The EU project BRITA-in-PuBs involves the renovation of Prøvehallen at the old porcelain manufactory in Valby with insulation of building envelope, new low-energy windows, hybrid ventilation and PV cells forming the artistic ornamentation. Prøvehallen is the Danish demonstration project for innovative and efficient renovation of the energy systems in public buildings.
Project description
The BRITA in PuBs proposal on Eco-buildings aims to increase the market penetration of innovative and effective retrofit solutions to improve energy efficiency and implement renewables, with moderate additional costs. In the first place, this has been realised by the exemplary retrofit of 8 demonstration public buildings in the four participating European regions (North, Central, South, East). By choosing public buildings of different types such as colleges, cultural centres, nursery homes, student houses, churches etc. for implementing the measures it will be easier to reach groups of differing age and social origin. Secondly, the research work packages include the socio-economic research such as the identification of real project-planning needs and financing strategies, the assessment of design guidelines, the development of an internet-based knowledge tool on retrofit measures and case studies and a quality control-tool box to secure a good long-term performance of the building and the systems. The third main pillar of the BRITA in PuBs project is dissemination. This is divided into a minor part, the training of users and maintenance personnel, and a larger section on publishing the research and demonstration work to different target groups
Results
The BRITA in PuBs project within the EU Eco-Buildings programme started in 2004 and finished in spring 2008. The project aimed to increase the market penetration of innovative and effective retrofit solutions to improve energy efficiency and to implement renewable energy technologies. A group of demonstration public buildings in participating European regions (North, Central, South and East) were retrofitted. The public buildings can be used as drivers to heighten awareness and raise society's level of awareness of energy conservation. Secondly, the research work packages of the project include socio-economic research such as the identification of financing strategies, assessment of design guidelines and development of an internet-based knowledge tool for retrofit measures and case studies. The site in Denmark is an old industrial area that is being completely reshaped, modernised and made into a new neighbourhood with its own identity including the building Ovnhallen renovated into a modern school and Prøvehallen which now has become a public cultural centre. The target for energy saving was reached by implementing an integrated concept for energy savings and renewable energy utilisation. The energy savings were achieved by additional insulation of the thermal envelope of the buildings, low-energy windows and demand-controlled mechanical and natural ventilation. Renewable energy was utilised in two systems: An array of photovoltaic cells on the south gable wall and an innovative photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) solar collector that was cooled by a heat pump and the heat delivered to the heating plant of Prøvehallen. The dissemination process is a highly valued part of the BRITA in PuBs project. For all dissemination activities the homepage www.brita-in-pubs.eu has been seen as the main communication core and publications, deliverables, newsletters etc. can be found on the homepage. As part of the dissemination training of users and maintenance has been paid special attention. Architectural student courses and facility manager training courses arranged. BRITA in PuBs has developed a training programme to ensure proper handover procedures for retrofitted buildings and to assure efficient and optimal operation and maintenance, in particular to achieve optimum energy performance. An innovative dissemination and training course was created that can be easily utilised on European level and world-wide. The session has been realised at each of the demonstration buildings' administrations and consists of a two day approach. Based on the results of the BRITA in PuBs and the other Eco-building projects, course material in the format of Power Point presentations in English was developed. A training part was also developed, aimed at applying the lecture themes to practical case studies. Some project partners offered the course at least once in his/her institution, and for making concrete efforts to embed the course in the curriculum, for exanple as an electric course for graduate or undergraduate students where most applicable and/or as part of professional training packages.
