, the report demonstrates why investing in office buildings should be a no-brainer for companies.

These are just a few of the findings in this year’s Healthy Homes Barometer, which also offers suggestions as to how policy makers, industry and private individuals can work together to improve the state of Europe’s homes and offices – something that will be absolutely vital in working towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals and achieving the commitments laid out in the 2016 Paris Climate Agreement.

The Healthy Homes Barometer 2018 comprises new analysis of the EU’s Eurostat database carried out by Ecofys, a Navigant Company, along with new research from Fraunhofer IBP, supplemented by existing published data.

Read the full the Healthy Homes Barometer 2018 here.

• Indoor air can be up to five times more polluted than outside but 77% are unaware according to global YouGov survey

• Children’s bedrooms are often among the most polluted rooms in the house

• New report by VELUX examines importance of daylight and fresh air to health

Living in damp and mouldy homes increases our chance of asthma by 40% and unless we act now we risk endangering our health as a result.

A new 24/7 indoor generation is unaware that the air inside our homes and public buildings can be more polluted than outside, with the vast majority of people (77%) believing indoor air is just as polluted or cleaner than that found outside. In fact, it can be up to five times more polluted.

The VELUX Group has unveiled the results of The Indoor Generation report – a survey across 14 countries that found an overwhelming misconception about the impact on our health caused by spending too much time indoors, especially on children, whose bedrooms can be the most polluted room in the house.

The Indoor Generation refers to a growing number of people who spend the vast majority of their time indoors – currently 90 per cent of their lives – compared to previous generations.

Dr Hilary Jones GP & Health Broadcaster said: “The rapid change in our lifestyle from spending large amounts of time outdoors for work or relaxation to becoming an Indoor Generation carries with it several risks, not least when it comes to health in dark, poorly ventilated homes.

Everyday home life activities, such as cooking, cleaning, showering, lighting candles, air drying clothes indoors and even sleeping and breathing, all contribute to polluted indoor air, which over time can lead to mould and damp homes, increasing our risk of developing respiratory diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Pollutants present in everyday household objects are releasing toxins into our homes – detergents and the plastic toys that we give our children to play with, as well as building materials, are just some of the items which can actually worsen our indoor air quality.

It’s believed more children will suffer from asthma or allergies unless homes and public buildings are better ventilated, and the chances of being diagnosed with asthma increase by 40% if you spend too much time in damp, mouldy buildings.

77% are unaware indoor air is more polluted than outside

The survey also found a significant disconnect between how people think we live our lives and the way we actually do, with only 18 per cent of people saying they spend 21 hours or more inside. But the actual figure is far more worrying, with previous research discovering a new ‘indoor generation’ who spend about 90 per cent of their time – and often in dark, poorly ventilated and unhealthy buildings.

VELUX has launched a short film “The Indoor Generation” to raise awareness of the importance of living in healthy homes and the small changes that everyone can make to improve their living environment and indoor air quality. It can be viewed here.

Here are six simple steps to make the air inside your home healthier:

• Open your windows at least three to four times a day to allow fresh air in
• Keep bathroom doors closed and turn on the extractor fan or open a window when showering
• Turn hood fan on when cooking and open your windows
• Don’t burn candles
• Dry clothes outside
• Clean regularly

For more, visit the Indoor Generation website. 

Watch the Indoor Generation video here 

On the occasion of today’s event, the ENVI Committee's rapporteur on the EPBD highlighted the importance of prioritising health in EU policies: 

The European Union has a good track record protecting people’s health from environmental and climate issues. However, despite the EU’s leadership in this field, many people in Europe still suffer from chronic illnesses, such as asthma or heart disease, while premature deaths are still being caused by air pollution, chemical exposure or even energy choices. According to research by the German research institute Fraunhofer Institut für Bauphysik (IBP) 84 million Europeans live in homes that are too damp, causing respiratory illnesses such as asthma and COPD.

Mrs. Anne Stauffer, Director for Strategy and Campaigns at Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) who was part of the panel debate agreed:

Ingrid Reumert, VP in the VELUX Group, elaborated on best-practices and research findings from their extensive buildings program, aimed at demonstrating how tomorrow’s sustainable and people-centric buildings can be built today by using existing solutions: 

Highlights of 2016 report include:

• 98% of wood used in manufacturing sourced from certified, sustainable forests – three times higher than the global average and approaching our 2020 target of 99%

• 97% of production waste recycled or used for energy generation

• 1.9 work-related accidents per one million working hours – almost five times lower than a comparable industry benchmark

• 100% of manufacturing sites certified according to ISO 14001 (Environment), OHSAS 18000 (Occupational Health) ISO 9001 (Quality) and ISO 50001 (Energy)

The report also examines a broad range of initiatives and activities, including:

• VELUX’s work to promote better living environments for all, including the completion of its 27th demonstration building, a social housing renovation in Brussels, Belgium

• Ways in which the company is addressing the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals

• Charitable and non-profit grants donated by the VELUX Foundations totaling 155 million EURO.

View the full 2016 CSR Report here: www.velux.com/csrreport

Although some schools have CO2 levels between the recommended rates of 1,000 to 2,000 ppm, this study shows that many schools have levels which are in excess of 2,000 ppm, and in some tests, scientists have recorded readings of up to 6,000 ppm. Furthermore, a number of schools did not achieve a daylight factor of 3-5%, the recommended the level of daylight in classrooms.

Improved indoor climate = improved performance

The study also reports the impact of an optimum indoor environment on the learning capabilities of school children. The researchers found that improving ventilation rates, reducing the CO2 concentration and increasing access to daylight in classrooms improves pupils’ performance in the sense of speed, higher levels of attention and concentration and lower rates of absenteeism. For example, the researchers came to the conclusion that the speed at which pupils work can be increased by up to 15% by simply increasing the amount of fresh air into the room.

However, the benefits of higher levels of achievement in education are not confined to the individuals. When comparing the educational levels between European countries, using a conditional test score based on PISA tests, the study shows that a correlation to the conditional growth within those countries exists. The researchers report that an increase of school childrens’ performance by 2.8% would lead to a 6.7% - 9.5% increase in the conditional economic growth of the country (based on GDP per capita).

How to improve the indoor environment in schools

The report concludes with a number of ways to improve the indoor climate in schools. Firstly, as most schools in Europe have been designed for natural ventilation, more time should be set aside for airing during lessons. However, mechanical ventilation systems, such as motorized windows, can also ensure an optimum level of air quality without changing the behaviour of teachers in lessons. By monitoring relative humidity, CO2 concentrations and temperature, the system simply switches itself on when fresh air is needed. Lastly, hybrid ventilation systems, such as fan assisted natural ventilation, have now been developed which combine the advantages of both natural and mechanical ventilation. The report also notes that when it comes to daylight, skylights can increase the incidence of natural light by up to 50%.

The VELUX Group’s renovation projects at Langebjerg School and Endrup School are perfect examples of how more access to daylight and fresh air can transform the learning environment. For example, at Langebjerg School, the teachers greatly appreciated the installation of VELUX INTEGRA® Roof Windows, as ventilation to the upper part of the classrooms now prevents the uncomfortable drafts that occur when façade windows are opened to air out the rooms. 

The Fraunhofer IBP white paper, ‘Impact of the indoor environment on learning in schools in Europe,’ is now available for download. 

The Healthy Homes Barometer study surveyed 14,000 people across 14 European countries in order to achieve a better understanding of how Europeans’ homes affect their health.

How to diagnose an unhealthy home

The study points to five characteristics of European homes that determine whether our homes are healthy or unhealthy. They are: good sleeping conditions; comfortable indoor temperatures; sufficient amounts of daylight; fresh air; and healthy levels of humidity.

The evidence is clear. Europeans who live in cold houses or have mould in their home are approximately 50% more likely to suffer from illnesses like nose or throat infections. Meanwhile, if the home allows for a good night’s sleep, Europeans are 50% more likely to feel they have good health and feel energized. Having enough daylight in the home almost halves the risk of being low on energy, while people who never air out their homes are twice as likely to suffer from low energy levels compared to Europeans who do so two-to-four times daily.

These characteristics are related to both home construction and habits of everyday use.

Health and home satisfaction go hand in hand

Healthy homes are good not only for our bodies, but they also lift our sense of home satisfaction. For example, good sleep quality, lots of fresh air, plenty of daylight and appropriate levels of humidity are all amongst the top contributors to home satisfaction. Good indoor climate even trumps the expense of energy costs when looking at what creates most home satisfaction.

Raising quality of life – saving society billions

The potential for lifting European health and quality of life are huge. In the study, one in four feel their health is below par, one in four never feel energized and half of all Europeans suffer from sore throats and runny noses.

Data from the UK Office of National Statistics show that 27 million working days were lost in 2013 in the UK alone due to minor illnesses like coughs, colds or flu. Preventing these could save society billions and increase productivity.

The results of the study will be presented at the 2^nd Healthy Buildings Day conference on April 20^th in Brussels, Belgium.

The consequences of unhealthy homes in Europe

• Europeans who live in cold houses are approximately 50% more likely to suffer from nose and throat infections

  78% of Europeans live in houses that were too cold at some point during the last winter. 15% report this to be the case all or most of the time.

• Europeans whose home allows for a good night’s sleep are 50% more likely to feel they have good health and are energized

  71% of Europeans do not have optimal sleeping conditions in their home. One in three report their sleep quality within the last four weeks as either very bad or fairly bad.

• Europeans who never air out their homes are twice as likely to suffer from low energy levels compared to Europeans who air out 2-4 times daily

  59% of Europeans do not air out at least twice a day.

• Having enough daylight in the home almost halves the risk of being low on energy

  40% of Europeans who lack daylight in their living room never or very seldom feel energized. If daylight levels are appropriate, the share drops to 23%.

• Europeans who have mould in their home are 50% more likely to suffer dryness or irritation of the throat

  Among Europeans with mould in their home, up to 60% experience dryness or irritation of the throat. For Europeans who do not have this problem the share is 40%.

Download the Healthy Homes Barometer 2016 at http://emagcreator.com/VELUX/HHB_2016/

By now, it is a well-known fact that fresh air benefits our general health. But studies show that we still forget to open our windows on a daily basis. Our indoor climate is regulated by all the activities that go on in our homes. When we light candles, cook supper, dry laundry, turn on a radiator and other routine activities, the need to eliminate unhealthy particles and damp increases.

Automatic airing of the home

With spring just around the corner, it is the perfect time to make some changes to domestic routines and make regular airing a natural, an everyday event. In fact, the recommendation is that it should be short and sweet; windows should be opened three or four times a day, but only for five or ten minutes. If you find it difficult to stick to the routine, VELUX INTEGRA® roof windows can do it for you.

A good indoor climate is created by taking a few simple but effective measures. With the automation system VELUX INTEGRA® it is possible to pre-set your roof window to open automatically and let in fresh air the minute you arrive at home after a full day at work and when you e.g. start cooking to avoid damp and unhealthy particles in the air.
 

About VELUX INTEGRA®

The VELUX INTEGRA® roof windows, blinds and shutters are activated by a touch control pad, either automatically or on-demand, providing a solution of greater control over our daily life and living comfort.

With its eight pre-defined programs for managing day-to-day situations it is possible to pre-set the roof window to automatically open and close and thereby let in fresh air or roll down shutters and blinds to avoid overheating and thus ensure an optimum indoor climate.

The "Good morning" and "Good night" programs let in fresh air for 15 minutes, then raise or lower the blinds. Furthermore, when you are away from home for an extended period, the "On vacation" mode makes it look as if you were home by opening and closing blinds and shutters, and turning lights on and off. Thus, the automation system VELUX INTEGRA® provides the home with several opportunities that enhance a healthy living as well as make the everyday life easier.

VELUX INTEGRA® has been awarded a number of prizes for its design, innovation and intelligent control system. In 2014, it won the international IF Product Design Award due to an excellent product design, intuitive operation, intelligent control pad, simplicity and finally, yet importantly, its affordability.

For further info. please see: www.velux.com/products/product_overview/velux_integra