News and press releases - VELUX Media Centre | VELUX Group

VELUX makes new inroad into Central Europe with opening of RenovActive house in Slovakia

Tue, 10 Sep 2019 19:12:32 +0200

The VELUX Group officially opened a model house in Sala today, which is renovated according to seven principles that form the basis for the RenovActive concept. An online guide is also launched, explaining how to make healthy, energy-efficient and sustainable living environments out of houses similar to this in the region.

A new phase for RenovActive with great potential

This model renovation of a typical square house from the 1970s is expected to inspire people in Slovakia and other countries nearby about how to renovate their homes in a financially optimal way, while achieving a healthier and more energy-efficient home to live in.

Energy savings, more space and healthier living

Due to the renovation, the total energy savings in the RenovActive house in Salo are up to 80 percent and the living area is increased to 115 m²from 75 m², by building rooms in the attic. The house is also healthier to live in with more daylight and fresh air than previously.

During the next two years, the living conditions for the Hučkos’ family (of two adults and two children) will be monitored according to key parameters and in co-operation with the Department of Building Services of the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava.

About unhealthy living environments and renovation in Slovakia

Half of the Slovak population live in detached or terrace houses. In most cases their inhabitants are also their owners. The condition of the house and its possible renovation is thus the responsibility of the owner. Most of the buildings in Slovakia had been built by the end of the 1970s. These buildings are far from meeting present-day criteria concerning energy consumption and indoor environment quality.According to the Healthy Homes Barometer, an independent annual report based on pan-European data investigating the link between homes and health, which VELUX has been publishing for five years, every sixth Slovak is not satisfied with their quality of living and 21 percent of Slovakian families report energy poverty as an issue.

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.

Get set for Spring – which spring renovation is right for you?

Fri, 22 Mar 2019 12:53:47 +0100

Spring is a great time to move forward with the home renovations you have been mulling over all winter. Whether you’re looking to improve your property to get more personal enjoyment from your space, or to increase your home’s value for selling, spring is the ideal season for making those renovation dreams a reality.

However, the type of renovation that is right for you and your family will often depend on your personal needs and desires. If your children are getting older and want separate rooms, or if you are planning for a new baby then a loft conversion could be a great solution. A kitchen extension is a good idea if you’re looking to entertain more or make space for busy family routines. But whatever improvements you are planning, light and air should always be considered. By making small changes and adjustments to your renovation plans to prioritize these elements, you can make a big difference to the look and feel of a space and create new uses of your space.

The best renovation ideas for your needs by Athina Bluff, Founder & Senior Designer, and Amy Brandhorst, Senior Designer, of Topology Interiors.

If your family is growing…

A loft renovation

Extending up is a great way to make use of the space in your property. Loft conversions are becoming increasingly popular for those who need an additional room or two, as they are often comparatively cheaper than moving to a new house. To make the most of the loft’s location at the top of the house, I suggest letting in as much light as possible via the roof and painting the walls and ceilings in light colors to open up the room. Roof windows are also great for adding ventilation to a loft room and provide a means for controlling the temperature.

If you want to entertain more…

An extension

If you’re thinking about adding an extension to your home, it’s important to consider the function of this space and how best you can maximize it. Often people extend to create extra kitchen or dining space, creating a real hub of the home, where the family can congregate to cook, eat and spend time with one another. By placing a roof window over a kitchen table or work top, you can transform this space, making the surroundings more pleasant for cooking or doing homework. Having the ability to let fresh air in from above is also helpful for removing cooking smells. Sliding doors in to a garden are also great for bringing the outside in and are worth considering.

If you want to improve your existing space…

A room overhaul

If your renovation plans are focused on an existing room in your home then designing with light in mind can have a big impact. Think about the direction the room faces and position seating in places where the light is most likely to fall. Consider using lighter colors to brighten up dim areas and place lamps in shadowy corners. Adding another window is always worth considering if logistically possible. If a roof window isn’t an option, VELUX sun tunnels are also a great alternative.

To find out more information on how to transform your home with light visit https://www.velux.co.uk/

Create a space you can fall in love with every day with daylight from above

Thu, 14 Feb 2019 10:12:40 +0100

This Valentine’s Day why not spare a thought for the relationship you have with your home as well as your loved ones? We spend a huge amount of time in our homes, living, loving and laughing in them. Memories are made within their walls, giving these places an emotional as well as a functional significance. As with any relationship then, it’s important to have good structural foundations to build upon, but it’s also well worth investing in our spaces, to make them the happiest most uplifting places they can be.

The light of your life

Whether you have a partner who lights up your life, or friends and family who keep you smiling, your home can also be a source of great joy and fulfillment. It’s an important place where you can enjoy the company of those closest to you and by letting more natural light and air inside you can realise a wealth of benefits. Firstly, it can improve a personal sense of wellbeing, giving a boost to your mood and productivity levels. A healthier and happier home can also arguably have a positive effect on your personal relationships too. People often prefer well lit, airy interiors which means that families are likely to congregate in the same rooms of their homes, spending quality time together as result.

There are also the functional and aesthetic benefits to consider.

Top tips on how to create a space you’ll love, for Valentine’s Day and beyond

Consider the layout

When it comes to creating perfect spaces, practicality is often key. You need to consider the layout of a room, from where you enter to where heating, lights and furnishings are positioned to ensure maximum convenience and impact. By placing a roof window over a kitchen table for example, you can ensure you and your family are always dining under the sky or stars.

Let in the light

Bathe your room in a beautiful natural light by investing in roof windows. By positioning a window in the roof you’ll ensure that you’re getting the maximum amount of sunlight into your house throughout the day. Place one above a bed to enjoy the romance of beautiful sunrises and sunsets with your partner, for the perfect start or end to a day.

The main feature

A great way to make a statement with your interiors is to introduce a main feature in to each of your rooms. This is something which should draw the eye and act as the center piece of a room, while still having a functional benefit. It could be anything from a magnificent kitchen island for your friends to sit at while you cook, or a log burner in the living room for the family to gather round on a cold winter’s day. Why not enhance these features further by strategically placing a roof window above to provide a natural flood lit effect?

The finishing touches

When it comes to putting the final touches to your home design project, comfort is often key. You want a place where you can relax and unwind, whether that’s for a family movie night, or a romantic Valentine’s day dinner with your partner! One easy way to improve the comfort of your home is to strategically place some soft furnishings around a room. A thick rug, soft blanket and pile of downy pillows can do wonders and will make a room feel so much more inviting, as will fresh flowers.

To find out more information on how to transform your home visit https://www.velux.co.uk/

New Study: Europe’s suburbs key to tackling ill-health caused by aging, deficient buildings

Wed, 26 Sep 2018 13:00:00 +0200

The Healthy Homes Barometer 2018 is the 4^th edition of this pan-European study, which takes the pulse of Europe’s buildings and examines the effects of housing on inhabitants’ health. This year’s report sheds light on some stark realities, especially in Europe’s rapidly-growing suburban areas:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Read the full the Healthy Homes Barometer 2018 here.

Future generations face health risks from life indoors

Tue, 15 May 2018 10:05:27 +0200

New Indoor Generation spends 90% of time the indoors

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

77% are unaware indoor air is more polluted than outside

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

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

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

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

For more, visit the Indoor Generation website.

Watch the Indoor Generation video here

Foyer Anderlechtois Social Housing Association to renovate 86 properties using VELUX’s RenovActive concept

Wed, 31 May 2017 12:00:00 +0200

The VELUX Group today announces that its RenovActive concept will be used by Belgian Social Housing Association, “Le Foyer Anderlechtois” to renovate 86 of their properties in the Anderlecht area of Brussels.

VELUX’s RenovActive project took a property which was in extremely poor condition and carried out a deep renovation that brought it up to high standards, following the Active House principles which balance energy efficiency, indoor comfort and environmental considerations. Vitally, the renovation was carried out within the budgetary framework of Brussels Social Housing, and offers a response to challenges of energy poverty by providing inhabitants with a well-lit home with plenty of fresh air, which is also warm in the winter, for a utilities budget of approximately 1090 EUR per year (gas + electricity).

The house has been open for one year – receiving a total of 1075 people in visits from delegations of politicians, legislators, local council representatives, town planners, social housing associations, academics and media. It has just been handed over to its new housing association residents.

Now, after assessing the results of the project, Le Foyer Anderlechtois has decided to apply the same renovation concept to a further 86 of its properties.

“As a social housing company, one of our obligations is to achieve social objectives. Furthermore, we are committed to seeking solutions that overcome issues of damp and poor indoor air quality, while lowering the CO₂ emissions from our communities,” says Bruno Lahousse, General Manager at Le Foyer Anderlechtois. “The RenovActive concept goes a long way towards addressing these goals, and that’s why we’ve chosen it as the basis for the renovations announced today.”

The RenovActive concept is based around seven replicable elements which can be used together or independently to upgrade a building’s energy performance and indoor comfort, while reducing its environmental footprint.

Respiratory illnesses cost European Governments 82 billion Euros per year

Wed, 16 Nov 2016 09:00:00 +0100

The research from Fraunhofer IBP reveals the socio-economic costs of asthma and COPD, which are proven effects also of living in damp and unhealthy buildings. The costs are 82 billion Euros annually, covering European governments’ direct expenses on medical treatment and additional care for patients in- and outside of hospitals, as well as indirect costs due to loss of productivity.

The study also reveals that close to 84 million Europeans live in damp or mouldy dwellings, which increases their risk of having respiratory diseases and life-long allergies by 40%. This proves the number of people living in unhealthy buildings remains an issue, despite recent awareness of the correlation between indoor environment and human health.

Fraunhofer IBP’s research, based on cross-sectional study, questionnaires and in-depth case studies across 32 European countries, estimates that the number of Europeans living in damp and unhealthy dwellings could be reduced by 50% by 2050, which could reduce the number of people with associated respiratory diseases by 25%. In the case of asthma, this could lead to a reduction of 550,000 people.

He points to the upcoming revision of Energy Performance of Buildings Directives (EPBD) under the Energy Union, where the framework for national building legislations will be set. Here it is key that requirements for indoor climate is part of the agenda.

How to prevent dampness in homes

According to the Fraunhofer IBP institute, dampness is one of the main defects in buildings across Europe, primarily caused by inadequate building structures and home owners’ lack of attention to ventilate sufficiently.Consequently, mould is likely to grow, however the risk of this can be reduced by taking certain precautions at home:

Moulds thrive best on surfaces with temperatures around 15^oC and in high air humidity. Walls with warmer indoor than outdoor surfaces are likely to trigger growth.

Frequent ventilation of the house is an efficient way of preventing mould to grow, and it is recommended to air out two times daily for at least ten minutes.

In April 2016 the VELUX Group completed the RenovActive project in Belgium, a home renovation based on ActiveHouse principles focusing on the building’s architectural quality, human health, comfort and well-being, energy efficiency, and environmental benefits.

A key element in the modernization is the prevention of indoor dampness and mould, which is ensured by a natural and continuous airflow in the house. Read more about RenovActive by clicking here.

The Fraunhofer IBP white paper, ‘Towards an identification of European indoor environments’ impact on health and performance,’ is now available on our website.

VELUX opens RenovActive

Wed, 18 May 2016 13:28:00 +0200

Following a seven-month renovation project, the VELUX Group today officially opens its latest demo building – the RenovActive house – in Brussels, Belgium. The aim is to demonstrate that climate renovation based around the Active House principles of energy efficiency and indoor comfort can be affordable.

RenovActive, an innovative answer to the challenges of renovation in Europe
Almost half of Europe’s buildings were built between 1945 and 1980, and it is estimated that 90% of residential buildings today will still be in use in 2050. It is therefore essential to renovate the aging European housing stock.

RenovActive offers a simple, innovative and affordable solution to this challenge. Using existing techniques and materials, the RenovActive concept offers an example of how to transform European housing into healthy and sustainable living space, and provides a renovation concept that can be replicated on a large scale.

Origins of the concept
Between 2009 and 2011, the VELUX group invested in the construction of six experimental demo homes across Europe, as part of the Model Home 2020 project. This project provided an understanding of what was possible in terms of meeting future needs of sustainable accommodation, using current techniques and materials. The RenovActive project takes advantage of the many lessons learned from this experience in order to meet current renovation challenges.

To implement RenovActive, VELUX joined forces with "Le Foyer Anderlechtois", a social housing association which owns 3,740 housing units in Brussels. An 80m² semi-detached house built in the 1920s and in an advanced state of disrepair has been completely renovated, to offer its new inhabitants high-quality accommodation. The renovation has been carried out within the budgetary framework of Brussels Social Housing. Between now and 2018, le Foyer Anderlechtois plans to renovate 86 houses based on the RenovActive concept.

Renovation + Active House = RenovActive
The RenovActive concept is based on the Active House principles, designed to balance comfort (through a healthy indoor climate with a maximum amount of natural light[1] and optimal ventilation[2]), energy efficiency and respect for the environment.

The RenovActive concept comprises seven replicable renovation elements:

Installation of windows on the front of the house and the roof in order to provide maximum daylight.
Positioning of a stairwell lit by two skylights in the centre of the house to provide natural light on every floor as well as "stack effect" ventilation.
Installation of a hybrid ventilation system, combining natural and mechanical ventilation.
Installation of exterior solar protection for optimal thermal comfort.
Creation of an effective thermal envelope by insulating the exterior, with new roofing and vertical windows.
Installation of a simple and comfortable heating system, comprising underfloor heating on the ground floor and radiators for the upper floors.
Construction of an extension to gain floor space on the ground floor.

Timeline of the project
RenovActive opens its doors on 18 May 2016 and is available for visits for a period of one year. In spring 2017, a family with three children will occupy the house for two years. During this period, energy, heat and water consumption, as well as the interaction of the family with the house, will be monitored and analysed.

About RenovActive partners
The architectural design of the house was entrusted to the architects ONO Architectuur. The implementation and monitoring of works was undertaken by the Troubleyn company.

VELUX joined forces with various commercial partners, who provided products for the renovation of the house. The Saint-Gobain group, Renson, Grundfos, Somfy and Wienerberger enthusiastically supported the RenovActive project[3].

With regard to furnishing the home, Kvik and De Kringwinkel partnered with RenovActive for the kitchens and some of the interior furnishings, respectively.

[1] For more information about natural light within the RenovActive please look under the downloads at Natural light is invited in the RenovActive house (in French)

[2] For more information about ventilation within the RenovActive please look under the downloads at Healthy living starts with a quality habitat demonstrated by the RenovActive home (in French)

[3] For more information about The RenoveActive house partners:

https://renovactive.velux.be/en/the-house/partners/

Unhealthy homes cause illness, flu-like symptoms and fatigue among Europeans, new study finds

Wed, 20 Apr 2016 10:00:00 +0200

Large numbers of Europeans suffer from health problems and lack of well-being every single day. This is bad for quality of life and is also a likely cause of significant loss of productivity in the economy. A new study conducted by the VELUX Group in collaboration with Humboldt University, Germany, points to five indications that unhealthy homes are part of the problem. The potential costs to society are billions of Euros - in sick days and lower quality of life.

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

How to diagnose an unhealthy home

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

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

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

Health and home satisfaction go hand in hand

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

Raising quality of life – saving society billions

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

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

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

The consequences of unhealthy homes in Europe

Europeans who live in cold houses are approximately 50% more likely to suffer from nose and throat infections
78% of Europeans live in houses that were too cold at some point during the last winter. 15% report this to be the case all or most of the time.

Europeans whose home allows for a good night’s sleep are 50% more likely to feel they have good health and are energized
71% of Europeans do not have optimal sleeping conditions in their home. One in three report their sleep quality within the last four weeks as either very bad or fairly bad.

Europeans who never air out their homes are twice as likely to suffer from low energy levels compared to Europeans who air out 2-4 times daily
59% of Europeans do not air out at least twice a day.

Having enough daylight in the home almost halves the risk of being low on energy
40% of Europeans who lack daylight in their living room never or very seldom feel energized. If daylight levels are appropriate, the share drops to 23%.

Europeans who have mould in their home are 50% more likely to suffer dryness or irritation of the throat
Among Europeans with mould in their home, up to 60% experience dryness or irritation of the throat. For Europeans who do not have this problem the share is 40%.

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

VELUX on COP21: A step in the right direction

Mon, 14 Dec 2015 14:13:00 +0100

For the first time, the Paris conference saw buildings on the agenda of COP negotiations. As they account for some 40 per cent of European energy consumption and CO2 emissions, it makes eminently good sense to incorporate buildings in the efforts to reduce both.

90 per cent of the existing building stock in Europe will still be in use in 2050. And 75 per cent of those buildings are energy inefficient. The VELUX Group has constructed a series of experimental buildings throughout Europe to show that the tools needed for environment-friendly construction are already available. Next April, the Group will complete an example of energy renovation in a social housing estate in Belgium.

The VELUX Group’s core business areas are Western Europe and the USA. But is sees significant potential in former Eastern Europe, where the need for home renovation is much greater than in Denmark and other countries in Western Europe. Less than 5 per cent of the company’s sales are made in Denmark.

Decorating with daylight in your hallway

Mon, 16 Mar 2015 07:30:00 +0100

Daylight plays a big part in our daily lives. The natural rhythms of the day play their own part when it comes to defining our vision and how we experience our surroundings. In cloudy weather, the light changes every time a cloud passes over the sun, the setting sun lends depth and warmth, and in the evenings, the ambient glow from the moon often bathes certain areas of the home in its silvery light.

A new sun tube brings not only light but a feeling of nature to rooms and spaces that have previously been devoid of this. With the next generation of the VELUX Sun Tunnel, the VELUX Group is introducing new features that enhances the possibility to bring light to life in unexplored areas of your home.

Lighting up the hallway

The hallway is especially prone to being engulfed in darkness, cramped and lacking daylight, and often seen as solely a room of transit. However, the hallway functions as so much more than this. It is the last thing we see before we leave the house and the first thing we encounter when we enter our home. The hallway is a room that sends us on our way out to conquer the world - and welcomes us back home with the warm embrace of familiarity and comfort.

By bringing the natural cycle of the day into all the rooms of the house, including the hallway, the VELUX Sun Tunnel helps create an energising atmosphere. With one of its new features such as Edge Glow, which gives a unique and integrated light effect, the sun tube gives a more natural and dynamic light than a lamp.

Decorating with natural light

It is important to decorate hallways so they appear inviting to yourself, and your friends and family when you welcome them into your home. So why not create a space with embracing and great surroundings with plenty of light? Daylight in particular has the ability to open up a room and make it appear more inviting and hospitable.

More light and airiness allows you to create the exact setting that you wish. Whether it be a quiet place of tranquillity and Zen, with Asian-influenced design, or a space of energy and invigoration with colourful walls and vibrant decor. This will not only determine how you feel when you leave home it will also decide the reception you can look forward to when returning.

Natural light sets an atmosphere that is not equally possible with standard electric lighting. This is also one of the key factors behind the VELUX Sun Tunnel’s continued success and growth.

Lisa Grønsund believes it will generate excitement in many households - and especially among urban and design-savvy consumers.

The VELUX Sun Tunnel 2.0

The next generation VELUX Sun Tunnel creates a more natural indoor environment with dynamic lighting than a standard electric lamp due to a new feature, Edge Glow, which is a new ring of clear glass around the edge of the ceiling diffuser that simultaneously spreads the light better in the room and creates a unique light.

A new flexible locking system reduces tunnel assembly significantly. The sun tube can be installed in any part of the house with a maximum distance of 6 metres to the roof. As something entirely new, it is possible to install the light tube from the outside if it is hard for you to access your attic or loft.

More information is available here.

80 million people live in poor indoor climate

Tue, 10 Mar 2015 07:30:00 +0100

A new white paper from Fraunhofer, Institut für Bauphysik IBP, based on a study of scientific pre-reviewed literature, shows that some 80 million Europeans are living in damp and unhealthy buildings. Living in a damp and unhealthy home nearly doubles the risk of developing asthma and allergies.

What is more, we know that people in all age groups spend 90% of their time indoors.

The Fraunhofer white paper pinpoints key findings from a larger literature screening of the impact of European indoor environments on health and performance in homes and schools.

The main findings are as follows:

As a result of global discussions about climate changes and energy savings, today’s building regulations focus mainly on energy efficiency in buildings. However, this increased attention to energy efficiency does not include any measures to ensure that our buildings are healthy and stimulate our bodies, minds and creativity.

Daylight has a huge effect on the human body and mind. A lack of daylight has negative effects on mental health, whereas exposure to a sufficient amount of daylight can help patient recovery and shorten time spent in hospital.

Lack of ventilation is closely linked to the problems of damp, indoor humidity and mould. If ventilation rate is too low, respiratory infections can occur.

The VELUX Group’s Model Home 2020 demonstration buildings prove that the knowhow and technology to create healthy and energy efficient buildings are already in place. The buildings of tomorrow can be built today, buildings that comply with the predicted EU building energy standards for 2020, without compromising on indoor comfort.

The next essential steps are incentives for homeowners to renovate their houses and public authorities to take action and kick-start renovation of schools, hospitals and public buildings.

The Fraunhofer white paper, “Towards an identification of European indoor environments’ impact on health and performance”, is available at www.velux.com/healthybuildings

Roof window for historical buildings launched

Wed, 04 Mar 2015 12:00:00 +0100

It can be difficult to please everyone when historical buildings are to be preserved. There are many solutions to the problem, but few manage to bridge the gulf of history and harmonise the needs of today with the constructions of yesterday.

The VELUX Group opened the order book for the new VELUX classic roof window GVR for use in historical buildings. The objective of the new products is to build a bridge between the building culture of the past and present-day demands for energy and comfort.

Architect Merete Lind Mikkelsen is an expert in modernising historical buildings and contributed her vast knowledge and experience during the development of the new window. She is delighted with the VELUX Group’s new move to preserve the heritage of Danish building traditions.

Classic details bring history alive

At the heart of the development of the new roof window GVR was the objective to create an impression that is firmly rooted in historical architecture.

A historical asset that can be further refined

Although the new roof window GVR was designed to put history at centre stage, it also contains several features that can help property developers and home owners make the most of the full potential of the building. Many projects concerning listed and non-listed buildings involve large roof spaces that can easily be taken into use as living and office space and that can make the project more financially attractive to their developers. And this is where the roof window can be an important component in making a project a bottom-line success.

An important step that must be taken now

Of Denmark’s total building mass of some four million buildings, 9,000 are listed and 335,000 deemed worthy of preservation. Within the next few decades, experts estimate that many of these will require thorough restoration if they are not to fall into complete decay and their cultural and historical value be lost for ever.

The VELUX classic roof window GVR has already made its debut with the restoration of a listed building from 1828 on the island of Falster, south of Copenhagen. The project was financed by private funds and the support of Guldborgsund Municipality and the Danish Agency for Culture.

The classic roof window GVR

Since it was founded in 1941, the VELUX Group has been creating solutions that combine comfort in buildings with user-friendliness and aesthetic appeal. In the development of the new classic roof window GVR, the Group deployed it vast experience to create a product that builds a bridge between building traditions of the past and the future.

The VELUX Group asked it best engineers to develop a roof window that makes it possible to unite modern thinking with historical building tradition. They allied themselves with one of the country’s leading experts in the development of historical buildings, the award-winning architect Merete Lind Mikkelsen. They made her thoughts on building tradition and classical aesthetics their guiding principles. The result is a product that raises the standard of preservation of our shared building heritage and reinforces the VELUX Group’s position as the leading innovator in the business.

EU countries missing out on dual gains, energy savings and better health

Mon, 03 Nov 2014 00:00:00 +0100

The report "Renovation Strategies of Selected EU Countries", analyzing national renovation strategies in 10 EU countries, reveals that 6 of those 10 countries have not succeeded in setting a clear, strategic path, and most lack bold and determined action plans. Furthermore, 6 months after the European Commission's deadline, 6 out of 28 member states have still not published their strategies.

The disclosed results surprise the VELUX Group, a global leader in the building industry and manufacturer of roof windows and modular skylights, as it sees a great, untapped potential in sharpening the focus on renovation of buildings.

There are many good reasons for turning buildings into safe, efficient and healthy places. A study by the Technical University of Denmark shows that pupils' learning abilities can be improved by up to 15% when the indoor climate is improved, and those students with the most daylight in their classrooms progressed 20% faster in maths tests and 26% in reading tests.

Furthermore, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has estimated that 10-50% of the indoor environments where people live, work and play in Europe are damped, and that humid buildings are known to cause health problems such as allergies and asthma. On the other hand, new or retrofitted buildings that are too airtight can overheat which also has implications on health and well-being.

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.

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.

EuroACE and the VELUX Group boosts awareness of efficient and healthy buildings

Thu, 26 Jun 2014 00:00:00 +0200

As part of the EU Sustainable Energy Week High-Level Policy Conference, EuroACE organises on Wednesday 25th June 2014 a joint event with its member company the VELUX Group, entitled "Quizzing the Stakeholders: Making Energy Efficient Buildings More Visible and Attractive". Emphasis is placed at this year's Quiz event, now a firm fixture in EUSEW, on the potential of Energy Performance Certificates to raise awareness about the multiple benefits and importance of increased energy efficiency in buildings.

According to the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD – to be reviewed before 2017), Energy Performance Certificates must be issued for all buildings that are rented, leased or sold, and must be displayed in public buildings of over 500m².

"Buildings are a huge drain on energy consumption in the EU, making EU Energy Dependence Day earlier and earlier every year" explains Adrian Joyce, Secretary General of EuroACE. "Citizens can see this energy consumption through the Energy Performance Certificates in their homes, in their offices, in their children's schools. We need to raise awareness about this wasteful energy consumption, as this is the first step for taking action to renovate our buildings and release the multiple benefits locked up in our building stock!"

The Energy Performance Certificate of one building is particularly in the spotlight during EuroACE/VELUX Group's Quiz event: the Commission's Charlemagne building. A giant-size poster this week on its façade presents its energy rating and the related actions to reduce the energy consumption of Commission buildings (see www.renovate-europe.eu)

In addition to improving energy security, reducing energy bills and creating local jobs, increasing the energy efficiency of the building stock in the EU also has the potential to release significant health benefits for EU citizens.

"Energy efficiency and healthy buildings shall go hand in hand" says Ingrid Reumert, Vice-President, Public Affairs & Sustainability, the VELUX Group, speaking at the EUSEW Quiz event. "We spend 90% of our time indoors and we know from research that a good indoor climate, daylight and fresh air are essential to our general wellbeing, health, learning abilities and productivity."

Reumert went on to report on recent findings that shows homeowners are motivated to undertake energy renovations by their wish to have greater comfort and healthier indoor climates. "Putting homeowners needs centre stage will trigger energy efficient and high quality renovations. There is a need to create incentives by making attractive legislative framework that integrate energy efficiency and a healthy indoor climate."

As the Commission and Member States brainstorm around effective ways to drastically reduce the energy dependence of the EU, buildings feature increasingly centre stage, as the building sector represents the largest energy consuming sector in the EU at 43%, with an energy savings potential of 61% and 38% in residential and tertiary buildings, respectively, by 2030.

Learn more about the event: www.euroace.org

An Architectural Gem with Traditional Cover

Wed, 25 Jun 2014 00:00:00 +0200

"Posehuset" means bag house. The name came from the country estate former owner who had a passion for collecting plastic bags. When the artist couple Lone and Sören Asmusson bought the place a couple of years ago, they kept the distinctive name. Today, the Posehuset studio is known for a diverse range of artistic activities and music productions. There was simply not enough space for all the activities, experiments and productions in the workrooms and the music studio, so the couple had to tackle some of them in their private living room. Before long, the two artists decided to remodel the adjacent barn building into a daylight-flooded studio for the workshops.

At first, the couple planned to do the remodelling themselves; they had already successfully renovated the main building. "We started digging out the basement but soon agreed that we didn't have enough time to realise our architectural ideas while also taking care of our family, kids and our many artistic projects," says Lone. So they hired a team of daylight planners and architects to carry out the remodelling project.

Their basic idea was to transform the old barn into a multi-purpose workspace by installing a pre-built box with a roof structure. The box was to be placed inside the existing walls with the help of a crane. However, during the planning process it became clear that it would be difficult to fit a pre-built box inside the existing barn. So the studio was built on-site, within the old brick walls, and completed with a new wooden roof structure. The design and re-finement of the roof, with its system of differently-sized black aluminium plates took over a year. "With such limited ground space, the concept as a whole and all the details needed to be fine-tuned particularly well, just like cutting and polishing a gemstone. The roof breaks the limits of the building and forms a contrast to all the other architectural elements. Even the slope of the new roof is different from that of the main building," explains Brian Wendin, architect and daylight consultant at VELUX Denmark.

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."

Hyunjeong Kim wins the first VELUX International Design Award with an innovative concept for roof window blinds

Fri, 23 May 2014 00:00:00 +0200

Two winners and five honourable mentions were presented and honoured at the VELUX International Design Awards ceremonyat the Design Academy Eindhoven in the Netherlands on 22 May 2014. Hyunjeong Kim from the Berlin University of the Arts in Germany won first prize for her project, 'Ferro Fluid Scales'. The second prize went to Iris van den Brink and Anneloes de Koff from the University of Technology in Delft in the Netherlands, for their project called 'The Swipe'.The jury awarded the top-prize of 6,000 Euro to Hyunjeong Kim for her "comprehensive and innovative solution for roof windows," adding that her Ferro Fluid Scales "is a project that shows a high level of innovation and has vision. Also technically, it is a very clever and sophisticated solution that shows a new way of thinking roof window coverings."

Magnetic attraction

Hyunjeong Kim from the Berlin University of the Arts in Germany won first place in the first-ever VELUX International Design Award for her inventive blind design, titled Ferro Fluid Scales.

"I'm very excited and happy about winning the VELUX International Design Award, says Hyunjeong Kim - the VELUX awards are very famous and important awards. I'm proud to win, hoping it will be excellent for my career."

The inspiration for Ferro Fluid Scales came from the liquid Ferrofluid, which resembles black water in its natural state but becomes condensed when placed between magnetic fields. Ferro Fluid Scales integrate this scientific knowledge into an original design by containing the opaque liquid as well as a clear suspension liquid in each transparent glass blade, and allowing the user to easily increase or decrease the strength of the magnetic field – thereby controlling the amount of light that can enter through the blind.

Kim elaborates on her development process: "After researching many materials to realise my idea, I finally discovered Ferrofluid. The most important aspect of the Ferro Fluid Scales design is that the blind functions not through physical movement, but rather through the organic changes of the Ferrofluid within the thin glass panels, or scales. I added an electromagnetic unit that makes it easy to control the power to increase or decrease the amount of incoming sunlight."

Seven significant projects

The second, 2,500 Euro prize went to Iris van den Brink and Anneloes de Koff from the University of Technology in Delft in the Netherlands. Describing their gradual shading system project, The Swipe, Iris van den Brink and Anneloes de Koff explain: "Besides having a beautiful, aesthetic effect, our design is feasible because of its simplicity. All the different parts of The Swipe are standardised elements, which is why production costs can be kept low. We feel that this is in line with the VELUX vision of making great design accessible to everyone."

The jury found the project to be "a very simple but strong and innovative solution," adding that "the inside/outside solution shows an interesting way of manipulating the light."

Five teams also received honourable mentions for their projects. At the awards ceremony, all seven finalists – from design schools in Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Poland and Hungary – presented prototypes of their designs.

Jury member Peter Zec, who founded the prestigious red dot design award, said, "Among the five projects that were nominated for an honourable mention, there were many interesting solutions. We have seen the use of new and exciting technology – for instance, using natural daylight as a night-time energy source, as well as both sustainable and technical solutions with a lot of inspiration from nature."

Selecting the winner

Settling on a favourite was a difficult task for the jury, which consisted of German Peter Zec, the Danish-Italian design duo GamFratesi and the Dutch designer and architect Petra Blaisse. With so many talented teams and exceptional projects, the jurors often found themselves at odds about the winning choice.

Jury member Petra Blaisse, known for continuously challenging the status quo with her designs, calls every finalist a winner, as they all managed to cast new light on the vast possibilities in the area of blind design – and to make the selection process challenging for the jury.

"In the winning project we saw a combination of technological intelligence, inventiveness and effectiveness. Effectiveness understood in terms of functionality – the solution doesn't force decorative design onto the user" says, Petra Blaisse when explaining the winning solution.

A new design award drives innovation

The VELUX International Design Award was established to offer aspiring design students from around Europe the opportunity to push the boundaries of what is possible to achieve at the intersection of design and technology, for blinds for roof windows. VELUX invited students to submit their ideas on the future design and composition of roof window blinds for a chance to win the VELUX International Design Award. Contestants from more than 20 European countries submitted their work, which was rated based on the criteria: 'innovation', 'improved quality of life', 'sustainability' and 'market potential'.

Kent Holm, Global Director of Decoration and Sun Screening Products at VELUX Group, was impressed with the number of inventive projects the participating teams produced – particularly the designs highlighted at the ceremony.

"When we decided to establish this competition, we had no idea we would be standing here today with such a large number of exciting projects," Holm said at the ceremony. "It is truly admirable how many of these design teams have opted for highly complex solutions, and we are thrilled by the sheer level of dedication and workmanship that have been displayed throughout the competition."

Holm hopes that the students benefited from the process – from inspiration to conceptualisation and from design to prototype. "As a source of daylight, fresh air and an attractive view, the roof window enriches our lives with light and creates better living environments for life, work and play. I am sure that all the participants have gained valuable insight into roof windows and we definitely feel inspired by all the creative concepts and solution that the students have come up with."

For more information, please contact:

Learn more about the award winning prototypes

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Press material at VELUX Media Centre

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Four beacons of business will make energy modernisation easy for home owners

Fri, 04 Apr 2014 00:00:00 +0200

There is political demand for more energy companies and better quality in Danish homes. It will also trigger greater activity in the building sector. Achieving these political ambitions and bringing about a substantial increase in the quality of the existing building stock will take considerable will, focus and effort here and now.

"BetterHomes brings four of Denmark's most renowned manufacturers of energy-saving quality products together with new possibilities for home owners. We believe the time has come for action and concrete solutions that are easily achievable for the home owner. It should be easier to make the dream of a better home come true," says Kim Christensen, President of Danfoss Heating Solutions.

There are billions of kroner to be saved through better health and lower energy consumption in our homes. And that is precisely the potential that BetterHome was created to tap. Buildings account for the consumption of 40 per cent of all energy in Denmark. And 30 per cent of the building stock has such a poor indoor climate that it could be hazardous to health. Hence our focus on energy modernisation at home.

"Energy modernisation increases the value of the home. That's why we are thinking anew in our work with those who finance the housing dreams of the Danes. We want our homes to be more energy correct and healthier places to live in," says Michael K. Rasmussen, Marketing Director of the VELUX Group.

The objective of BetterHome is to promote energy modernisation with new standards of advice and package solutions, combined with the growth initiative BedreBolig, the various trades in the building sector and, in particular, new-concept financing deals. This will all take place through collaboration with our team of strong players around the country.

"We will put a portfolio of tried and tested total solutions at everyone's disposal – not just home owners but also the energy consultants and builders who will take the challenge from idea to success. We will pool the strength of our sales channels and bring the joint knowledge in our four companies into play," states Thomas Kähler, Managing Director of Rockwool A/S.

BetterHome will form the framework of a partnership model that will inspire other countries. In the long term, it could pave the way for more export, greater energy savings in Europe and higher growth in building.

"BetterHome will stimulate the Danish market for energy modernisation. We will export know-how and Danish quality products for energy optimisation in the home. Together, we have powerful sales channels that we will put to good use. Danish homes must become a showcase," says Søren Ø. Sørensen, Group Director of Grundfos.

About BetterHome:
• Grundfos, Danfoss, the VELUX Group and Rockwool have created BetterHome in order to develop a new and simpler way for Danes to energy modernise their homes. Its Director is Niels Kåre Bruun.

• BetterHome builds on the expertise of the four companies and generates a powerful concept that will appeal initially to Danish home owners.

• The first phase will concentrate on setting up the essential collaboration with existing consultants, builders, financial institutions and energy companies.

• BetterHome will be based in Dansk Energi in order to create synergy with the know-how that has been accumulated through the energy company's major effort in saving energy in both homes and workplaces.

About the Danish building stock:
• Buildings account for 40 per cent of all energy consumption in Denmark.

• 30 per cent of the existing building stock has a sub-standard indoor climate.

The VELUX Group demonstrates how to renovate Europe with the first affordable and scalable climate renovation in Brussels

Mon, 18 Nov 2013 00:00:00 +0100

The uniqueness of the VELUX climate renovation project lies in its reproducibility in both financial and technical terms. Indeed, the current challenge is no longer how to build or renovate low energy buildings, but how to do so at a reasonable cost. The experiment aims to define an affordable solution that can be scaled for use all over Europe. The selected building typology was chosen after an analysis of the real estate market potential, with the hope that a widespread implementation of this concept will lead to large-scale energy savings.

A reproducible, comfortable and affordable renovation solution
To test its concept in practice, the VELUX Group entered into a strategic partnership with the social housing company Foyer Anderlechtois/Anderlechtse Haard, which owns around 3,600 social dwellings in the Brussels area. A compact, semi-detached house in very bad condition, dating back to the mid-1920s, was made available for renovation. An architecture competition was organised to generate new ideas and innovative concepts for the climate renovation. The Antwerp-based architecture office ONO Architectuur has won it and will develop the project.

"We at the VELUX Group want to engage in and contribute to the debate on sustainable living in buildings. We are investing time and resources in this project because we think that health and well-being deserve more attention, especially in energy-efficient buildings. Moreover, I find this project very relevant from a social point of view; sustainable and healthier buildings have to be made accessible to the many," says Christian Fosseur, General Manager of VELUX Belgium.

The VELUX climate renovation project addresses a series of current challenges. First, it focuses on renovation − 90% of today's buildings will still be in use in 2050. New buildings represent only a tiny proportion of the European building stock, and most of the buildings we live in were designed with little attention for a healthy indoor climate and energy efficiency. Indeed, buildings account for 40% of the overall energy consumption, and 30% of the buildings we live and work in do not offer a healthy indoor climate. As a result, the European building stock is in urgent need of renovation.

For the VELUX Group, the solution lies in 'climate renovations', renovations that combine health and well-being with energy savings.

"Daylight and natural ventilation, at the core of VELUX expertise, play a crucial role in climate renovations," underlines Christian Fosseur.

Active House − a vision of buildings that give more than they take
The technical specifications used for this project will be the ones defined by the Active House Alliance. The VELUX Group supports this NGO that unites producers of building materials, scientists and architects around a vision of buildings that "give more than they take". The Active House vision focuses not only on energy efficiency but also on indoor climate and impact on the environment. It strives for a holistic view on buildings.

The building works are planned to start in late 2014. After the summer of 2015, the Group will open the house to visitors for twelve months in order to share the concept with a wider audience. Afterwards, it will be occupied by a social housing beneficiary, with further scientific monitoring for two more years. The VELUX Group will communicate the results of and experience learned from this project, and thus contribute to the debate about the buildings of the future.

VELUX − a tradition of experimenting
Villum Kann Rasmussen, the Danish founder of the VELUX Group once said: "One experiment is better than a thousand expert views". This statement underlines the VELUX tradition of building and renovating exemplary buildings, challenging the way VELUX products perform and setting new standards for innovation.

Since 2007, the VELUX Group has been building demonstration houses in Europe as part of the 'Model Home 2020' project, setting a benchmark for the design of sustainable homes and searching for solutions to the issues of climate, occupation and building typology. The provision of abundant daylight and excellent indoor air quality turned each of the projects into desirable homes with a high standard of living. Each building has been occupied for at least one year, with a scientific programme monitoring energy and well-being parameters to ensure sound results.

Today, the Group continues to design new exemplary projects in various climatic and cultural settings.

Sidebar: The winner project
ONO Architectuur developed a subtle proposal to give the semi-detached house a facelift and to create an impulse to improve the general living quality of the surrounding area, the Bon Air garden city. The proposal was selected because of its rational use of space, its cost effectiveness and its effective but simple technical approach that can easily be reproduced.

"For us, it was a real challenge to recreate the characteristics of a garden city while living up to the very high ambitions of the Active House Standards," states Jonas Lindekens, managing partner at ONO Architectuur.

Inside the house of about 100 square metres, a healthy and comfortable indoor climate is at the heart of the concept. The layout provides an abundance of daylight. The stairs have been moved to the centre of the house, creating a circulation core that doubles as ventilation and daylight shaft. The project adds to the building's daylight, fresh air and space, as well as giving a view to the garden.

The winning project was selected by a jury composed of Sylvie Reuter (Deputy Director of Foyer Anderlechtois), Grégoire Clerfayt (Director of the energy department of IBGE-BIM) and Georges Brutsaert (ARIB - Architecture in Brussels) and two VELUX representatives: Christian Fosseur (General Manager VELUX Belgium) and Lone Feifer (Sustainable Living Director, VELUX A/S).

The Potential of Climate Renovation

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 00:00:00 +0200

As buildings account for 40% of energy demand, they also play an essential role in solving the challenge of reducing the world's energy consumption. We can get most of the way to achieving Europe's 2020 carbon emission target by halving the energy use in existing buildings with solutions available and scalable today. This would not only generate increased economic activity and jobs but also improve the living conditions of the people living, working and playing inside these buildings; and it would minimise the environmental impact of buildings – a triple bottom line gain.

90% of today´s buildings will still be in use in 2050, so existing buildings offer a new opportunity for climate renovation and for exploiting hitherto unleashed potential. Recent studies project that an average of up to 1 million jobs could be generated in the period 2011-2050 if renovation of existing buildings were accelerated.

However, it is not enough to look at societal parameters and to create buildings that are energy efficient and close to carbon neutral. We also need to ensure that buildings support and nurture important human factors, such as health and well-being, through a comfortable indoor climate based on daylight and fresh air through the roof.

LichtAktiv Haus in Hamburg is one of several demonstration buildings initiated by the VELUX Group to show how we can meet the 2020 goals. The existing house was climate renovated to Active House principles and exemplifies that it is possible to improve energy efficiency and indoor climate, with minimal environmental impact, using the knowledge and the materials available today.

These key learning points are presented in the VELUX contribution to the G8 magazine "G8. Climate Change – The New Economy" released at the 39th G8 Summit.

Read the VELUX Group article "Climate renovation holds a huge potential" in the web version of the G8 magazine, page 32-35: http://view.digipage.net/go/g8climatechange2013/

Housing Market: New Windows Help Sell a Home

Mon, 13 Aug 2012 00:00:00 +0200

Apart from obvious steps such as cleaning, painting and minor repairs, replacing windows can be a profitable affair for home owners.

"Windows are the eyes of a house and their condition is one of the things a potential buyer looks closely at. New windows make a greater visual impression and daylight makes it easier to sell a home. New windows often mean lower heating bills and are also an important factor in giving a house a better energy certification," explains Mads Ellegaard, Head of Public Affairs for the Danish chain of estate agents, home.

"A home owner can often improve domestic finances and enjoyment of the home by replacing its windows. It also puts the seller in a much stronger position when the time comes to sell the house – it will sell faster or fetch a better price," says home.

New windows can raise the value of a home by 46.000 Euros
A single-family house placed in Copenhagen, Denmark provides a classic example of the effect of installing new windows in the roof. In an experiment by the VELUX Group, the house's basement and first floor were converted with the focus sharply on bringing more light into the home and harnessing the energy of the sun to improve heating bills.

"12 new roof windows have been installed that have made a dramatic improvement to the influx of light from above and given enormous potential for natural ventilation. At the same time, solar panels - that meets the house's requirements for domestic hot water and reduce its energy consumption were installed in connection with the roof windows," explains Henrik Norlander Smith, an architect in the VELUX Group.

"The combination of increased value and improved economics has raised the estimated sales price of the house by 46.000 Euros, which means that the increased value of the house is least as big as the investment made. And in addition to that the house might very well be easier to sell at a good price", says Jes Frydendall, owner of home Hellerup, the estate agency who evaluated the house.

The total market price of the renovation is about 46.000 Euros. In addition to the increased value, the house's heating needs fall by 2,595 kWh – that is about 650 Euros – a year.

Hundreds of thousands of houses need window renovation
The VELUX Group states that hundreds of thousands of home owners would benefit from replacing the windows in their homes.

"We know there are hundreds of thousands of homes in Europe with old and worn-out windows that reduce the value of the home, the indoor climate and the sales potential. This affects the residents' well-being and their finances," explains Henrik Norlander Smith of the VELUX Group.

People wishing to renovate and install new windows can in some cases and countries apply to their energy companies for grants and guidance. They can also make use of various subsidies for home improvement.

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

Video material
See and download video materiel on VELUX Media Center at press.velux.com

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 .

A new study will document the socio-economic aspects of sustainable buildings

Mon, 04 Jun 2012 00:00:00 +0200

Sustainable buildings are a decisive factor for a more sustainable world – but to what extend can buildings increase quality of life for people, boost productivity at work or reduce health costs for society? A new study will seek to identify, explore and document these effects.
The study will be the first Sustainia Sector Guide developed by Monday Morning, Scandinavia's largest independent think tank and backed, among others, by the VELUX Group as knowledge partner. Sustainia is a community of civil society, businesses and experts working together to develop the concept of a sustainable society, Sustainia, representing best practice, knowledge and technologies that already exist.
A number of examples of potential social gains from sustainable retrofitting and new build-ings have already been identified. At Sustainia's first conference last year, sustainable buildings was the topic of a workshop for international experts hosted by the VELUX Group. The workshop provided input to the discussion about co-benefits and touched on the evidence of avoided health costs (e.g. allergies), improved learning environments in schools and universities, lower long-term building costs, increased productivity in workplaces, environmental benefits and higher quality of life.
The VELUX Group has just completed a series of six experimental buildings in Europe and demonstrated how it is possible to meet the buildings requirements of 2020 with the products available today. Testimonials from people working and living in the six buildings illustrate the positive effects of a good indoor climate with lots of daylight and natural ventilation.
"There is a large body of evidence that suggests the social and economic effect of sustain-able buildings. Our hope is that this new study will take the next step and map the knowledge that we already have. This will enable us to document the potential effects of even more sustainable houses, offices, schools etc in terms of increased liveability, productivity and learning," says Senior Vice President Michael Rasmussen of the VELUX Group.
The Sustainia Sector Guide about Sustainable Buildings will be published in October 2012.
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.

VELUX Germany Opens Germany's First CO2-Neutral Renovated House

Fri, 19 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Germany's first carbon-neutral renovated single-family homeLichtAktiv Haus is placed in the Wilhelmsburg district of Hamburg. After a five-month construction phase, the transformation is complete and this 50-year-old traditional semi-detached house has been fully modernised and expanded to include a light and generously-proportioned extension. The innovative modernisation strategy combines maximum liveability with optimum energy efficiency. LichtAktiv Haus is the fourth of six Model Home 2020 experiments in Europe launched by the VELUX Group as part of our strategy to take an active part in developing sustainable buildings for the future. It is the VELUX vision of how future buildings can be both climate-neutral, comfortable and attractive places to live in because of daylight and fresh air. Available material includes animation clip of Germany's first carbon-neutral renovated single-family home.

Huge CO2 Potential in Energy Renovation of Buildings

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0200

Buildings account for 40 per cent of all energy consumption in Europe. So, buildings constitute a substantial potential when it comes to reducing CO2 emissions. By far the greatest part of the problem is the existing building stock. Consequently, climate renovations are necessary, and according to roof window producer, the VELUX Group, these should be carried out with consideration for the indoor climate as well. VELUX Group calls it Sustainable Living, and as Michael K. Rasmussen, Chief Marketing Officer, stated during the recent World Climate Solutions conference in Copenhagen, it actually is possible to carry out energy renovations with existing technology and yet improving the indoor environment. Available video includes an edited package, general views and soundbites.

VELUX House ready for COP15

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100

More than 20.000 COP15 delegates will pass through the building every day when leaving the conference. The intention is to give all the conference delegates a first-hand impression of how sustainable architecture and components can play an important role in tackling the challenge of climate change.

The concept behind VELUX House is to devise new sustainable and energy-neutral pre-fabricated homes.

The house is designed to replace the former closed roof construction of multi-storey buildings and demonstrate how energy renovation of older apartment buildings can be achieved by utilising daylight and natural ventilation at the same time as minimising the use of resources – and thus CO2 emissions. While serving as the COP 15 entrance building, VELUX House is placed at ground floor level.

"We need fresh air and daylight - also when we are indoors. It has a positive effect on our health and well-being as well as our ability to learn. Everything in VELUX House has been built to catch the rays of the sun and maximise natural daylight flowing into the rooms from the roof windows and the front facade of full-height windows", says Michael K. Rasmussen, VELUX Group Director of Branding & Communication.

The roof of VELUX House offers large areas for solar panels and is therefore a source of energy. The active roof will generate so much energy that the surplus can either be fed into the grid or used by other residents in the same building. In short, the surfaces covering the house will be energy-generating surfaces, power plants in their own right.

Large Potential in Energy Renovation of old Buildings

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Energy renovation of existing buildings represents a huge potential in relation to saving energy and carbon emission. In connection with COP15 the VELUX Group is presenting a flagship energy renovation project of an old industrial building turned into a nice and energy efficient culture centre in Copenhagen. As a result of the renovation energy consumption has been cut by 60 percent and CO2 emissions by 40 percent. On top of this, the users can now enjoy a much better indoor climate with lots of daylight and fresh air. Available video includes soundbites from VELUX Group Department Head, Karsten Duer, explaining the energy design of the building.