Energy consumption levels for air-conditioning and lighting are, in terms of use, often much higher than in residential buildings, such that in passive house commercial buildings, the building technology has a decisive impact on the attainment of the passive house standards.

Object under examination in Bautzen

In order to gain experience with passive house construction in non-residential buildings, the »building behavior« of a newly-erected commercial structure in Bautzen/Sachsen was metrologically monitored and evaluated over a period of two years by the University of Applied Sciences at Zittau/Görlitz (Hochschule Zittau/Görlitz). The project resulted in:

• optimization of the operation of the building technology based on the special circumstances of a commercial building
• execution of an evaluation for economic efficiency
• development of planning aids for passive house commercial properties.

The building’s heating, by means of a geothermal probe heat pump with combined direct cooling in summer, has met expectations. 

Due to the electricity consumption for lighting, a maximum primary energy figure of 120 kWh/m²a was not attained. But with a value of 160 kWh/m²a, the property thus falls into a category which can be regarded as good for this type of building.

The University’s representatives have therefore proposed that Passive House Criteria for non-residential buildings be defined not generally, but rather based on the respective usage.

Project Operation:
Hochschule Zittau/Görlitz
Fachbereich Bauwesen
Theodor-Körner-Allee 16
02763 Zittau
Telefon    +49 3583 61 1632
fb-bauwesen@hszg.de
http://bauwesen.hs-zigr.de

Ref. 26691