+ERS – Plus Energy Network Reininghaus Süd

Starting point / motivation

Until now plus-energy houses were frontrunners: very often single family houses or buildings in sparsely populated areas. But due to the ongoing urban sprawl new solutions have to be developed. The focus should be set using the infrastructure options of urban areas in a better way: Supply networks, effluent disposal, public transport and social and educational infrastructure. The development of innovative multifunctional neighbourhoods using synergies within the cluster provides a sustainable development for urban areas and a high level of living environment for residents.

• Synergien innerhalb von (multifunktionalen) Gebäudeverbänden
• Verbrauch an Haushaltsstrom durch die Endbenutzer/-innen

Contents and goals

Key objective is the development of a comprehensive energy concept regarding urban, thermal and building engineering for an entire city district. An overall energy master plan will be integral part of the “Charta Reininghaus” (agreement for the development of buildings) and will set preliminary standards for future investors.

The new multi-functional neighbourhood is split into two parts: the front building complex consists of office – and commercial premises with a supermarket and apartments for elderly people on the first floor. This complex forms a row along Peter-Rossegger-Straße and provides shelter for the twelve residential multi- family houses behind.

The front building complex will be realized by “WEGRAZ Gesellschaft für Stadterneuerung und Assanierung m.b.H.” in summer 2011. The “Aktiv Klimahaus GmH” will realize the twelve residential buildings in three subsections from 2012 until 2013.

The front building complex as first subsection is not part of this project, but will act with the twelve residential buildings in a heat network in order to optimize the energy flows within the neighbourhood.

Methods

Starting point of the development is the optimization of the energy concept of each single residential building: on one hand the optimization of the energy supply by so-called “energy piles” and photovoltaic modules and on the other hand efficiency measures and the reduction of the energy use by the residents within their ménages.

The next step is to optimize the network within the twelve residential buildings – they are connected together with a heat network. Finally the biggest impact will be the establishment of the heat network with the front building complex. The expected consumption pattern of the office- and commercial premises diverges from the one of the residential buildings. Therefore a big potential to lower peak loads can be seen.

Expected results

The successful implementation of the “Plus Energy Network Reininghaus Süd” will create an exemplary role model and demonstrate the economic feasibility of plus energy networks for housing.

On the one hand it will contribute to a CO₂-neutral building portfolio and on the other hand it will enable a self-sufficient and sustainable operation of buildings while improving the user comfort.