EFdeN 4C
- by Alexandra Tatar
- /
- 2016-06-25 20:38:32
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- International
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- 9308 / EN
New Construction
- Building Type : Isolated or semi-detached house
- Construction Year : 2015
- Delivery year : 2015
- Address 1 - street : 66 Pache Protopopescu Boulevard 021414 BUCHAREST, Romania
- Climate zone : [Dfb] Humid Continental Mild Summer, Wet All Year
- Net Floor Area : 130 m2
- Construction/refurbishment cost : 174 483 €
- Cost/m2 : 1342.18 €/m2
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Primary energy need :
4330.47 kWhpe/m2.year
(Calculation method : Primary energy needs )
We are over 30 young and passionate students, from fields ranging from architecture, engineering, communication or management, and together we form the EFdeN team.
In 2014 we represented Romania in the final for Solar Decathlon Europe in France, alongside 19 teams from 16 countries and 4 continents. We attended 10 interdisciplinary events, from architecture to engineering, innovation and communication.
We designed and built an extraordinary safe and comfortable solar house, energetically efficient. The house is automatized, being 100% electrical, without monthly bills and environment-friendly.After many hours of work and dedication, the house became Romania’s First Center of Research for Comfort Conditions - EFdeN 4C.
See more details about this project
http://efden.org//Data reliability
Self-declared
Stakeholders
Investor
Romstal +40 21 332 09 01, +40 21 332 09 02Investor
Saint Gobain +40 21 207 57 00Investor
Transelectrica +40 21 303 56 11Investor
UFX +40 31 432 87 36Investor
Transgaz +40 26 980 33 33Investor
Engie +40 21 9281Contracting 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
- 4 330,47 kWhpe/m2.year
- 268,00 kWhpe/m2.year
- 32,68 kWhfe/m2.year
Envelope performance
- 0,30 W.m-2.K-1
- 0,87
Real final energy consumption
4 331,75 kWhfe/m2.year
4 331,75 kWhfe/m2.year
2 015
Systems
- Boiler fuel
- Heat pump
- Combined Heat and Power
- Others
- Electric heater
- Radiant ceiling
- VAV System
- Others
- Solar thermal
- Individual electric boiler
- Boiler fuel
- Heat pump
- Solar Thermal
- Other hot water system
- Radiant ceiling
- Chilled Beam
- Natural ventilation
- Double flow heat exchanger
- Solar photovoltaic
- Solar Thermal
- Energy recovery from waste
- Heat pump
- 43,00 %
Smart Building
GHG emissions
- -5 781,60 KgCO2/m2/year
- 41 850,00 KgCO2 /m2
- 50,00 year(s)
Water management
- -117,17 m3
- 41 760,00 m3
Health & Comfort
Product
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Blu Mohito

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.
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Aspera Fenix Nanotechnology

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.
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
181,55 m2
Built-up area
50,56 %
Green space
415,00
Parking spaces
We have no parking spaces.
Building Environmental Quality
- indoor air quality and health
- biodiversity
- works (including waste management)
- consultation - cooperation
- acoustics
- comfort (visual, olfactive, thermal)
- waste management (related to activity)
- water management
- energy efficiency
- renewable energies
- integration in the land
- products and materials
Reasons for participating in the competition(s)
We wish to participate in the "Energy and temperate climates" category, because our house, EFdeN 4C is placed in Romania, a country located in a temperate climate, where a winter heating is required.The "Low Carbon" category is also appropriate for our prototype. We integrated vegetation and biodiversity, such as open spaces, roofs & green walls, urban agriculture, etc.
We can apply to the "Smart building" category as well, because EFdeN 4C has intelligent systems that are used efficiently.
Our house combines all the elements that create the perfect intelligent, sustainable house, so we checked the "Sustainable Construction Grand Prize" category as well.
Building candidate in the category

Energy & Temperate Climates

Low Carbon

Smart building

Users' Choice Award
Author of the page
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