The importance of energy efficiency has become gospel in many parts of the world- most notably in countries like Japan, which have committed to making all new public buildings passive and net zero energy structures from here on out. In the US, companies like Turner have said that the future of the commercial market is net zero, as well – and that attitude seems to be gaining steam in Europe, too, with the most recent addition to the Passivhaus fraternity coming from Italy.
La Scuola Passiva Raldon in Verona became Italy’s first Passivhaus certified modular school building last week, thanks to a highly efficient architectural design featuring an innovative, low-energy ventilation system that’s been integrated into the school’s facade.
You can read more about la Scuola in Passive House International’s official press release on the matter, below, and read more about the school (albeit, in Italian) over at Energie Sensibili magazine. Enjoy!
Italy’s First Passive House School Receives Certificate Near Verona
Darmstadt, Germany/Verona, Italy. Energy efficiency and climate protection are a learning process for everyone. Consequently, a school building is always an ideal object of study in the context of building construction. An excellent example of this was inaugurated in September near Verona: the “Scuola Passiva Raldon” – Italy’s first Certified Passive House School. This new build combines high quality architecture with sophisticated building systems, featuring a ventilation system integrated into its facade.
The new primary school has a treated floor area of 1475 square metres spreading across ten classrooms, an auditorium and other special-use rooms and offices. The building envelope consists of a double-skinned reinforced concrete wall with polyurethane cavity and external insulation, as well as a timber exterior wall fitted with mineral wool insulation. A condensing gas boiler takes care of hot water generation and heating for a resulting heating demand of 14 kWh/(m2a).
The facade integrated ventilation system of the “Scuola Passiva Raldon” was developed by architect Michael Tribus and product manufacturer Helmut Moratelli of Wolf Artec. In this design, decentralised devices are directly built into the façade. The air intakes and outlets are hardly visible from the outside thanks to their slit form. The ventilation system is also integrated as much as possible into the interior design of the building. The units provide for excellent indoor air quality, a fact belying their quiet operation and inconspicuous design.
The principle of a facade-integrated ventilation system, designated “LILU” from the German “Licht/Luft” or “light/air” by its developers, isn’t only of interest for new builds. Especially in refurbishments, this system could facilitate achievement of the Passive House Standard or the EnerPHit Standard for retrofits particularly when space is a critical factor, as the system makes planning for plant rooms and ducting inside a building unnecessary. As the system is installed directly in the façades, it can also prove advantageous for retrofits whose façades require renovation anyway. The exact functional and energy-relevant requirements for such devices and concepts are currently being elaborated in the EU-funded EuroPHit project.
Representing the Italian Ministry of Education, Universities and Research, Undersecretary of State Roberto Reggi commended the innovative concept of this building during its inauguration in Raldon. The majority of the partners involved in the construction of this building also attended the formal event on 13 September. In addition to the school director and architects, the Mayor of the municipality of San Giovanni Lupatoto, to which the village of Raldon belongs, as well as a representative of the Education Authority of the Region of Veneto were also present. “In such projects, it is not only the technical solutions that
matter; dedicated decision-makers play just as important a role in addition to committed designers, architects and product manufacturers”, emphasised Laszlo Lepp of the Passive House Institute during the presentation of the Passive House certificate.
Source | Images: Passive House Int’l.
