This project involved retrofitting a typical traditional Danish residential complex to meet passive house standards. A group of 12 teams with specialists from different backgrounds worked together on the project. Proposals included improving insulation, installing a ventillation system, modifying some interior spaces, adding solar panels, a ground source heating system supplemented by biomass, a green roof, grey water recycling, and energy simulations showing an 83.5% reduction in energy usage. The retrofit aimed to significantly improve energy efficiency while maintaining occupant comfort.

1. Passive house Project
Myself and five other peers from different disciplinary backgrounds were selected to
attend a Passive House retrofit project in Denmark. Upon arrival we were briefed with
the task that follows. Working with other nationalities such as: Portuguese, Hungarian,
Estonian, French, Lithuanian and Danish from all specialist backgrounds. Once
divided into 12 groups of 5 we were set to achieve a common goal of retrofitting a
typical traditional Danish residential complex to meet passive house standards.

2. THE
Agnė Matuliauskaitė - Project Manager
Alexander Nesbitt - Architectual
Technologist
Dorka Beke - Architect
João Patrício Silva - Architect
Margus Krasnov - Civil Engineer

3. SITE

4. CHOSEN

5. EXISTING

6. INITIAL

7. EXISTING BUILDING

8. FINAL PROPOSAL

9. EXISTING
-1. BASEMENT 0. GROUND FLOOR
1. FIRST FLOOR 2. SECOND FLOOR

10. -1. BASEMENT PROPOSAL
0. GROUND FLOOR
1. FIRST FLOOR
2. SECOND FLOOR
3. TOP FLOOR

11. CROSS

12. PROPOSAL

13. BUILDING
VENTILLATION SYSTEM
Fresh air without dust, and pollen
Decrease thermal losses
Don’t have to install too high-capacity
heating-cooling system
INTERIOR DESIGN
Make low changes
Some modification in the bathrooms and in
the kitchen.
SERVICE
Each staircase has a riser connected to four
flats.
In the basement we have to move the
bathroom to have easy connection to the
risers.

14. SOLAR
SOLAR HEATING: THE SUN IS TOO
LOW IN DENMARK
WEATHER OFTEN CLOUDY
PHOTOVOLTAICS PV PANELS TO
SUPPORT THE ELECTRICITY
SUPPLY
SYSTEM: Quick Step Solar PV

15. SOLAR
SYSTEM: QUICK STEP SOLAR
Dimensions: 2000 mm x 365 mm
Weight: 19.10 kg
Module area: 0.73 m2
Module output: 68 Wp ± 10 %
Operating voltage: VMPP= ca. 14.20V
Operating current: IMPP= ca. 4.80 A
Open circuit voltage: VOC= 17.10 V
Short circuit current: ISC= 5.12 A
Connection: MC- box, 600 mm
wire included

16. GROUND SOURCE
HORIZONTAL SURFACE
COLLECTOR
ENOUGH SPACE TO INSTALL
CAN BE USED FOR HEATING AND
COOLING TOO
DOESN’T DEPEND ON WEATHER
COEFFICIENT OF PERFORMANCE IS
GOOD

17. HEATING
CLOSED LOOP VERTICAL GROUND
SOURCE HEATING SYSTEM
ENERGY INPUT IS REDUCED AND
LARGER RADIATORS USED TO
INCREASE EFFICENCY WITHOUT
REDUCING PERFORMANCE

18. BIOMASS
HIGH EFFICENCY
CARBON NEUTRAL SYSTEM
(IN OPERATION)
USED ONLY TO SUPPLEMENT
HEAT PUMPS FOR DOMESTIC
WATER

19. MV
kitchen ventilation x bathroom ventilation x
W/C+ minimum fresh air = overall air flow
rate
Overall air flow for the building
60 x 40 x 20 + 960= 1440 m3/h
Minimum fresh air flow rate per
person
30 x 4 x 8 = 960 m3/h

20. MECHANICAL
BASEMENT PLAN

21. MECHANICAL
GROUND FLOOR PLAN

22. MECHANICAL
FIRST FLOOR PLAN

23. BUILDING
GREY WATER RECYCLING
Collect rain for watering our green roof
Enough space for the water tank under
the roof.
WATER STORAGE GREY
WATER
Collect water from the
sink, and from the
shower for the toillet.

24. ROOF
BY CHANGING THE SHAPE OF THE ROOF
WE HAVE ENOUGH SPACE TO CREATE A
GREEN TERRACE
1. Optigreen seed mixture type E
Good seed mix composition and
various coordinated breeds of
plantation.
4. Optigreen drainage
system FKD 40 (4 cm)
Quickly drain excess water
2. Extensive substrate type E * preventing water swelling
(5-20 cm) Balancing filter diffusier
Multi-layer extensive green roof
design coordinated substrate
with high water storage
capacity.
5. Optigreen protective and
3. Filter mat type 105 water-holding geotextítia
Water flow near a high ability It protects the root or a film. the
to prevent the leaching of roof membrane from damage
fine soil particles. and keeps the water. A filter
removes soil from the water to
prevent gutter blockage.

25. COST
TOTAL COST : 3 890 000 eur OR 29 175 000Kz

26. ENERGY

27. ENERGY
EXISTING BUILDING
IDA Indoor Climate and Energy vers. 4.22
License: IDA40:ED134
Simulated by Margus
Date 20.04.2012 19:46:31 [436]

28. ENERGY
EXISTING BUILDING
IDA Indoor Climate and Energy vers. 4.22
License: IDA40:ED134
Simulated by Margus
Date 20.04.2012 19:46:31 [436]

29. ENERGY
Existing building
Renovated building
83.5 %