House in Harelbeke

The owner of this property in Harelbeke gave us the assignment to build a low-energy house which is easily convertible into a passive house. Both in design and construction of the house we strived to keep the ecological footprint to a minimum. The following measures were taken to minimize the impact on the environment:

• using environmentally friendly techniques that have little or no impact on the user’s quality of life and the surroundings
• using ecologically responsible materials in the construction of the home
• installing sustainable energy sources for electricity and warm water
• optimally insulating the entire house

Choosing long-term sustainability solutions

This sustainable, ecological low-energy house was built in such a way that it could easily be transformed into a passive house by implementing some simple technical changes. Thanks to an extended floor, wall and roof insulation of the house a passive shell was created: an air tight building envelope between the interior and the exterior of the house. We placed solar heaters on the roof for a sustainable and profitable warm water production.

ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES

To build a passive house is a nice thing. But to fully commit to this philosophy, its construction also has to be ecological. We therefore opted for:

• mainly materials labeled with an environmental class 1 to 3* which impact the environment the least
• absolutely no materials which have a higher formaldehyde emission, which is harmful, than wood
• wood with an FSC or PEFC label showing it comes from sustainable forests
• thermally modified planking which has been heated in an environmentally friendly way

WOULD YOU LIKE MORE INFORMATION?

Do you want to learn more about this project or (re)build your own passive house ? Contact us today for an appointment without engagement.