News and press releases - VELUX Media Centre | VELUX Group

The VELUX Group and Thylander in new partnership on the Living Places concept

Tue, 10 Dec 2024 13:00:00 +0100

The VELUX Group and Thylander enter a new partner agreement to accelerate the green transition of the Danish construction industry. With this agreement, Thylander is the first investor and developer in Denmark to work with the Living Places principles in future building projects. The plan is to build 500 new rental homes with a low CO₂ footprint.

The total climate footprint of the building and construction industry accounts for approximately 30% of Denmark's total CO₂ emissions[1]. To further accelerate the green transition, it is therefore necessary to implement and scale new solutions with a lower carbon footprint. The aim of the new agreement between the VELUX Group and Thylander is precisely to accelerate the transition of the construction sector and offer low-emission homes with a healthy indoor climate to more Danes.

Living Places principles to be implemented in rental housing in Greater Copenhagen
In 2023, Thylander launched its Build for Life fund, which aims to build attractive rental housing in Greater Copenhagen with high quality and good materials - and with a 30% lower carbon footprint than required by the Danish building regulations. The Living Places concept will play a significant role in the continued improvement of the fund’s new-built housing. The ambition is to build the new homes with inspiration from the five principles of the Living Places concept; that homes should be healthy, simple, flexible, scalable and strengthen the community.

Thylander is already working on the project 'Gartnerhaven' in Hvidovre with 106 new rental homes and ‘Søagerhusene’ in Smørum with 105 new rental homes. The plan is to add further construction projects over the coming period. The ambition is to build more than 500 new rental homes based on the Living Places concept over the coming years.

With 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 Thylander.

About Living Places
The award-winning Living Places concept developed by the VELUX Group in collaboration with EFFEKT architects and Artelia engineers opened the doors to the first prototype in Copenhagen in April last year. The ambition of the project is to inspire and show that change is possible and that it is already possible to build with lower CO₂ emissions and a better indoor climate at a scalable and affordable level. Living Places is based on five key principles; that housing should be healthy, simple, flexible, scalable and empower community.

Read more about Living Places

1: https://concito.dk/nyheder/nye-co2-krav-kan-paavirke-flere-facetter-byggeriet, https://www.ft.dk/samling/20191/almdel/KEF/bilag/393/2229190.pdf

Living Places houses are now tested in real life

Thu, 08 Aug 2024 08:00:00 +0200

This summer people are living in the Living Places Copenhagen houses in the railroad district in Copenhagen as a part of real-life testing of the concept. The purpose is to monitor how the houses perform when people live in them and to gather indoor climate performance data to document the positive impact on people.

One in four Europeans live in buildings where indoor air quality falls below national standards. Since we spend 90% of our time indoors, how we build and live directly impacts our physical and mental health. Living in a building with a poor indoor climate can result in severe health issues with ill effects ranging from respiratory and skin problems, headaches, and allergies to serious mental health concerns and life-threatening heat or cold[1].

The Living Places concept explores how to create an optimal indoor climate with the lowest possible carbon footprint using readily available and tested products, materials, and technologies. On a conceptual basis, Living Places has been awarded a first-class indoor climate, but now the time has come to test how the houses perform with real people living in them.

Since July over 20 architects, influencers, and families from across Europe have lived in the Living Places Copenhagen houses in the railroad district in Copenhagen.

Live monitoring of indoor climate performance
The indoor climate performance of Living Places was predicted during the design stage using simulations and compared synthetically against a benchmark Danish house through the Active House Radar.

The health impacts of Living Places Copenhagen on its occupants are measured through the data from spatial sensors tracking temperature, relative humidity, C02, barometric pressure, particles, light, sounds, occupancy, and some VOCs and the learning will be shared during the fall of 2024.

See the virtual tour of Living Places Copenhagen and read more about Living Places

[1] Healthy Buildings Barometer 2024

“Hey Google, open my window”: VELUX ACTIVE with NETATMO launches compatibility with Google Assistant

Tue, 12 Nov 2019 06:27:32 +0100

VELUX ACTIVE with NETATMO is a smart window system that helps you create better and healthier living indoors. Cross-checking local weather forecasts, smart indoor sensors monitor the temperature, humidity and CO₂concentration inside the home and activate a gateway to operate VELUX roof windows, shutters and blinds to improve the indoor climate.

Now it’s even easier to maintain a healthy indoor climate with new compatibility with Google Assistant. This means you can control your electric or solar-powered VELUX window, shutters and blinds, using Google Assistant and the product will be visible in the Google Home app.

VELUX ACTIVE brings together a smartphone app, an indoor climate sensor, a departure switch and an internet gateway run by advanced algorithms that can control the fully-automated operation of roof windows, blinds, awnings and shutters. The algorithm can also be set to run on pre-defined timings, for example if you do not want your system to operate during specific timings, such as when you are asleep or on vacation.

Knowing that most of us spend 90% of our time indoors, maximising our comfort in our homes should be a priority. We also know that it’s very important for our health to let fresh air into the home and keep it ventilated. For the winter months specifically, being able to customise your indoor climate through voice control is useful for many different reasons:

When you’re settled on the sofa, under a blanket and about to put a film on the TV, what could be better than being able to put the blinds on your roof window down without having to get up?
When you’ve cooked a meal and want to air the kitchen to get rid of CO₂and any food odours
If you’ve had the fire or a scented candle lit and want to ventilate the room
Airing your bedroom in the morning or before going to bed

Global survey finds we’re lacking fresh air and natural light, as we spend less time in nature

Tue, 21 May 2019 08:00:00 +0200

The survey of 16,853 adults across 15 countries, across Europe and North America, found that despite 90% of respondents stating that they would enjoy spending more time in nature, over half (52%) said that in the last month they had on average only spent one hour or less a day in it. The global survey revealed that 85% believed that they typically spent more time in nature as a child than children do today, indicating that this is a mounting global problem.

Nature can reduce stress and increase wellbeing
Restorative environment research studies have also documented how being in nature or exposed to nature can increase wellbeing.

A new research review conducted by independent research institute RAND Europe on behalf of VELUX, has also identified several studies that find a positive association between people’s exposure to nature and their mental health and wellbeing, for instance helping reduce people’s perceived stress state.

77% believe they should change daily routines to reconnect with nature, according to the YouGov Survey

The survey found that 77% think they should make changes to their daily routine and lifestyle to enable them spend more time in nature. In Italy the number is significantly higher, with 88% thinking they should make changes. Similarly, Canada is also the nation in which percentages are the highest of people spending an average of one hour or less a day in nature in the past month (69% compared to a 52% global average).

Aside from having a positive impact on mental wellbeing, 86% of Austrians believe that having access to nature, daylight and fresh air has a positive impact on physical health, and 84% of people in Poland believe that it has a positive impact on quality of sleep. In the US its positive impact on stress levels (71%) was the most popular opinion. Inside the home, two thirds (66%) of all respondents enjoy watching the weather through a window. In Poland and Slovakia people are particularly fond of bringing nature inside with the majority enjoying having house plants (76% and 73% respectively).

This new population survey echoes VELUX’s new global campaign, ‘Let nature back in, which highlights the risks of a nature deficient society. It explores the effects that indoor-based lifestyles can have on our overall wellbeing amid a shift to an increasingly urbanized population, illustrated in a film directed by Martin de Thurah, showing how children from previous generations played outdoors, to the children of today who are far more likely to stay inside in front of various screens.

To learn more, go to outsidein.velux.com.

Daylight affects people’s sleep and productivity, according to global survey

Sun, 28 Oct 2018 13:27:36 +0100

A survey by YouGov amongst 16,000 people worldwide reveals that more than half (53%) believe that daylight influences their sleep and nearly two thirds (63%) believe that daylight affects their productivity.

The global survey was commissioned as part of a report aimed at highlighting the importance of living in healthy homes and the small changes that everyone can make to improve their living environment and daily exposure to light. Initial findings from The Indoor Generation report revealed that around one fifth (18%) are spending almost all day indoors, between 21 to 24 hours.

Dr Steven Lockley, neuroscientist and associate professor at Harvard Medical School explains the impact of daylight on our brain: “Light is an acute stimulant which directly alerts the brain. If you’re exposed to brighter and bluer light in the daytime, then you get a better stimulant effect. You’ll be more alert and have better cognitive function; potentially be more productive at work and so on. If we’re thinking of offices, schools, hospitals, etc., it’s the alerting effects in the daytime which we want to take advantage of.” 

The findings support research from the World Health Organisation¹ documenting we spend up to 90% of our time indoors, isolating ourselves from nature’s vivifying sources. As a society, our always-on lifestyles are leaving precious little time to get outside and enjoy the benefits of natural light.

As the days become shorter and colder, the importance of getting enough daylight is even more acute. A review published by the National Research Council Canada suggested that people in Western countries might not be receiving adequate exposure to daylight and this could be detrimental to our wellbeing².

Adequate daylight during the day helps you sleep better at night
Numerous studies have also proven the role of daylight in promoting a good night’s sleep while highlighting the negative impacts a lack of daylight has on health.

Dr Steven Lockley, from Harvard Medical School further elaborates on the impact of daylight exposure on our 24-hour body clocks, our so-called circadian rhythm, that helps time our sleep-wake cycle: “Exposure to light-dark cycles is an absolutely crucial part of our biology and that’s due to the role of light in resetting our circadian clock each and every day. It resets our clocks to be in tune with environmental time, and light is the primary time-cue.”

Our body clocks are informed by the different levels of daylight in a 24-hour period, we need plenty of light during the day and darkness at night to ensure a good night’s sleep. Some of the consequences caused by poor sleep include depression, diabetes, heart disease and weight gain. Other side effects linked to poor sleep include higher risk of work accidents, reduced concentration and low mood and difficulties in making decisions4.

Daylight can also help enhance productivity
As many as 63% of people stated in the YouGov survey that daylight influence their productivity. The link between daylight and office productivity has also been widely investigated and various studies show that daylight and a view to the outside increase performance at work.

Workers in a call centre were processing calls 6% to 12% faster when they had the best possible view versus those with no view³. Other office workers, meanwhile, were found to perform 10% to 25% better on tests of mental function and memory recall when they had the best possible view versus those with no view.

Top tips for improving your sleep

Increased exposure to daylight will help you sleep better at night, sitting near a window at work or school and making an effort to get outside more will also help with this
Eliminate light from the outside to enter your bedroom at night

Sleep in a cooler bedroom
Avoid looking at electronic devices (TVs, smartphones / tablets) which distribute blue light before going to sleep – this can trick the brain into staying alert at the wrong time of day
Establish a good bed time routine – read a book instead of having more screen time
Give children a red or orange night light if they are afraid of the dark as these are the least disruptive to sleep

VELUX supports broad industry coalition – EPBD Review

Wed, 09 Nov 2016 11:00:00 +0100

For the first time, the building glass façade and window industry represented by European Aluminium, EuroWindoor, ES-SO and Glass for Europe come together to call for a modernised EPBD to unleash the energy savings potential of high performing windows.

Windows and glazed areas in buildings are essential to the overall energy performance of buildings but also to the general comfort and well-being of people living and working in these buildings. To reap these distinctive benefits of modern windows, the four associations call for a revision for the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, in particular to ensure the energy performance of glazed areas is fairly assessed and to put in place the right mechanisms and incentives for market actors to deliver massive energy savings.

In the joint position paper issued today, the signatories call on the European Commission to consider three priorities ahead of its review of the EPBD:

Increasing the renovation rate of European buildings to obtain larger energy use reductions
Using the energy balance approach to assess the energy performance of windows
Recognising the benefits of daylight, natural ventilation and solar management

For instance, the co-signatories would like to see the revised directive integrating the ‘energy balance approach’ for the evaluation of windows’ performance and in particular when it comes to setting minimum performance requirements for window replacement.

To read the position paper in full: http://www.eurowindoor.eu/activities/energy-efficiency/

For more information from VELUX on energy balance, benefits of daylight, natural ventilation and solar management:

http://www.velux.com/energy

http://www.velux.com/health

The scent of spring in your home

Wed, 27 May 2015 07:30:00 +0200

After the wet and variable weather of winter, with precious few chances of a glimpse of the sun, the Danish Meteorological Institute is heralding a mild spring. That makes it more inviting to open your windows to let in air. However, airing out several times a day to refresh your home is recommended all year round.

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

Natural ventilation, sunlight and cleanliness can reduce infection

Wed, 22 Oct 2014 00:00:00 +0200

Before the development of antibiotics; ventilation, natural light, and cleanliness were the means to keep infection under control. However, the findings of Dr. Richard Hobday's research suggest that the design of buildings today is more focused on human comfort rather than health, which in worst case can cause increased sickness, diseases and mortality.

These findings from Dr. Richard Hobday's research will be presented at the annual IARU Sustainability Science Congress in Copenhagen from the 22nd to the 24th of october, where Dr. Hobday will address sustainability from a health perspective.

Sustainability is, according to Dr. Hobday, also about creating a built environment that stimulates both body and mind. Buildings such as hospitals, schools and child care centres are places that particularly need a good and healthy indoor climate as it reduces the risk of diseases and strengthens the health, learning ability, and self-development.

The Danish child care centre the Sunhouse (Solhuset) in Hørsholm is a tangible proof that this is within reach to meet future requirements for sustainable buildings and at the same time - to provide a healthy and stimulating indoor climate. Based on the "Active House principles" – defining buildings with healthy indoor climate that minimise its energy use and environmental impact – it has become one of the most climate friendly day care centres in Denmark.

At completion in 2011 the Sunhouse managed to set new standards for sustainable child care centres. It is carbon neutral and renewable energy driven and it has tripled the amount of daylight defined by the Danish building codes. On top of all this, children have gained a nest where they can learn, live and play in harmony with nature.

The Sunhouse, is one of the VELUX Group's 21 demonstration buildings and is open for visits by the press on Friday, 24 October, where it will be possible to meet the dedicated team and see children unfolding themselves in spacious and brightened indoor environments.

Through its 21 demonstration buildings, using existing products, processes and technologies, the VELUX Group has proved that the buildings of tomorrow can actually be build today. Buildings that comply with the predicted EU building energy standards for 2020 without compromising on indoor comfort, health and well-being. That is the VELUX Group's contribution to the quest for a more healthy and sustainable future.

Five ways of creating a healthy, sustainable and comfortable home

Tue, 07 Oct 2014 00:00:00 +0200

In 2013, the VELUX Group gathered together 19 of the world's leading experts in architecture, civil engineering and medicine for five workshops to discuss and formulate guidelines on how to make a healthy home. This is a selection of some of the most important tips the group agreed on.

Correctly-positioned windows make the most of fresh air
No one can live without fresh air − and the same goes for your house. More often than not, we cannot sense pollutants in indoor air, but they will affect our health and well-being. This is why our houses should offer protection from the hidden pollutants we discharge when we cook, or that are given off from building materials and furniture. By positioning your win-dows correctly, you can enjoy the benefits of natural ventilation that will rapidly improve the indoor air quality in your home.

The right amount of daylight at the right time
Waking up to natural morning light, plenty of daylight throughout the day, and darkness at night are crucial to our health and comfort. Light and darkness are key elements in keeping our internal body clock and circadian rhythm synchronised. So investing in appropriate measures at home to provide daylight and darkness, such as windows and blinds, can pay big dividends.

Bring nature inside
Living in close contact with nature improves your mood, creates better health and reduces stress, which is why we need to bring nature inside our houses. When building a house, it is worth considering having at least one outdoor or semi-outdoor space − such as a garden, terrace or balcony. Another option is to make sure that the house provides you with a gener-ous view of the sky and ground; this brings nature inside too.

Rid your home of stressful noise
Apart from being a source of irritation, unwanted sounds, like loud traffic, can cause stress and have a direct negative impact on our well-being. External noise from rowdy neighbours, and internal noise from heating/cooling or ventilation systems, should therefore be kept to a minimum. And even lower noise levels are needed at night.

Take control of indoor temperatures
One of the factors most crucial to our indoor comfort is avoiding unpleasant indoor temperatures. We spend 90% of our time indoors, so make sure that temperatures indoors follow the same rhythm as those outdoors, which rise during the day and fall at night. Because our bodies are designed to follow the rhythms outdoors, this will automatically achieve what we feel is the most comfortable indoor temperature.

Beyond the research
These simple tips are the result of the discussions and conclusions of several workshops on indoor environment, historical perspectives on buildings, light and circadian rhythms. The full Circadian House report offers even more advice on how to create a healthy and comfortable home.

New Roof Window for Historical Buildings Developed

Mon, 15 Sep 2014 00:00:00 +0200

The Heritage Agency of Denmark has just approved the major renovation of a historical listed residential building in Nykøbing Falster, in the southern part of Denmark. The project includes eight new roof windows developed by leading designers and engineers from the VELUX Group in close collaboration with the acknowledged architect Merete Lind Mikkelsen.

After a three months test period, the installation of the roof windows in the attic of the residential building has been met with great satisfaction. The renovation of the historical building, including the VELUX roof windows, passed the test and gained the recognition by the local authorities concerned.

"This is the first roof window of its kind, and the first installation of this newly-developed roof window in a historical listed building," says the architect behind the new roof window, Merete Lind Mikkelsen, recently awarded for her work with historical buildings by the Henning Larsen Foundation.

From a dark home to a daylight-flooded heaven

Tue, 26 Aug 2014 00:00:00 +0200

The starting point was a single-family home built in 1969 to typical Danish design: a single-storey house with a low-sloped saddle roof and an attic underneath that is too low to be used as living space. The rooms in the house used to look dark and uncomfortable. "The bathroom had only two tiny windows before the renovation and the kitchen needed artificial lighting even on bright summer days," explains Lone Larsen. "When we went inside to prepare dinner, the change from bright to dark was particularly noticeable." The hallway was dark as well, and the windowless guest bathroom lacked both daylight and ventilation. Even in the living room it was dark most of the time, despite the large west-facing double patio door. As the 40-year-old roof needed renewal, the Larsens took advantage of the opportunity to bring more daylight into their home.

Light wells allow for a view of the sky
In order to bring more light into the single-family home, the ceilings of the kitchen, dining room, both bathrooms and the entrance area have been opened through light wells towards the roof, where VELUX roof windows have been installed. The roof windows not only bring a lot of daylight into the rooms but also create a healthy indoor climate with fresh air. Thanks to the light wells, the rooms now looks more spacious.

In the kitchen, two roof windows were installed above each other in a light well in the middle of the room. Additionally, in the adjacent dining room, two large roof windows were installed over the dining table as well. Together, the new roof windows have transformed the kitchen and dining area into a bright and airy space. "The dining room has completely changed. Even though it wasn't exactly dark before, it is now much nicer after the roof windows have been installed and it looks much more spacious," says Søren Larsen who is excited about the improved quality of living. "Now we can enjoy a view of the sky and a lot of daylight whilst we have breakfast every morning."

The Larsens also benefit from the renovation of the bathrooms. In the main bathroom, two roof windows was installed above each other and now provide masses of daylight and ade-quate ventilation, which is useful after showering for example. A roof window was also in-stalled in the once windowless guest bathroom, which not only makes the room light but also provides fresh air.

To bring daylight into what was a completely dark hallway in the basement, a roof window was installed in the entrance area. This brightens up the staircase area and hallway towards the cellar and has transformed this formerly gloomy part of the house into a friendly area. The only area where no roof windows were installed is the central hallway. Instead, two VELUX sun tunnels provide the hallway with a lot of light, even on cloudy days. The daylight enters through glass panes in the roof and is redirected to the hallway through reflective tunnels. So the residents can do without artificial lighting in the daytime and instead enjoy a natural and pleasant lighting atmosphere. The sun tunnel can illuminate an area of up to nine square metres – roughly the power equivalent of a 60-Watt light bulb. "The hallway is very bright during the day now. I sometimes check whether the light is in fact turned off," says Lone with a grin. After sunset, the light bulb that is installed in the sun tunnel can be turned on – just like a normal lamp. This eliminates the need for an additional ceiling lamp.

Daylight and natural ventilation cause well-being
The installed roof windows and the brightness that comes with them give the house a special character and put the Larsens in a good mood. The roof windows help cut energy use, too, as the family needs to heat less in the winter thanks to the warming rays of the sun coming through. The rooms are flooded with daylight, so that artificial lighting is mostly unnecessary even on cloudy days, and energy used for lighting has been cut by about eight per cent. The roof windows also play an important role in the ventilation of the building. Due to the difference in temperature inside the building and outside and the differing heights of the windows, the so-called stack-effect comes into play: the warm, stale air rises and leaves through the roof windows, while fresh air flows in from below through the vertical windows. This natural ventilation is particularly efficient – it ensures a supply of fresh air and improves the air quality. "When we have a lot of guests over, and after cooking, we notice the biggest difference from how it used to be. The rooms seem much more comfortable and fresh now," says Lone.

A pleasant indoor climate due to natural ventilation and intelligent heat protection
To prevent the house from heating up on hot summer days, all windows have been equipped with exterior heat block awnings. They prevent the rays of the sun from entering through the large window panes and keep the family from sweating in the summertime. Furthermore, the VELUX Integra sensor system automatically controls all the heat protection elements. Based on the intelligent interplay of the sensors and a frequent assessment of outdoor temperature and daylight levels, the system decides whether the indoor climate benefits more from opening or closing the awnings. The system thus ensures a comfortable indoor temperature throughout the summer.

For the Larsen family The remodelling of their home was definitely worth it for the Larsen family. "It is unbelievable how daylight can transform a once dark and uncomfortable house," concludes Søren.

Single-family home in the suburbs

Mon, 26 May 2014 00:00:00 +0200

When the family started planning the remodelling of their new home, their architect advised them to see the renewal of the roof as an opportunity to give the old house completely new qualities. His proposal: altogether, twelve roof windows in the bedrooms, the bathroom and the staircase area would transform the dark building into a comfortable and healthy home with lots of daylight and natural climate control. "When we saw the plans for the first time and counted the windows, we were a bit concerned," says Anders Søndergaard. "The twelve new windows on the first floor seemed quite overwhelming and we were also worried that the large glass surfaces would spoil our privacy."

But their initial scepticism has since turned into pure enthusiasm and the family is excited about the many windows and the bright rooms in their home. "I have to admit that I felt quite exposed because of all the windows at first," says Malene. "But we soon realised that you can't look in from the outside. Not even the neighbours can see what we are doing upstairs." Today she is glad that the family followed the architect's recommendation and did not let the large number of windows discourage them. "In the drawings, you cannot see the light – you can't imagine what it will look like. You have to actually experience it. Everything appears so friendly and simply looks nice."

Bright, daylight-flooded rooms create a good atmosphere
Already in the staircase area, a combination of two VELUX roof window elements ensures sufficient brightness on the way upstairs, even on cloudy days. The master bedroom has been transformed into a bright, daylight-flooded room, thanks to a VELUX system solution "quartet" on the south side – four window elements that form a glass surface that reaches almost from floor to ceiling - as well as two roof windows installed above head height on the north side. "For me, roof windows in the bedroom are pure luxury," explains Malene Søndergaard, "and the interplay of light and shadow and the fresh air are a real pleasure with each new day." The children's room is past all recognition as well. Quartet solutions on both sides of the roof, as well as two roof windows installed above head height facing north, ensure a lot of light and fresh air. "When the children grow up, the room will not only be used for sleeping but will become more of a playroom," says Anders. "Thanks to the roof windows, the room is now bright in the daytime and appears spacious and comfortable." In the initially dark and difficult-to-ventilate bathroom, two roof windows were installed as well, which means more light and much better ventilation. "Before we had the roof windows, the air in the bathroom stayed humid for a long time after somebody took a shower," explains Malene. "Now the humid air leaves through the roof windows quickly and easily."

An attractive house – from the inside and outside
When an older building is transformed into a modern home, there is always the danger of architectural values getting lost and of disharmony arising between the house and its surroundings. With the Søndergaard family's house, this was prevented by means of careful construction and placement of the roof windows. The solar thermal collectors installed on the south side of the roof blend in harmoniously with the overall picture, too. They also allow for the family to save up to 2,595 kWh a year on hot water generation. However, the new windows have not only improved the outer appearance of the house. The Søndergaards can experience their surroundings in a completely new way from the inside as well. "I like the view a lot," says Malene. "We have a view over all the roofs and gardens in the neighbourhood." The attractive renewals on the house have not escaped the neighbours' attention either. "After a visit to our house, the family from across the street was so inspired by the brightness and the view that they decided to have roof windows rather than dormer windows installed themselves," says Anders.

Natural ventilation and intelligent heat protection
The many roof windows not only give the Søndergaards a great view of their surroundings, they also help cut their energy consumption. The family can do mostly without artificial lighting even on cloudy days, and they need to heat less thanks to the warming rays of the sun. The roof windows also play an important role in the ventilation of the building. Due to the differing heights of the windows, the so-called stack-effect comes into play: the warm, stale air rises and leaves through the roof windows installed above head height, while fresh air flows in from below. This natural ventilation is particularly efficient – it ensures a supply of fresh air and guarantees a healthy indoor climate throughout the whole year.

To prevent the space under the roof from heating up on hot summer days, all roof windows have been equipped with exterior heatblock awnings and interior sun protection. Furthermore, the VELUX Integra sensor system opens and closes the windows depending on the level of sunlight and outdoor temperature, and thereby automatically ensures comfortable indoor temperatures during the summer. At the same time, the heatblock awnings create a pleasant atmosphere in the house: "Especially during afternoons, when the awnings are closed, the light in the bedroom and children's room is soft," says Malene. "This is very comfortable and I find it particularly appealing."

Leading expert: failing antibiotics calls for new measures

Wed, 29 Jan 2014 00:00:00 +0100

Drug-resistant bacteria and hard-to-combat pathogens pose an increasing threat to public health. According to the World Health Organisation, the world is heading towards a post-antibiotic era in which many common infections will no longer have a cure.

This is explained in a review published in the internationally renowned Journal of Hospital Infection by the author of The Healing Sun: Sunlight and Health in the 21st Century, Dr Richard Hobday. He says we need to do more to stop infection from spreading – and an effective way of doing this is to improve the indoor climate in our buildings.

Daylight and fresh air kill germs
30 per cent of buildings today do not provide a healthy indoor climate, and many of the infectious diseases endangering public health are diseases of the indoor environment. This is alarming because we spend around 90 per cent of our time indoors.

"Before antibiotics were developed, high levels of ventilation and natural light were important ways of preventing the spread of infections in buildings. Nowadays, there is less emphasis on fresh air and daylight. Codes and regulations tend to promote highly-insulated, sealed buildings that may perform better in energy terms than older designs, but excluding sunlight and fresh air encourages the spread of infections," explains Richard Hobday. He concludes, "In the future, we will have to increase the focus on creating and maintaining a healthy climate in the buildings in which we spend most of our lives. And we will need a much better understanding of how to do this than we have at the moment."

Regulations need to be tightened
Richard Hobday is not alone in raising concerns. The VELUX Group, the roof window manufacturer, has also been observing how the indoor climate in buildings has developed over the last decades – with growing concern.

"The lack of emphasis on creating healthy indoor conditions is a major problem. We are heading down a very unhealthy path when it comes to our future building stock. One of the ways to raise awareness is to make the requirements for fresh air, sunlight and daylight exposure in our building regulations more stringent. At the moment, they are inadequate," explains Per Arnold Andersen, head of the VELUX Group's Knowledge Centre for Daylight, Energy and Indoor Climate.

About the review
The review Roles of Sunlight and Natural Ventilation for Controlling Infection: Historical and Current Perspectives was published in the Journal of Hospital Infection in August 2013. It is based on the technical report The Influence of Sunlight and Ventilation on Indoor Health: Building for the Post-Antibiotic Era, which the VELUX Group commissioned from Dr Hobday in 2011.

Sidebar
A poor indoor climate with too little daylight and fresh air is associated with a number of consequences that affect our health and well-being:

• The risk of damp-related illnesses such as asthma, allergy, coughs and wheezing
• The risk of Sick Building Syndrome causing physical illnesses
• The risk of Seasonal Affective Disorder causing depression-related symptoms
• A decrease in mental health and performance
• A reduced ability to learn
• A lower rate of productivity.
[VELUX Daylight, Energy and Indoor Climate Basic Book, 2nd edition June 2010]

References
1. Hobday RA, Dancer SJ. Roles of Sunlight and Natural Ventilation for Controlling Infection: Historical and Current Perspectives. Journal of Hospital Infection 2013;84:271-282.
2. Hobday RA. The Influence of Sunlight and Ventilation on Indoor Health: Building for the Post-Antibiotic Era. VELUX Group, Copenhagen, 2012.

Too few remember to air out in the depths of winter

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0100

The freezing cold of winter drives most of us indoors and we close doors and windows behind us. But indoor activity and too little ventilation can be a harmful cocktail, leading to increased humidity in the home – if it is not regularly aired out.

Many people forget to ventilate their homes adequately in the cold winter temperatures, according to Karsten Duer of the VELUX Group's Knowledge Centre for daylight, indoor climate and energy. This oversight can lead to increased humidity in buildings and have disastrous consequences.

"In Europe, we spend an average of 90% of our time indoors, even more in winter. So we really should air out our homes and offices several times a day, in summer and in winter. If we don't, humidity levels can rise, with a correspondingly higher risk of structural damage, fungus and house mites," explains Karsten Duer.

Higher risk of asthma and allergy
But it is not just the home that suffers when humidity rises; people's general health is also threatened.

"Our health is closely connected with our surroundings. Studies have shown that spending time in rooms with fungus and house mites can produce a higher risk of asthma and allergy. That is another reason why regular airing out is important," says Karsten Duer.

Apart from these medical risks, the indoor climate of our homes also has a great influence on our ability to concentrate, productivity and general well-being.

Useful tips for effective ventilation

1. Air out several times a day. For example, morning, lunchtime and evening; and as a minimum when drying laundry, cooking and similar activities.

2. Create a through draft for 5-10 minutes by opening several windows. The air will then be changed very quickly without the room becoming cold.

3. If you have one or more roof windows, the best ventilating is done by making use of the so-called chimney effect. Open a facade window and a roof window at the same time. As stale air rises and leaves through the roof window, it quickly brings fresh air in behind it through the facade window.

December 21: The Shortest Day of The Year

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 00:00:00 +0100

Christmas is not the only happy event that will soon be upon us. From 21 December, we gain more daylight with every passing day, and, according to daylight expert, Per Arnold Andersen of the VELUX Group's Knowledge centre for daylight, energy and indoor climate, this is valuable for our well-being and health.

"From today and until the next solstice, we will be spending more and more time in daylight – both inside our homes and outdoors. Daylight is beneficial for humans in a number of ways; one thing daylight does is brighten our minds, making us less prone to depression. But increased exposure to daylight also helps to manage our "internal clock", which is important for our circadian rhythm," Per Arnold Andersen explains, adding:

"Last, but not least, daylight boosts our immune system and our general energy level, benefitting our health directly in all kinds of ways."

"Let in the daylight and the fresh air"
But although the longest nights and shortest days are on the wane, it will be a while yet before the long, bright summer days are with us again. Meanwhile, there are things we can do to maximise the beneficial effects of limited daylight, even though most of the winter is spent indoors.

"We spend around 90% of our time indoors in buildings that in many cases provide a insufficient and unhealthy indoor climate, where daylight and fresh air are in short supply. But we can do something about that by remembering to air our homes regularly, drawing back the curtains and letting the sun in as often as possible," says Per Arnold Andersen.

The winter solstice occurs on Friday 21 December.

About the shortest day of the year
The shortest day of the year, more formally known as the winter solstice, is the day of the year on which the Sun appears at noon at its lowest altitude above the horizon.

Since time immemorial, Northern Hemisphere cultures have celebrated the return of daylight with rituals, festivals and holidays around the time of the winter solstice.

New VELUX roof window wins design award

Wed, 07 Nov 2012 00:00:00 +0100

The new generation of remote-controlled roof windows from the VELUX Group has been awarded the Design Award at Ingeniørens Produktpris 2012. One of the reasons for the Danish trade magazine's selection was that VELUX INTEGRA® roof window allows greater daylight influx and makes a positive contribution to a home's energy bill.

VELUX INTEGRA® consists of an electrically-powered roof window and a control unit to operate it and the associated sunscreening equipment. The control unit's memory contains pre-installed weather data that enaVELUX INTEGRA® consists of an electrically-powered roof window and a control unit to opbles automatic operation of the window depending on prevailing weather conditions and thereby optimises a home's energy consumption and indoor climate. In practical terms, that means the control unit allows the user to automatically optimise heat intake and insulation properties in the heating season and minimise heat intake and prevent overheating in the summer.

In the development phase, attention was paid to combining design, technology and user-friendliness, a feature that found favour in the statement made by the jury in explaining their decision:

"VELUX INTEGRA® has won the design award because it is a well-considered and contem-porary update of the familiar VELUX product, GGL roof window. […] The window has been given intelligence, with an in-built rain sensor and a number of climate-optimising features that make the window more than a means of admitting light – it has become an active component in controlling the home's energy bill and provides the residents with automatic and controlled air circulation."

The recognition has been met with delight at VELUX Danmark A/S:

"We began the year by introducing our new generation of roof windows, and now end it by receiving a prestigious award for its intelligent design. That is a real pat on the back for everyone involved. The award also sends out an important signal that even with such well-known products as our roof windows, development and improvement is a continual process," says Jesper Salskov Jensen, General Manager of VELUX Danmark A/S. He continues:

"It is especially pleasing that the panel of judges spoke highly of the contribution VELUX INTEGRA® makes to a home's energy bill and improvement of the indoor climate – and of the natural ventilation that has been the cornerstone of our development of the new gen-eration of roof windows."

VELUX INTEGRA® was designed at the development departments in Østbirk near Horsens (in Jutland) and Group headquarters in Hørsholm, north of Copenhagen. The new generation of remote-controlled roof windows arrived on the market in Scandinavia in the spring of 2012 and will be introduced to the rest of Europe in the next few years.

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 collectors 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.

International Conference Discuss Solutions for Better Thermal Comfort and Indoor Climate in [Nearly] Zero-Energy Buildings

Fri, 12 Oct 2012 00:00:00 +0200

On 10 - 11 October 160 experts from 28 countries set out to discuss possible solutions to improve thermal comfort and indoor climate in the [nearly] zero-energy residential buildings of today and tomorrow. The venue was the 33rd AIVC Conference and 2nd TightVent Conference in Copenhagen.

In this video Karsten Duer, Director of Standardisation and Product Regulation at the VELUX Group, and Jean-Christophe Visier, Director of Department of Health, Energy and Environment at CSTB (Scientific and Technical Centre for Building, France), explain that it is crucial to find and implement solutions that improve the thermal comfort and indoor climate without compromising the energy efficiency of [nearly] zero-energy buildings.

Ventilative cooling is presented as one of the options. According to Karsten Duer one of the keys lies in improving building regulations and requirements for fresh air in buildings.

Innovation Strategy Leads to a New Business Area

Thu, 20 Sep 2012 00:00:00 +0200

"2012 is a big year for the VELUX Group. We started the year by introducing our new generation of roof windows and are now launching VELUX Modular Skylights. This is a result of a persistent strategic focus on innovation that we believe will give us a competitive edge when the financial crisis is over," says Jørgen Tang-Jensen, CEO of the VELUX Group.

In the last five years, the VELUX Group has increased R&D investments by 50 per cent and now allocates about 50 million euro annually. The two new introductions represent a combined investment so far of 225 million euro.

VELUX Modular Skylights is a new way to think of a commercial skylight system because of its 100% modularity. Today the market is dominated by custom-made products from many different suppliers; this new system is a standard solution, yet flexible to work with, assembled with prefabricated modules that are delivered on site ready to install.

"The arrival of VELUX Modular Skylights means that, for the first time, we have a product specifically targeted at commercial and public buildings. We have great expectations of this strategic expansion of our traditional business and are confident that, in ten years' time, it will grow to become a considerable part of our business," says Jørgen Tang-Jensen.

Many commercial and public buildings, such as schools, hospitals, shopping malls and offices, are suffering from the lack of daylight and fresh air. With buildings accounting for 40% of all EU energy consumption, energy efficiency in buildings is considered one of the most cost-effective measures to achieve great energy savings and to cut CO2 emissions.

"There is a great need to incorporate daylight and fresh air in buildings −and a cry for an easy solution. VELUX Modular Skylights meets this demand, and since the product is equally suitable for both new build and renovation, it is also relevant in times of crisis in the building industry," says Jørgen Tang-Jensen.

VELUX Modular Skylights will be launched on markets where the VELUX brand already has a well-established position – starting in Denmark, Sweden, the UK, Belgium, Holland and Germany in 2012, followed by France in 2013.

Poor air quality in classrooms has grave consequence on society

Mon, 27 Aug 2012 00:00:00 +0200

About 180 million Euros in increased GNP and savings of 36 million Euros in public funds. That is the sum Denmark could save by replacing the lingering smell of sandwich boxes and stale air in state schools with fresh air. The calculation appears in a report commissioned by the VELUX Group from the analysis institute SLOTSHOLM A/S. A simple but important start down the road is to open windows and completely air out classrooms.

Daylight and Fresh Air Can Save Local Culture Centres

Thu, 05 Jul 2012 00:00:00 +0200

Whilst worn-out cultural centres all over Europe are struggling to attract users, a local culture centre in the Nørrebro district of Copenhagen has tripled its user activity. Its success lies in focussing on daylight and fresh air in the renovation plan and the Centre has now become a source of inspiration to visitors from all over the world.
The video tells the story on how a local culture Centre in Copenhagen has managed to increase its user activity with 300 % and at the same time lowering its energy consumption by renovation with focus on daylight and fresh air.
The video includes an interview with Birgitte Kortegaard, manager of the Municipality of Copenhagen project Haraldsgade Områdeløft and project Manager Henrik Norlander Smith from the VELUX Group .

The Longest and Healthiest Day of the Year

Wed, 20 Jun 2012 00:00:00 +0200

In many parts of the world, the 21st of June marks the longest day of the year. Apart from offering more hours with daylight, this day could also very well be regarded as the healthiest day of the year, because the increased exposure to daylight and fresh air strengthens our immune defence - making us less prone to illness. In the video Per Arnold Andersen from the VELUX Group Daylight Knowledge Centre explains how daylight and natural ventilation affect our general health and mood.

Call for Building Sustainable Homes of Tomorrow

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0200

At the recent Batibouw fair in Belgium EU commissioner on Climate Action, Connie Hedegaard, appeals to the building industry for it to build, show and disseminate the good solutions on how we can live up to the energy requirements of tomorrow with the building materials of today. The VELUX Group has chosen to face the challenges through the construction of a number of model homes that show that it is possible to build low energy houses that provide a good indoor climate with lots of daylight and fresh air. It's a fact that we spend 90% of our time in buildings that consumes 40% of the energy in the western world, however up to 30% of the building mass does not provide a healthy indoor climate. Material includes an edited version and sound bites of Connie Hedegaard and Lone Feifer, Project Director, the VELUX group.

Family tests C02-neutral VELUX Sunlighthouse

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 00:00:00 +0100

So far the VELUX Sunlighthouse has enthralled energy experts and designers, winning multiple prestigious awards. Now comes the tough practical trial: for a whole year Yasmin and Ludwig Dorfstetter and their two children will be testing whether it is actually possible to combine energy-efficient home-building with minimal CO2 emissions and a healthy, comfortable living environment.

This active house, challengingly situated on a slope and in partial shade, is fully surrendering itself to everyday family life. Every detail will be scientifically evaluated, and the personal Internet reports of the family about their experiences will be eagerly awaited.

No shortage of volunteers

The Sunlighthouse Family Search produced a frantic rush to the VELUX website. More than a hundred families from all over Austria did not want to miss out on the unique opportunity to help shape the future of green home-building and living. Not to mention a whole year living rent-free in an architecturally appealing and ecologically unique dream house with a panoramic view. It was no easy task for the jury to choose from the large number of motivated and likeable applicants.

In the end, though, the members of the jury, consisting of VELUX representatives, communications experts and psychologists, reached agreement and declared the Dorfstetter family the clear winner of this unique experiment.

Family with know-how and a spirit of adventure

Yasmin and Ludwig Dorfstetter had far more going for them than just their warm personalities, spirit of adventure and enthusiasm for the project. From their professional lives, both bring valuable knowledge of the field of ecology to the project:

Ludwig Dorfstetter (31), from Lower Austria, works for Austrian Federal Forests. As a scientific employee of the Climate Protection Research Collaboration, Yasmin Dorfstetter (29), born in the Allgäu Alps, is just the person to subject the VELUX Sunlighthouse to a thorough practical trial. "Sustainable management of natural resources has been a big part of our professional lives for a long time. So we're excited that this experiment also gives us an opportunity to help shape the future of ecological home-building and living in our private lives."

In order to do that, the couple, together with their children, Johann (2) and Alfred (4), are making the move from Salzburg to Lower Austria. They will be able to check out for themselves whether combing the concepts of the active house, energy efficiency, environmental conservation and healthy indoor climate will prove successful in practice.

The findings from this project will permanently change the ecological view on home-building and the environment. The family will not be alone in the one-year experiment. Numerous experts from the most diverse fields will accompany and support them on their way.

Diary and scientific monitoring

The Sunlighthouse in Pressbaum is part of the Europe-wide VELUX initiative Model Home 2020, demonstrating how energy-efficient home-building can be combined with minimal CO2 emissions and a healthy, comfortable living environment.

"We're curious about how it will feel on an everyday basis and will be reporting continually via the Internet in order to exchange information with interested home-builders and families," enthuses Yasmin Dorfstetter. Her husband adds, "In the next 12 months that we're in the Sunlighthouse, the specialists from the VELUX Group will be collecting practical data on energy consumption, indoor climate and comfort in the house. So we will be able to help further refine and improve the unique concept of the active house."

The first CO2-neutral single-family home in Austria

The VELUX Sunlighthouse was developed in close collaboration with HEIN-TROY Architekten, Danube University Krems and the Austrian Institute for Healthy and Ecological Building (IBO). Opened in October last year, it has so far enthralled energy experts, architects and designers, leading to awards such as the Austrian State Prize for Environment and Energy Technologies and the renowned Vorarlberg Timber Construction Award.

In respect of the active house principle, the Sunlighthouse embodies a holistic view; it is not just the energy for heating that has been given prominence, but low overall energy consumption, the use of environment-friendly building materials and a healthy indoor climate with lots of daylight and fresh air. The energy needed to run the house is produced solely from renewable energy sources.

The aim has been to produce not just Austria's first house that is fully CO2-neutral in construction and operation, but also a "plus-energy house" that continually produces more energy than it consumes.

In order to achieve this aim, every conceivable opportunity has been exploited: a brine-water heat pump, thermal solar collectors, photovoltaic solar cells, intelligent control of window ventilation, high-efficiency electrical devices, recycled building materials and renewable raw materials – the list of features is really comprehensive.

The optimal use of daylight gave the house its name: the window area is more than 50% of the living area, and thus five times higher than the minimum requirement of the building regulations.

The high level of daylight underlines the objective of assigning prime importance to the residents of this healthy house: numerous studies demonstrate the positive effect of natural light on our health.

www.velux.com
www.facebook.com/veluxAustria

Photo caption: Michael Walter, VELUX Österreich GmbH, and Deputy of the state parliament Wilibald Eigner hand over traditional bread and salt to Ludwig and Yasmin Dorfstetter.

About Model Home 2020

Model Home 2020 is an experiment launched by the VELUX Group as part of our strategy to take an active part in developing sustainable buildings for the future. It is our vision of how future buildings can be both climate-neutral and comfortable and attractive places to live in through daylight and fresh air.

The project is in full accordance with the next generation of design principles frequently referred to as "active house" (www.activehouse.org). The objective is to achieve a balance between energy efficiency and optimal indoor climate with a building that dynamically adjusts to its surroundings and yet is climate neutral.

Model Home 2020 comprises six demonstration projects. The two experiments in Denmark were built in a partnership between the VELUX Group and VELFAC. Each of the Model Home projects was implemented in close cooperation with local and regional partners, suppliers, architects, engineers and researchers.

In the VELUX Group, we believe that one experiment is better than a thousand expert views. Each building must reflect and respond to the different climatic, cultural and architectural conditions of the countries in which they are built. The houses will be open to the public for 6-12 months after completion and then sold. Each house will be monitored during occupancy to learn how the experiments turn out in real-life conditions.

The houses in Denmark – Home for Life in Aarhus and Green Lighthouse in Copenhagen – have been in use for a year, those in Germany and Austria opened in the autumn of 2010, and those in the UK and France followed in 2011.

Need for Daylight at the End of Daylight Saving Time

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Length of the day has already decreased by 7 1/2 hours, it is time to let our clocks jump one hour backward to end Daylight Saving Time on October 30. Daylight is a vital source of energy for human beings. When we are exposed to plenty of daylight we have a general sense of well-being – because daylight has an effect on our so-called circadian rhythm regulation, our sleep quality and alertness. Reality is however that we spend 90% of our time indoors. But by raising levels of daylight in buildings, the people using them and living in them will feel less of the stress factors caused by lack of daylight. The most efficient way to get daylight into a building is through the roof. Research shows that daylight has a better light quality than electric lighting and with roof windows it is possible to avoid using artificial light even on a grey day. Available video includes general views of day light and VELUX products bringing light into houses.

Daylight and natural ventilation key to newly launched VELUX CarbonLight Homes

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0200

The design strategy of the completed VELUX CarbonLight Homes was released today as the homes were unveiled at an opening ceremony in Rothwell, Kettering, attended by Heather Wheeler MP, The Mayor of Kettering, local Councillors and the project partners.
Paramount to the design of the two zero carbon homes, which form part of the VELUX Model Home 2020 project, is that they conform to the principles of Active House, addressing the dual challenges of energy design and liveability.
They will actively promote the health and well-being of occupants, generate a sense of community and advocate a respect for the environment, as well as achieving a 70% on-site reduction in carbon emissions with the remaining 30% offset by energy efficiency improvements to existing properties elsewhere in the borough.
Project partner, HTA Architects, has made innovative use of building technology, natural daylight and ventilation to minimise energy consumption and produce a healthy indoor climate that will make the CarbonLight Homes an attractive place to live. The scheme emerged as the winner of the Innovation Award for Building Technology at the prestigious British Homes Awards 2010.
Each property's demand for fossil fuel energy for heating, hot water and electricity has been reduced to a minimum. The dynamic building envelopes will regulate heat transmission throughout the day and the night. They will reduce the energy needed for cooling in the summer by employing natural ventilation and will utilise passive solar heat gains in the winter.
The homes promote energy self-sufficiency, using solar heating in combination with air-to-water heat pumps for hot water and space heating. Similarly, natural ventilation is used to cool the buildings with the triple height atriums around the stairs allowing for stack and cross ventilation. In hotter months, the homes can be opened up and cooled using purge ventilation while internal and external screening help to control solar gain and create a comfortable indoor climate. In winter, natural ventilation works alongside a Mechnical Ventilation system with Heat Recovery which recycles heat from the kitchen and bathrooms into the living areas.
Windows play an important part in capturing solar energy and regulating the temperature of the CarbonLight Homes as well as allowing high levels of daylight into the buildings. The homes have been designed with a minimum average daylight factor of 5% throughout, which is three times greater than the Code for Sustainable Homes requires, reducing the need for artificial light and promoting occupant health.
The home control systems will also help occupants reduce their energy consumption and ensure a healthy indoor climate. Windows can be opened at a pre-arranged time while a climate control system opens and closes windows and blinds automatically when the weather changes.
Keith Riddle, Managing Director at VELUX Company Ltd, comments:"We are extremely proud of the completed homes and the progress in zero carbon housing that they represent. While the industry is making headway in designing and building homes that meet our energy targets, the impact on the health and well-being of the occupants is all too often overlooked. By adopting an innovative approach to building technology, daylight and natural ventilation, our CarbonLight Homes are intended to act as a benchmark for future sustainable design in the broadest sense."
Ben Derbyshire, Managing Director of HTA Architects, adds:"The CarbonLight Homes' high average daylight factor, intelligent use of natural ventilation and dynamic building envelopes make them a truly unique residential development, which provides an indoor environment that will actively promote occupant health. Space, light and air are key ingredients in a recipe that we believe will appeal to home buyers and which we believe could be replicated more widely – bringing the good life to the volume market."
The CarbonLight Homes will now be open to the industry for six months, before becoming the subject of post occupancy evaluation for one year. The results will be fed back to the industry to help influence future low carbon housing design.
Experiment 5: CarbonLight Homes
CarbonLight Homes are the first new homes in the UK designed and built to the new UK Government definition of zero carbon. They are designed to be real homes for real people, with construction techniques suitable for use by mass house builders. CarbonLight Homes use nature in an intelligent way to maximise daylight and encourage a sustainable lifestyle. The design is open plan and incorporates high levels of daylight and natural ventilation, intended to minimise energy consumption among residents and generate a sense of community. The homes show that common-sense design can be used to create inspirational sus-tainable houses that can be easily replicated by UK housebuilders.
CarbonLight Homes were developed in a strategic partnership between Architects HTA, the VELUX Group, Kettering Borough Council, WILLMOTT DIXON and North Northants Development. WindowMaster, VELFAC, Drexel and Weiss and Sonnenkraft supplied the products for the house.
CarbonLight Homes are the fifth of six buildings in Europe to be constructed by the VELUX Group as part of the Model Home 2020 experiment. They will be completed in 2011.
Read more at: http://www.velux.com/Sustainable_living/Model_home_2020/CarbonLight_Homes/default.aspx
Press photo: From the left: Keith Riddle, Managing Director of VELUX Company Ltd.; cutting the ribbon Heather Wheeler, Member of Parliament for South Derbyshire; Jørgen Tang-Jensen, CEO VELUX Group, Ben Derbyshire, Managing Director of HTA Architects. Photo: John Robertson
About Model Home 2020Model Home 2020 is an experiment launched by the VELUX Group as part of our strategy to take an active part in developing sustainable buildings for the future. It is our vision of how future buildings can be both climate-neutral and comfortable and attractive places to live in through daylight and fresh air. The project is in full accordance with the next generation of design principles frequently referred to as 'active house' (www.activehouse.org). The objective is to achieve a balance between energy efficiency and optimal indoor climate with a building that dynamically adjusts to its surroundings and yet is climate-neutral.
Model Home 2020 comprises six demonstration projects. The two experiments in Denmark were built in a partnership between the VELUX Group and VELFAC. Each of the Model Home projects was implemented in close cooperation with local and regional partners, suppliers, architects, engineers and researchers.
In the VELUX Group, we believe that one experiment is better than a thousand expert views. Each building must reflect and respond to the different climatic, cultural and architectural conditions of the countries in which they are built. The houses will be open to the public for 6-12 months after completion and then sold. Each house will be monitored during occupancy to learn how the experiments turn out in real-life conditions. The houses in Denmark – Home for Life in Aarhus and Green Lighthouse in Copenhagen – have been in use for a year and a half, those in Germany and Austria opened in the autumn of 2010, and those in the UK and France will follow in 2011.

Experience from Green Lighthouse Shows that Users are a Decisive Factor in Sustainable Buildings

Tue, 31 May 2011 00:00:00 +0200

Green Lighthouse is Denmark's first carbon-neutral public building. As an innovation project, it is intended to provide experience for the sustainable buildings of the future. Eighteen months after the Green Lighthouse at Copenhagen University opened its doors for the first time, it has proved to be a good model for sustainable public buildings of the future, with excellent daylight conditions and indoor climate. The first experience gained is that user requirements and behavior are decisive for the sustainability of such buildings. The building has generated enormous attention and attracted several thousands of visitors, including the Russian President Medvedev and New York's mayor, Michael Bloomberg. It has functioned as a place of work and a showroom for sustainable public buildings of the future at the same time. Available video includes animation clip and general views of the Green Lighthouse.

Rituals and care for the family regulate the fresh air in our homes

Thu, 23 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100

When we open the kitchen window in the morning, it is not the random event it might seem.

A new qualitative study carried out in Denmark shows that rituals, care and the need to be in control regulate when and how we let fresh air into our homes. The study was made for the VELUX Group by the Danish anthropologist Bettina Hauge.

When we open the kitchen window in the morning, it is not the random event it might seem. A new qualitative study by Danish anthropologist Bettina Hauge indicates that airing out at home is a highly ritualised affair, involving care for our families and the need to be in control.

Bettina Hauge's study – Anthropological study and analysis of the importance of outside fresh air in the home - commissioned by the VELUX Group, concludes that letting in fresh air from outside is particularly important to us in our homes in the transition periods of everyday life – when we get up in the morning, come home from work, return from holiday and with the change of seasons.

Our behavioural patterns vary according to the season and according to the uses to which we put our rooms. And for many people, these rituals or everyday habits give a mental picture that the house lives and breathes and is inhabited. The sociological study shows such mundane practices of life as airing out the home with fresh air are predominantly controlled by habit.

"The study gives unique insight into the habits and needs associated with airing out a home. This is knowledge that can be out to progressive use by the whole building sector in constructing or renovating buildings so that they meet user needs for self-control of the indoor climate," says Per Arnold Andersen, architect and manager from the VELUX Group.

We show we care with fresh air
Inadequate ventilation causes illness; airing out also removes unwanted smells from our homes, such as the stale air from the bedroom and bathroom. The study shows that by controlling and regulating the intake of fresh air into our homes, we feel we are showing care for our families at home because we can make a difference to their general health and wellbeing – we make sure that our children smell fresh and get fresh air.

According to Bettina Hauge, whilst the home is the framework for family health, it is also a set of odours that indicate who we are and how we would like to be perceived by those who visit our homes.

"The home reflects who we are as people – and the study provides clear evidence that home owners use fresh air to signal who they are. You could go so far as to say that your home is your smell. Very few people want to invite guests into a home that smells dank, with stale air and poor ventilation; they would much rather bid them enter a welcoming and fragrant home," says Per Arnold Andersen, architect and manager from the VELUX Group.

Our sensory experience of our homes also determines how and when we let in fresh air; that is also influenced by our general need for control in a socio-cultural context – the need to control the impression we give, to control how our home smells.

The study states that homeowners focus on creating a welcoming home that always feels fresh, sweet-smelling and recognisable to its occupants. That helps give them a sense of being on control of their homes in terms of domestic health.

Finally the study reveals a difference between men and women in behavioural patterns in airing out – woman open windows and men close them.

Results of the study:

Airing out (opening windows and letting fresh air in and stale air out) is very habitual. Home-owners air out at particular times – in the so-called transition periods when they come home from work, return from holiday, wake up in the morning and with the change of seasons.
Homeowners air out because they want to be in control of their homes, the indoor climate, their families' health, the sense of cleanliness and smell of the home –Airing out helps re-duce the irritation of damp and smells from rooms such as the bathroom. Homeowners air out to create air circulation indoors to ensure the air does not become stale.
Fresh air allows the homeowner to influence how guests perceive the home and its smells. They use fresh air to create a set of odours that are fresh and welcoming.
Typically, women open windows and men close them.
Fresh air in the home is associated with nature and the seasons – and the pleasure of ex-periencing a fragrant breeze. Many participants in the study stress that natural ventilation via the windows gives them the opportunity to sense their surroundings and the world about them, even though they are indoors.

About the study:
The study is based on in-depth interviews with and observations of families from different age groups and different sized towns on the island of Zealand. The participants were selected by the criteria that they were house dwellers and by their age and occupation to ensure a representative sample.

About Bettina Hauge:
Bettina Hauge graduated as an anthropologist from Copenhagen University and holds a PhD in sociology. She has conducted numerous research projects in technology and human interaction, the most recent being into user-driven innovation and intelligent homes. Bettina Hauge teaches at the University of Copenhagen and the Technical University of Denmark.

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

President Medvedev to build Green Lighthouse in Russia

Thu, 06 May 2010 00:00:00 +0200

During his official state visit to Denmark, President of the Russian Federation, Dimitry Medvedev, visited Green Lighthouse, Denmark's first public carbon-neutral building. He showed great interest in it and, the next day, announced the decision to build a Green Lighthouse in Russia.

One of the first concrete results of the official Russian state visit last week is that President Medvedev is to build a Green Lighthouse in Russia. Green Lighthouse is Denmark's first official carbon-neutral building. With its innovative and climate-friendly energy concept, the building has once again man-aged to draw attention to Danish expertise in sustainable building and to an award-winning demon-stration of public-private teamwork.

Green Lighthouse is the green beacon of Copenhagen University. Here students of the Faculty of Natu-ral Sciences receive guidance about their courses and researchers gather to swap experience and ideas.

"We are both proud and delighted that Green Lighthouse is now to be built in Russia. Copenhagen University has set itself the objective to become one of the greenest campuses in Europe. And Green Lighthouse is making an enormous contribution. The building is a wonderful example of what can be achieved when the public and private sectors work together at the same pace," proclaims Rector Ralf Hemmingsen.

Climate and Energy Minister Lykke Friis says:
"I am thrilled about the Russian interest in the concept. It confirms that Denmark has a strong position when it comes to building energy-efficient housing. Homes account for 40 per cent of all Danish energy consumption, so the knowledge we possess will be a huge asset in the years to come, when we have to cut our energy consumption on a continual basis. Green Lighthouse shows that it is possible to construct the energy-friendly buildings of tomorrow with the technology of today."

Building of the future
"As one of the largest building owners in the country, it is important for the Ministry of Science, Tech-nology and Innovation to focus on and encourage energy-efficient building. It is fantastic that a sus-tainable building such as Green Lighthouse, which has been a source of inspiration to the building sector in Denmark, has also inspired such a great nation as Russia to build green," comments Minister of Science Charlotte Sahl-Madsen.

"It was incredibly exciting to speak with the President of Russia about the green challenge. Naturally, we are delighted to be able to contribute with our knowledge and experience in this field. Green Light-house is a clear demonstration that we can construct climate-friendly buildings with a good indoor climate and masses of daylight and fresh air with the knowledge and the products we already have today," says Jørgen Tang-Jensen, CEO of the VELUX Group.

Mayor of Copenhagen Frank Jensen is also enthusiastic about the Russian interest in Green Lighthouse:
"Copenhagen must be known for its use of cutting-edge, green technology, developed as a result of inter-disciplinary teamwork. The Russian interest in Green Lighthouse is a signal to Copenhagen that we are among the world leaders. That is an excellent point of departure from which to attract invest-ment and alliance partners from home and abroad to take part in visionary and green urban develop-ment projects. "

Sidebar:
Green Lighthouse – a beacon for the climate issueGreen Lighthouse is Denmark's first official carbon-neutral building. It was built in a strategic partnership between the University of Copenhagen, the VELUX Group, VELFAC, the Danish University and Property Agency and the Municipality of Copenhagen. The building shows that it is possible to build the carbon-neutral buildings of the future, with masses of daylight benefiting user health and well-being, without compromising on design, comfort, indoor climate. Green Lighthouse has the sun at its focal point and primary source of energy. The 950-m2 building has its own energy supply consisting of a unique combination of solar energy, heat pumps and district heating.

Its energy concept and visionary architecture have resulted in a 75 per cent saving in energy com-pared to the building standards of today. The building was designed by Christensen og Co Arkitekter A/S, with COWI as consulting engineers, and built by Hellerup Byg.

Old cultural centre gets daylight, fresh air and new energy

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Daylight, solar heat and natural ventilation from the VELUX Group ensure good indoor climate and better energy balance in the City of Copenhagen's energy renovation project of a cultural centre in a northern quarter of the city. Today, the renovated building is inaugurated and on 1 January the public will start using the facilities.

When the UN Climate Conference begins in Copenhagen in December, the Municipality will present a series of energy renovation projects of some of the city's old buildings. The Osram Cultural Centre at Nørrebro is the flagship project of the programme, which apart from the climate and energy issues, concentrates on creating a better indoor climate and well-being for the people who live and work in the buildings. With its long experience in daylight and fresh air, the VELUX Group as project partner has had an influence on how the old building in Valhalsgade should be given a new lease of life.We spend 90 per cent of our time indoors
The renovated cultural centre will cut its energy consumption by 60 per cent, thereby reducing CO2 emissions. Savings come from more than better insulation – the passive solar heat admitted by the new roof windows, the electricity cuts coming from more daylight and natural ventilation and the solar collectors that supply hot water and heating of the basement all contribute to the reduction of energy consumption. But the VELUX Group has another goal equally important as reducing energy consumption – it is improving the health and well-being of the occupants.

"Daylight and fresh air are vital to our welfare, our health and our ability to learn and work. We spend 90 per cent of our time indoors, so it is important that we get as much daylight and natural ventilation as possible into our buildings," says VELUX Group Department Head Karsten Duer.

The building in the street Valhalsgade was completed in 1952 as an industrial building for the electric light bulb producer Osram. As the first prefabricated concrete building in Denmark, it is remarkable for its profiled surfaces and oblique glazing bars. These will be preserved during the renovation – but the dilapidated appearance, the high energy consumption and the dark rooms will be done away with, to the delight of the participants in courses, folk dancers and musicians using the building.

Important to all Copenhageners
The Culture and Leisure Mayor of Copenhagen, Pia Allerslev (who is the political head of Copenhagen Property, the agency behind the renovation), has nothing but praise for the project.

"It is one of my personal ambitions to to spark off more of such projects," says the Culture and Leisure Mayor of the city

The project proposal for the cultural centre was drawn up by architects from the VELUX Group after examination of the building and discussions with a group of consultants from the drawing office Tegnestuen T-plus and the engineering firm Wissenberg.

Daylight and Fresh Air Supplier VELUX Releases New Video

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 00:00:00 +0200

The VELUX Group is one of the strongest brands in the global building materials and home improvement industry. The product programme contains a wide range of roof windows, skylights and accessories which create better living environments with daylight and fresh air. As such the Danish company contributes to more sustainable building in terms of energy efficiency, healthy indoor climate and renewable energy. The group is title sponsor for VELUX 5 OCEANS, the longest and toughest ocean race. The VELUX Group's head office is in Horsholm, north of Copenhagen. Available material includes video and still images of VELUX Group.

The VELUX Group Creates a CO2-neutral Family Home with Superior Indoor Climate

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 00:00:00 +0200

'Home for Life' is the first of six houses to be built in Europe as part of the Model Home 2020 concept, which aims to inspire future building. The objective is to create climate-neutral buildings with optimised indoor climate, fresh air and daylight. The total energy consumption is minimised and covered by renewable and CO2-neutral energy generated by the building itself. After around 30 years, the surplus energy is equivalent to the amount of energy represented by the materials the house is built from. Over the next year, a family of four will live in the house, which enables real-life energy monitoring. Available video includes an animation of the 'Home for Life' model.

Nordic Climate Solutions 2009

Sun, 09 Aug 2009 00:00:00 +0200

A VELUX Group stand will showcase Active House and during the conference, the EU Commissioner for Energy will get a guided tour of Green Lighthouse.

On 8-9 September 2009, the largest green-tech conference and exhibition in Northern Europe takes place in Copenhagen's Bella Center. More than 1000 producers, suppliers, customers and business partners as well as politicians and scientists meet, three months before COP 15 opening.

Sustainable cities
One of the main sessions at the conference is titled "A Tale of Two Green Cities". The Mayor of the Swedish city of Malmoe and the Mayor of Technical and Environmental Administration of Copenhagen will give answers to the question: How are renewable energy best integrated in urban design and what are the perspectives for sustainable cities?

At the same session, Michael K. Rasmussen, Director of Branding and Communication, addresses both construction of new houses and renovation of old houses. In his presentation, he will present the Model Home 2020 demonstration houses 'Home for Life' and 'Green Lighthouse' as well as three Greater Copenhagen renovation projects, where VELUX Group has partnered up with the Municipality of Copenhagen (Solar Prism in Albertslund, Valhalsgade Culture Centre in Copenhagen, and Gullandsgården at Amager, Copenhagen). These projects demonstrate in practice how the "Active House" concept meet the future demands for sustainable buildings that is cutting energy consumption while creating a better indoor climate.

Solar energy and intelligent homes
In the future, homes will provide energy instead of consuming energy. In order to achieve this goal, solar energy will play an important role. Frank Hansen, Senior Product Manager at the VELUX Solar Energy Department is on an expert panel discussing the potentials and barriers for solar energy in the intelligent home.

At the Nordic Climate Solutions tradeshow, visitors will get a first-hand view of the Active House concept at the VELUX stand where they are also invited to attend sessions on "Renewable Energy" and "Solar Energy". During the conference, delegations of politicians and scientists will get guided tours at the VELUX stand.

Visit Nordic Climate Solutions website

VELUX Breathe Fresh Life Into the Home With io-homecontrol

Tue, 31 May 2005 00:00:00 +0200

The io-homecontrol group, bringing a new technology for a stress-free home, is launched today by some of the world's leading firms in home comfort technology.

The io-homecontrol group, bringing a new technology for a stress-free home, is launched today by some of the world's leading firms in home comfort technology including HONEYWELL, the world leader in homes and building controls, SOMFY, the international specialist in motors and controls for openings and closures of homes and commercial buildings and VELUX, the world leader in the market for roof windows.

io-homecontrol is a wireless communication protocol that can control a wide range of motorised and manual equipment in the home to provide greater comfort, well-being, security and energy efficiency.

The io-homecontrol group, whose first products will be available mid-2005, is open to all home equipment manufacturers.

With io-homecontrol, home equipment manufacturers will transcend their brands to provide a simple, global response to today's user needs.

io-homecontrol is compatible with all home equipment, motorised or otherwise (roller shutters, blinds, garage doors, roof windows, heating, lighting, alarms, locks, etc.), and enables not only their simultaneous operation but also a genuine interactive dialogue.

The io-homecontrol technology allows the homeowner to adjust the settings of the household fittings around their house directly from the io-homecontrol® remote control. The technology also allows the operator to see the extent to which a command has been executed and which fittings are in operation or on stand-by. As a result, io-homecontrol® gives the homeowner four major benefits:

Greater comfort
io-homecontrol appliances can be programmed to run tasks or repetitive tasks (operate blinds, control the heating system, close the shutters, open the gate etc.). They can also be programmed to perform a combination of settings simultaneously each day, such as closing the shutters and switching on the lights at dusk etc.

Enhanced well-being
With the io-homecontrol remote control, one touch is all it takes to control the air quality (temperature, humidity, etc.) through a personalised combination of settings. It can operate the windows, roller shutters, blinds, heating, air conditioning and ventilation, and can be set to air the rooms for 15 minutes each morning at 10 a.m. or react to a change in humidity, such as automatically adjusting the position of the blinds depending on the amount of sunshine.

Extra security
One 'click' and io-homecontrol insures that all points of access are closed at the same time and the alarm set. In addition, the technology can be programmed with a safety sequence for fittings, which turns internal lights on and off to give the impression that the house is occupied whilst the homeowner is away. It is also possible to identify a breakdown or malfunction in the house thanks to the io-homecontrol 'feedback' facility, which immediately alerts the homeowner to the source of the problem.

More efficient energy savings
By pre-setting home fittings to personalised patterns, homeowners will only use the equipment they really need, cutting down on energy waste. This not only benefits the environment but instantly reduces heating or lighting expenses.

"The market for cutting-edge products for the home is growing rapidly. In 2004, over 5 million electric appliances controlled through radio frequencies were sold to European homeowners. Through our joint ambition to offer homeowners a cost and time saving product, we have also opened up new possibilities for manufacturers who can now participate in the future of home control," comments Jean-Luc Guillaume, io-homecontrol® Managing Director.

"Several leading manufacturers have already shown interest in our group and incorporated the new technology into their products. Our technology, which is the fruit of two years of joint development by teams from HONEYWELL, SOMFY and VELUX enables them to deploy new interactive product offerings that are both easy to install and easy to use."

The io-homecontrol products are suited to all types of buildings, from new constructions to renovations, from single products (for example, a roof window) to a complete system.

Their installation does not require any new skills on the part of the professionals in the business. io-homecontrol solutions are marketed by the usual manufacturers' sales channels.

"With io-homecontrol, controlling the home really means what it says," adds Jean-Luc Guillaume. "The reliability and simplicity of the technology and the development of new io-homecontrol products by leading suppliers is an exciting prospect for both consumers and industry professionals."

io-homecontrol is a registered trademark in over 40 countries. Following the launch of the io-homecontrol labelled products this summer, the first multi-brand solutions that integrate io-homecontrol technology will be available in 2006.

www.io-homecontrol.com

About io-homecontrol
The io-homecontrol group has been launched by some of the world's leading firms in home comfort technology including HONEYWELL, the global leader for solutions of residential and commercial building controls; SOMFY, the international specialist in automatic control of openings and closures in homes and buildings and VELUX, the world leader in roof windows. io-homecontrol is a wireless communication protocol enabling interaction among products from different manufacturers. It brings new solutions for improved home comfort, energy savings, security and indoor climate control. It allows new benefits for professionals and end-users with no additional infrastructure or installation costs. io-homecontrol is a registered trade mark in over 40 countries. The first products integrating io-homecontrol technology will be launched mid-2005, and the first multi-brand io-homecontrol solutions will be available in 2006.