EnergyFlexHouse

The objective of reliability and a substantial reduction in CO2 shall be met through increased energy efficiency and increased use of renewable energy. In 2025, 30% of the Danish energy consumption must be covered by renewable energy and the energy consumption must be reduced by 25%. Therefore, focus is on increased energy efficiency, renewable energy and the development of innovative technologies, as never seen before. The challenge includes mastering the dynamic interplay between the user, the building, utility supplies and equipment.

Danish Technological Institute is meeting this challenge with EnergyFlexHouse. Danish Technological Institute is building a unique, future-orientated and flexible development and demonstration platform in co-operation with Henning Larsen Architects A/S. EnergyFlexHouse is located on the premises of Danish Technological Institute in Taastrup. The construction work has been finalised in 2009.

New thinking, innovation and development
EnergyFlexHouse is a high-tech laboratory – a facility for developing, testing and demonstrating overall innovative energy solutions for the building industry. Solutions where the interplay between installations, the building, the end-user and the energy system are crucial for adaptation, use and real effect of welldocumented individual technologies. “Flex” denotes that the building envelope and installations can be adapted or replaced individually and easily.

EnergyFlexHouse comprises two buildings which provide a framework for collaboration between Danish Technological Institute and Danish companies. EnergyFlexHouse has two main functions, one in each building:

EnergyFlexLab is developing and testing – is a technical development facility where different elements of the building envelope, energy installations and control systems are developed and optimised together.

EnergyFlexFamily is testing new solutions – is a similarly detached housing unit in which the focus is on the use of technology – intelligent control of installations and equipment, interactive user interfaces and interplay with the energy system as a whole.

Technology and new thinking
At EnergyFlexHouse, we work with technology and new thinking in areas such as:

• Utility suply, individual production of heat and electricity, renewable energy
  Micro-cogeneration, fuel cells, solar panels, solarpowered systems, pellet burners, wood-burning stoves, district heating, heat pumps, hot-water systems, etc.
• Control and inteligence Intelligent controls, interactive user interfaces, control strategies and system demand controls, etc.
• Installations and equipment Radiators, under-floor heating, ventilation, heat recovery, water, lighting, cooling systems, LEDs, electrical equipment, etc.
• Energy-eficient building design
  Low-energy windows, climate windows, movable insulation systems, vacuum insulation, etc.
• Accumulation of heat and electricity Heat accumulation, use of PCM (Phase-Changing Materials), thermoactive constructions, batteries, charging points for electric cars, networked solar panels and heat stores.