Rising energy costs, but also increasing requirements to comply with EU regulations, make changes in building design not just the beginning of a fashion, but a necessity. It turns out that most of the energy used in homes or multi-family buildings is spent on providing an adequate indoor temperature and heating water. There is no doubt, therefore, that a very important issue – not for the next few years, but right now – is the design and construction of buildings whose energy demand (but also energy loss) will be much lower.
This must become a widespread trend, important not only for individual investors but also for developers. It is certainly not only single-family houses that must contribute to reducing the negative impact of construction on the environment. Any multi-family building should also do so. The regulations that mandate this are already in place and there is no expectation of any change in this regard. Besides, the aforementioned lower costs are an equally important issue that every home or flat user should care about.
There are quite a few opportunities to change energy consumption issues. Investors in single-family homes are already well aware of this, very often betting on renewable energy sources. The situation is different in the development market, specifically in the case of multifamily buildings. Although in this case, the regulatory requirements are also already in place, there is undoubtedly still a lot of work to be done. First of all, the design of apartment blocks must take into account not only the demand for energy but also the issue of energy loss. Buildings of this type that have been in existence for decades use natural gravity ventilation, which means huge energy losses.
Unclean air from apartments is removed to the outside through chimneys, and the eventual influx of fresh and clean air is carried out with the help of ventilators, leaks in windows, or the most popular ventilation.
This means that the temperature inside drops sharply especially in winter. Heating a house or apartment to a certain level requires the consumption of a considerable amount of energy. This is one issue that needs to be changed. What else? For example, aspects related to insulation and more. Thermal modernization is helpful, but not exactly optimal. That’s mainly why it’s worth betting not only on proper insulation systems but in addition to that, for example, on recuperation.
A multi-family building equipped with a recuperation system should become a standard at a time when energy prices are rising and one of the basic requirements is to fight environmental pollution. A recuperator is a device that provides efficient mechanical ventilation, but at the same time guarantees heat recovery. The air drawn in from outside is heated thanks to a special exchanger, which allows heat energy to be recovered from the exhaust air inside. This allows you to create an optimal and functional system, important for the environment. Without a shadow of a doubt, it is worth choosing this type of ventilation system for modern multifamily buildings, thus not exposing themselves to large energy losses and the need to increase the power of heating equipment.
Examples are confirming that renewable energy sources also work well in multifamily buildings. For example, heat pumps or photovoltaics can be installed alongside a recuperator. Combined, they will provide efficient ventilation and optimal, low-carbon heating or energy supply. Such zero-energy buildings have potential, as evidenced by their installation in many places. They will meet not only legal requirements but also users’ expectations in terms of thermal comfort, health, and ease of operation.
As in many other areas, proportions and the question of cost-effectiveness are important. It is known that the requirements are different for a building with six apartments, and different for a building with dozens of units. Even in larger multifamily buildings, it is possible (even necessary) to install such systems that will satisfy the residents, meet the requirements of the law, and reduce the negative human impact on nature.
One more point is worth noting: it is becoming increasingly common to choose smart control systems for homes and apartments. They are responsible for heating, lighting, cooling, and more. Thanks to them, you can control installations, control their condition, or receive information about potential hazards or failures. Besides, they are functional and convenient systems, ideal for modern facilities such as apartments or zero-energy houses.
An excellent example is heating controls. Reputable manufacturers guarantee the ability to purchase and install controllers that are responsible for optimal temperature setting; by the expectations of users. Such systems also allow you to create schedules for the operation of the heating system, that is, for example, the dependence of the power of the boiler on the time of day or the presence of household members in the apartment. This reduces the consumption of energy needed to heat the premises, which translates into lower bills and lower emissions of pollutants.