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WSP advise on 'climate-smart' housing

WSP and property developer, ByggVesta, are collaborating in Stockholm and Malmo on a unique housing project involving the first passive heating of houses, to minimise energy consumption.

The energy consumption of passive houses is around 40% lower than the new requirements of the Swedish National Board of Housing, Building and Planning (BBR).  Carbon dioxide emissions are estimated to be 30% lower.

According to Göran Werner, a climate change and energy specialist at WSP, the key to 'climate-smart' housing is to construct the house using the latest building and installation techniques, use contractors who are experts in the chosen technique and for architects, engineering consultants and contractors to collaborate on the project from start to finish.  This has been the roadmap to success in the two current schemes in Hammarby Sjöstad, Stockholm and Västra Hamnen, Malmö.

Aspects of the concept include:

• good sealing to the outer shell
• few or no cold bridges
• standardised ventilation and extraction with heat recovery and common FTX equipment (e.g. on the roof)
• simple, draught-free rear-wall ventilation in the living room with normal airflows
• low-energy white goods
• no radiators needed in the apartments
• individual metering of hot water

For ByggVesta, this is a development project that will pave the way for additional buildings in the future that are even more climate-friendly.

Find out more information about passive heating by contacting Göran Werner: goran.werner@wspgroup.se