LIVE: follow the build of our Passive House online
One of the most important features to watch out for when you design your new home is „ how to save energy on a daily basis“. As a large amount of the energy needed is used for heating your house, we from Hanse Haus believe in paying most of the attention to the insulation of the house hull. The idea is: little heat loss - small heating bill.
On the 17th of May we want to bring it close to you how a house can be build and be warm without conventional heating systems. At Hanse Haus headquarters in Oberleichtersbach, Germany we will build a Passive House on our show grounds.
Altogether we will underline the thought of extreme eco friendly building with a fit out for the house of resource friendly techniques for sanitary, electric and other appliances. With this method we will achieve a very future orientated building- and energy saving concept.
Keep login on to our site and you can follow every step: We started on the 17th of May at 8 am and it took us only one day to erect the house shell.Log on to this site to follow the procedure or visit us in Oberleichtersbach, Germany to be there in person.
18. June – Floor screed
Floor screed is brought into the house and all pipes of the under floor heating are covered with the quick drying screed. This assures that the heat can rise quickly into the floor. People respond to the pleasant warms of under-floor heating positive as it gives very cosy heat with high comfort.
15. June – Floor insulation and under floor heating
More insulation is applied. In the ground floor area we fit in top of the insulation the under floor system which is fitted to assure maximum comfort. The layer of floor screed will be poured shortly.
4. June – Fitting of plaster boards
Plaster boards are fitted to roof slopes, ceilings and walls; all joints are taped and filled. Nearly every kind of finish can be attached to this smooth surface now.
2. June – Blower Test
Heat loss through gaps of the house hull needs to be avoided. With a passive house build special attention needs to be given to those details. All gaps, joints and connections within the building where very exactly clued together. The pressure test assures that the house hull complies with the high requests of a passive house.
28. May – Fitting of Air Ventilation System
An air ventilation system with heat recovery assures a constant comfortable climate in the passive house and at the same time it minimises the heat losses. Used air including the heat would normally be blown out of the house. With the heat recovery system the heat going out is recycled and fed back into the fresh air coming in.
The pipes of the ventilation system are placed in a special created installation area and in the ground floor ceiling - running from the utility room to each room in the house. This layout makes sure that every room is supplied with pleasantly warm and dry fresh air.
27. May – Roof Covering
The roof cover is completed. Our solar system was fitted into the roof. This looks very smart on the overall roof finish. The chosen red roof tiles will harmonise nicely with the white render finish that is going to be applied and it will give a nice contrast to the overall look of the house.
26. May – Fitting of Solar System
Additional to the passive house standard specifications we fit a solar system to heat the domestic water. During the warm summer month the solar system will heat up to 100% of the hot water needed for the house. This reduces the energy cost dramatically.
Open Day with Hanse Haus – 17th May 2009
- 8 am: The actual house build starts....
- ... and shortly after the first wall is mounted.
- 9 am: The external walls are nearly all erected.
- 9:45 am: All the internal walls and the stairs are fitted. It is easy to recognise the layout of the house by now.
- 10:30 am: The ceiling panels are mounted to the ground floor walls...
- ...and now the first gable end wall is mounted.
- 11:00 am: Now the internal walls on the first floor are fitted...
- ... followed by the first parts of the roof beams.
- 13:45 pm: The dormer is fitted into the roof...
- ... and more pre-manufactured roof panels are followed.
- 14:45 pm: The crane lifts the three ridge panels.
- 16:00 pm: Done! After about 8 hours work the traditional German celebration for finishing the exterior of a house can be started. Mr Johannes Avenarius broadcasted the procedure live on the local radio station “Priamton”.
- Our HANSE HAUS crew made it possible!
Impressions on the day
- Not just locals wanted to see the erection of the HANSE-Passive House. Visitors travelled from far and away to follow the one day event.
- Parents could relax and take their time to get information about the procedure of building a HANSE HAUS with most modern technologies. Meanwhile the off spring were minded and had lots of fun with our children entertainment.
- That’s how strong a HANSE HAUS wall is! Just four brackets are holding the beams were the VW-Passat with a weight of 1.8 tonnes is placed on.
- There was also plenty of food and refreshments available. The club “local traditions” from our town Oberleichtersbach, looked after the hungry and the thirsty.
- One question we didn’t solve on the day – what do the Scottish wear under the kilt? Andy played his bag-pipe very well much to the enjoyment of our visitors.
Download Press - Photos
3rd of April – Pouring of the raft
Today we pour the raft – House build will start in six weeks time.
Yesterday we also placed the needed reinforcing mesh on top of the insulation. Today the concrete can be poured. A large concrete pump fills the plot that is surrounded by the shuttering with concrete. The concrete will be vibrated to assure that no air pockets remaining within the concrete.
The foundation raft is left to dry for a considerable time and the build of our Passive House can start as planned on the 17th of May.
2nd of April – Insulation within foundation raft
Insulation in the foundation of the house – House build will start in six weeks time.
Shuttering for the foundation is in place. At the moment the whole area is covered with a 300mm thick insulation that is pressure resistant. This material has very high insulation value and guaranties a minimum of heat loss from the house through the foundation slab.
30st of March – ground works
Building has started – We will start the actual house build in six weeks time.
The show house is positioned to assure that the front of the house with the big windows points south – this way the free energy given by sunshine can be used very efficiently to heat up the house. The passive house will be fitted on a highly insulated foundation slab. Groundwork’s for the foundation slab are nearly finished. All ducting’s needed for white and grey water, electricity and telecommunication are in place.