The Green Housing Block project was dealing with local demonstration of best available solar low-energy technologies in L'Isle d'Abeau (F) and in Portsmouth (UK). The project was realised in connection with the "European Green Cities" co-operation.

Description of work:

Hillsley Road, Portsmouth (UK)
The idea was to develop an existing redundant urban site to provide 10 new houses, 2 apartments and a retail shop to serve the local community. The objective of the project was to use the following items in an architecturally and environmentally optimal way:

• a general passive design for the houses to avoid nearly all heating demand.
• solar generated heat.
• wind/PV generated electricity.
• counter flow heat recovery ventilation systems with 85% efficiency.
• ventilation air heated by solar gins and fans driven by wind/PV generated electricity.
• recycled rainwater/gray waste water.
  buffer zone integrated as part of house plan to address noise generated from motorway.

L'isle d'Abeau (F)
A retrofit programme of 110 dwellings in 3 social housing buildings with a very important action about energy and water savings. The main objective was to demonstrate the possibility to retrofit dwellings with renewable energies like photovoltaïc panels and solar collectors for domestic hot water. The architectural integration of solar energy was an important aspect. The following innovative measures are included:

• solar energy - photovoltaïc modules.
• total environmental approach.
• innovative retrofit programme.
• education of end users.
• Common activities.

It was aimed to compile experiences on how to organise sustainable solar low energy building in practice as part of a sustainable urban management process. This included use of the "Greenbuild" tool by the partners including introduction of local criteria, as a way to promote a sustainable and energy efficient building design, as part of an urban ecology planning process. Besides the "Optibuild" tool can be used as basis of lifecycle costs optimisation.

For detailed descriptions of the demo projects click here.

The project is co-ordinated by Green City Denmark, Cenergia Energy Consultants and Metec&Saggese Engineering Srl.

A certain extent of co-operation took place between the two projects Green Housing Block and Green Solar Regions.

The Green Housing Block project was supported by the EC - DG for Energy and Transport.

Timing: January 2000 - December 2003.