This is a project involving the transformation of an old farmhouse in the foothills of the Alps: the aim was to create a sustainable and (as far as possible) self-sufficient surplus-energy building.  The Langes Haus development should also be able to operate entirely on local renewables.

In the refurbishment it was important that people attending the academy in the building feel comfortable in its seminar rooms, kitchen and bedrooms. Heating and visual comfort had to meet the highest standards. To answer to this brief, designers used unneeded wood in a 100-hectare forest next to the farm. The source of renewable energy: wood chips. The energy system developed for the building runs in parallel to the energy grid, resulting in a net energy surplus. Overall, this makes the Langes Haus project a ‘surplus primary energy building’.

The building has its own unit for managing electrical loads and the electricity supply, and the system automatically jumps into action to control a wood-fired power system, photovoltaic units, electrical energy storage and any areas of restricted consumption. Effectively, this turns the old farm building into an ‘energy island’.

AT A GLANCE:

Award Climate Positive*

Year of the award: 2019

Valid to: September 2020

Location: Bad Heilbrunn, Germany

Applicant: Stiftung Nantesbuch gGmbH

Client: Stiftung Nantesbuch gGmbH

Architect: Florian Nagler Architekten

Energy concept and CO₂ balancing: TRANSSOLAR Energietechnik GmbH

* This award is bestowed for buildings that achieve a negative annual carbon footprint and thus make a significant positive contribution to climate protection. The net carbon footprint assessment is based on the DGNB Framework for Carbon-Neutral Buildings and Sites.