The Architect competition

Read about the jury assessment of the two winners and the other proposals in NAK vol. 527-E «OPPTRE – Energy upgrading of wooden dwellings to nearly zero energy level»

OPPTRE – Energy upgrading of wooden dwellings to nearly zero energy level

Energy upgrading of wooden dwellings to nearly zero energy level (OPPTRE) is a research project (KPN-project) with duration from 2018 to 2021, supported by the ENERGIX program of the Research Council of Norway and the partners; Systemhus, Mesterhus, VELUX, Hunton, Isola, Ratio architects, Flexit, Enova og DiBK.

The goal of OPPTRE, is to propose a nearly Zero Energy Building (nZEB) level for the renovation of wooden dwellings. To this end, we will identify nZEB concept designs that have high architectural quality, are cost-efficient and low-carbon. Furthermore, we will identify barriers and driving forces for nZEB renovation, capturing a significant market share.

The scope is small wooden dwellings, responsible for more than half of the total energy use in the Norwegian building stock. These can contribute significantly to the national target of 10 TWh/year energy saving by 2030 for existing buildings.

The project will employ a multidisciplinary approach with cooperation across five work packages that address i) architecture and qualities in dwellings, ii) optimisation of building envelopes, iii) HVAC and energy generation, iv) life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle cost analysis (LCCA), and v) innovation system analysis and business model research. The project includes Scandinavian/Baltic cooperation on issues and knowledge related to wooden dwellings.

The research tasks are organised in phases, with an architecture competition at the core. In advance of the competition it is necessary to i) identify archetype cases for wooden houses from 1950-1990, ii) develop an initial definition of nZEB level renovation, and iii) develop renovation concepts and simplified tools to support energy calculations, LCA and LCCA in the competition. Next is the architecture competition, to find examples of innovative energy upgrading solutions. Finally, evaluation of results and deduction of general principles for nZEB level renovation.

The project will create knowledge for nZEB level renovation of wooden dwellings for home-owners and builders, and knowledge for public and private decision makers on business models, regulations and incentives that can lead to market uptake of nZEB renovation towards 2030.

Work packages:

1 – Architecture and qualities in dwellings (Eli Støa, NTNU)

2 – Optimisation of building envelopes (Lars Gullbrekken, SINTEF)

3 – Heating, ventilation and energy generation, PhD (Laurent Georges, NTNU)

4 – Life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle cost analysis (LCCA), (Christofer Skaar, SINTEF)

5 – Innovation system analysis, policy measures and innovative business models (Ann Kristin Kvellheim, SINTEF)

6 – Communication and project administration (Anne Gunnarshaug Lien, SINTEF)