Stakeholders

Function : Investor

Romstal
+40 21 332 09 01, +40 21 332 09 02

Function : Investor

Saint Gobain
+40 21 207 57 00

Function : Investor

Transelectrica
+40 21 303 56 11

Function : Investor

UFX
+40 31 432 87 36

Function : Investor

Transgaz
+40 26 980 33 33

Function : Investor

Engie
+40 21 9281

Contracting method

Public Private Partnership

Owner approach of sustainability

EFdeN is an energy efficient solar house designed for the urban environment as a solution to
the issues of low density and mobility, an adaptable housing unit both to the environmental
parameters and to the inhabitants’ necessities and desires. What stands out in the EFdeN prototype is the steadfast step towards innovation in energy efficiency: the integration of a productive bioclimatic greenhouse.
Dedicated to the “urban farming” concept, this component is the central architectural element
of the house being both a source of a spectacle of light on the inside and a communities generator on the outside.

Architectural description

The architectural style is contemporary, with a generally minimalist design. The built area is 130 sqm, 115 sqm the useful (+ 15 sqm greenhouse). The footprint is 90 sqm. We used 22 photovoltaic panels, that are mounted on the flat roof, to acquire our electricity needs. Also, the house also has two solar panels for heating and hot water.
We also have a windfang, thought of as a space "buffer" between outside and inside. The integration of such an area is a passive strategy to heat the interior space. It acts like a buffer for home heating, preheating the outside air.
The greenhouse has the role of thermal buffer as well. During the winter and summer hatches open, producing airflow and ventilation, that help cool the house.
The outer shell of the house is a façade of ceramic material, applied to three of the four sides of the prototype. The East façade is covered with a cloth with the same technical role as tiles, but conveys the idea of a ​​home as part of a whole.
In addition to the stylistic value, the façade has a functional role. By installing ceramic tiles of 8 cm on the outer wall, it serves as a heat buffer.
On the wall inside the greenhouse there are holes designed to hold potted plants, in order to turn into a green wall, complete with an automated irrigation system. Plants can be found in the bathrooms and in the bedrooms as well.
In both bathrooms, around the mirrors, you can find a type of moss that absorbs humidity, and in the child's’ bedroom and in the matrimonial one you will find aerial plants, integrated directly in the furniture.

If you had to do it again?

We participated with this house in the Solar Decathlon competition, in the 2014 edition. Because we had to transport the house to France and back, to Versailles, it had to respect a modular model. Based on this modular design, our permeability simulations didn't match with the real tests. That's why, next time, we hope to manage a more compact model, with as few joints as possible.

Also, the facade is made from 3mm ceramic plaques. During the construction stage, we discovered it is very breakable and thin, some of them being ruined either by transportation, either by bad handling.

Building users opinion

Our prototype is open for the public every Thursday and Sunday, and during special occasions, such as "Museum Nights" or during important visits. People were overjoyed by the concept of "The Futuristic House" and some even traveled from other countries to visit and see the new technologies and innovations. Also, some of our colleagues did an experiment, sleeping in the house for three days. The feedback was positive, the ability to control the lights and the heat coming in handy, as well as the modular design, describing the house "comfortable" and "feeling like a true residence".

Energy consumption

• Primary energy need : 4 330,47 kWhpe/m².year
• Primary energy need for standard building : 268,00 kWhpe/m².year

Calculation method : Primary energy needs

CEEB : -0.0233

• Final Energy : 32,68 kWhfe/m².year
Breakdown for energy consumption :

Heating - 10% / 3.37 kWh FE/m2/year
Cooling - 11% / 3.58 kWh FE/m2/year
Ventilation - 13% / 4.30 kWh FE/m2/year
Domestic hot water - 19% / 6.16 kWh FE/m2/year
Lighting - 16% / 5.18 kWh FE/m2/year
Appliances & devices - 31% / 10.12 kWh FE/m2/year

More information :

A one-year monitoring interval will start soon, with our Living Building Challenge application. At this time no corrective actions have been done.

Envelope performance

• Envelope U-Value : 0,30 W.m^-2.K^-1
More information :

Walls area (m2) (W/m2K) 246 / 0.129
Floor area (m2) (W/m2K) 132.5 / 0.124
Roof area (m2) (W/m2K) 90.77 / 0.121
Glazing area (m2) Triple glazed:45.18 / 0.8
Double glazed:42.4 / 1

Indicator : EN 13829 - n50 » (en 1/h-1)

• Air Tightness Value : 0,87

Real final energy consumption

Real final energy consumption/m2 : 4 331,75 kWhfe/m².year

Real final energy consumption/functional unit : 4 331,75 kWhfe/m².year

Year of the real energy consumption : 2 015

Systems

Heating system :
• Boiler fuel
• Heat pump
• Combined Heat and Power
• Others
• Electric heater
• Radiant ceiling
• VAV System
• Others
• Solar thermal
Hot water system :
• Individual electric boiler
• Boiler fuel
• Heat pump
• Solar Thermal
• Other hot water system
Cooling system :
• Radiant ceiling
• Chilled Beam
Ventilation system :
• Natural ventilation
• Double flow heat exchanger
Renewable systems :
• Solar photovoltaic
• Solar Thermal
• Energy recovery from waste
• Heat pump
• Renewable energy production : 43,00 %

The majority of the materials and equipments used in the HVAC system can be reused or recycled in high percent. Most of them contain materials like copper, steel, aluminum and brass known for their recyclable and reusable properties.
Overall, the percentage of reuse and recycle of the HVAC system is 95%. The toxic substance that is found in the HVAC system is the refrigerant used by the heat pump, specifically the R407C. The refrigerant is contained in a closed circuit, in the outside of the heat pump, so the eventual risk probability is very low.

We also have photovoltaic panels, solar panels and heat pumps.

Solutions enhancing nature free gains :

We use buffer zones, thermic table, shadowing system, ceramic facade, PCMs (Phase Changing Material) and the photovoltaic panels, that cover the terasse and hide it from sunlight.

Smart Building

BMS :

We use the BMS system in order to keep parameters of thermal comfort and indoor air quality values within the maximum admissible limits. In order to obtain the desired effect we monitor the exterior parameters of temperature, solar radiation humidity and

GHG emissions

• GHG in use : -5 781,60 KgCO₂/m²/year
Methodology used :

Romanian methodology

• GHG before use : 41 850,00 KgCO₂ /m²
• Building lifetime : 50,00 year(s)

, ie xx in use years : -7.24

Water management

• Consumption from water network : -117,17 m³
• Consumption of harvested rainwater : 41 760,00 m³

Water Self Sufficiency Index : 1

Water Consumption/m2 : -0.9

Water Consumption/Dwelling : -117.17

For Bucharest, the local rainfall collected from our house in one year is calculated as follows:
Q- quantity of rainwater, 580 [L/sqm/year]
S - collecting surface, 80 [sqm]
cf- material coefficient, 0.9
VrB = Q x S x cf [L/year]
VrB= 41760 L/year

Health & Comfort

Calculated indoor CO2 concentration :

<720ppm

Measured indoor CO2 concentration :

0.04%

Calculated thermal comfort : Summer - 12.01% Winter - 13.17%

Measured thermal comfort : 26 degrees Celcius in the Summer, 20 - 22 degrees Celcius in the Winter

Acoustic comfort :

Product

Blu Mohito
Arta Gradinilor
+40 721 202 053; +40 743 605 158

Product category : Finishing work / paints, mural, wallcoverings

It is a natural moss that is called Blue Mohito. It has not only aesthetic but also functional properties, absorbing moisture and gradually releasing it.

The moss was chosen for its functional purposes. Also, it helped our goal of increasing the green space per capita, integrating nature in the EFdeN house.

Aspera Fenix Nanotechnology
Atipic
+40 21 253 15 79

Product category :

The external surface of Aspera Fenix Nanotechnology involves the use of nanotechnology and it is characterized by next generation acrylic resins, hardened and fixed with Electron Beam Curing process, opening up new avenues in the field of interior design. With low light reflectivity, its surface is extremely opaque, anti-fingerprint and features a very pleasant soft touch. Thanks to the use of nanotechnologies, Aspera Fenix Nanotechnology thermally heals any superficial micro-scratches, as its name indicates.

This material, with its power to regenerate, was greatly accepted and embraced by our members and our stakeholders. Being easily cleanable and its scratches self-healing, it respects our goal of reducing unnecessary household items in the EFdeN house.

Construction and exploitation costs

• Global cost : 200 329,12 €
• Reference global cost : 174 482,98 €
• Renewable energy systems cost : 11 360,70 €

Global cost/Dwelling : 200329.12

Reference global cost/Dwelling : 174482.98

• Total cost of the building : 174 483 €

Urban environment

At the moment, the EFdeN prototype is situated in the yard of the Faculty of Installations in Bucharest, in a central, easily accessible area. Being a research center, the location is perfect for the pertaining students, who can come and study the equipment and the houses’ effect on the environment.

Still, the house was designed as part of a residential complex, its purpose being to revitalize the old industrial neighborhoods, the disaffected spaces, known as “brown-fields”, of Bucharest.

Land plot area

Land plot area : 181,55 m²

Built-up area

Built-up area : 50,56 %

Green space

Green space : 415,00

Parking spaces

We have no parking spaces.

Building Environmental Quality