1. Carrying comprehensive thermal modernization of buildings of Police Academy in Katowice in years 2002 – 2005. Thermal modernization included improvement of the thermal insulation of the building envelope (walls, windows, roofs) and of heating installation together with the modernization of heat sources. 2. In 2006 they made a decision about modernization of the system of the ventilation and the air-conditioning in the didactic building. 3. Due to the lack of financial means this investment was stopped.

1. At the beginning of 2008 a decision was made on reconsideration of the modernization of the ventilation and the air-conditioning system along with application of an innovative and efficient ventilation and air-conditioning technology such as a Ground Heat Exchanger (GHE) with a natural bed of clean, rinsed gravel, located in soil. 2. Preliminary estimation of the size and the GHE capacity for the ventilation and the air-conditioning in building was defined in „Conception of the application of GWC for the air-conditioning and preliminary air treatment for the heating and the mechanical ventilation for the modernization of Police Academy objects”. 3. On the basis of hydrological data a decision was made on installing in this building a “partly in-earth GHE”, with a certain part located in soil and the rest installed above the ground level, because of low ground water level. 4. First estimations indicated to design an exchanger with capacity 10 000 m3/h. 5. Design works were preceded by bacteriological examinations of the soil.

1. In May 2008 the executive draft of the repair of the mechanical ventilation in the didactic building „ B ” in Police Academy was prepared and the architectural-constructional project of the assembly of the Ground Heat Exchanger were completed. 2. In June 2008 FEWE worked out energy and economic analysis and environmental effects assessments of the GHE use for ventilation and air-conditioning in the building „ B ”. 3. Simultaneously FEWE prepared a proposal to The Voivodeship Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management (WFOŚiGW) in Katowice to acquire a grant for the realization of the project.

The Ground Heat Exchanger designed for the didactic building purposes will have capacity 10 000 m3/h. Average cooling output from GHE amount to 33 640 W and the maximum output 40 368 W. Average heating output from GHE amount to 23 661 W, and the maximum 72 193 W. Technical and economic analysis show reduction of the annual consumption of the electricity for air-conditioning by approximately 4 500 kWh and reduction of natural gas for heating by almost 8 700 m3 what is giving the reduction CO2 emission by 21 000 kg per year.

1. At the end of the design process the update and cost calculation of the modernization ventilation and air-conditioning project was carried out, including cooperation of the ventilation system with the ground heat exchanger. 2. The proposal for co-funding was accepted and in September the Police Academy initiated a tender for realization of the project of modernization ventilation and the air-conditioning with applying the ground heat exchanger in building “B”.

Due to the low ground water level, exchanger was build as a “partly in-earth” design. Its part (1 m) is located in soil and the rest (about 1 m) above the ground level. Overall dimensions of GHE (length x width x height): 11,5m x 9,1 m x 2m. The ground heat exchanger was build on the area around the building from its western side. Trees belt from the western side and building from the eastern side of the exchanger cause that in the summer the area of the exchanger stays almost all the time overshadowed that means smaller heating of soil and better effectiveness of the exchanger.

1. Based on economic analysis within the municipal budget a decision was taken for reconstruction and expansion of existing kindergarten 165 “Latinka” Sofia. The expansion consist of construction of a new two-storey wing to the present building. 2. It was decided to launch a competition for designer for elaborating of a technical project for reconstruction and expansion of the kindergarten; 3. It was decided to add requirements for passive techniques for heating/cooling of building correspondent to the building type;

1. Urban design – the future new two-storey wing to the present building to be located at the West side and oriented East-West; 2. Architectural/building design -the future new two-storey wing of the kindergarten to be constructed in harmony with the existing vision of the kindergarten showing the specifics of the used state-of-the-art building materials; 3. An energy efficiency strategy is adopted in compliance with the norms and regulations currently in force in Bulgaria and thus the reconstruction includes among others thermal insulation of building envelope to achieve heat transfer coefficient (U W/m2oK): · For walls < 0,5 ; · For roof < 0,3; · For windows and balcony doors < 1,5 (this coefficient is smaller than normative one 2,63)

1. Maintaining of good South orientation of the new living/class rooms; avoid shading of existing living/class rooms 2. Creation of opportunity at the North side to organize a separate entrance for the new wing 3. Applying of greeing and shading for summer comfort

1. Elaboration of architectural and planning solution of the new wing of the building; 2. Elaboration of architectural design of the building envelope of the new wing; 3. Calculation of thermal characteristics of the surrounding elements of the new wing

WS1: Basic analysis of the building design and the energy consumption affecting components In a first meeting the building owner expresses the requirements concerning the cooling demand of the tenant (software house) and his idea of a solution. WS2: Proposals to higher cooling efficiency are made and assessed Different measurements are envisaged and discussed: - Optimisation of glazed surface - Phase change materials (PCM) - heat storage building materials - floor cooling

1. As the preliminary planning of the architecture of the building has been finished an influence on that part was not desired anymore (reduction to only 40% glazed surface) 2. The building owner's idea to satisfy the demand of the software house was to implement a split cooling system and radiators for heating. By highlighting the operational costs of this system and identifying other measurements this idea was abandonned. 3. Different measurements should be compared in detail for the next meeting.

WS1: Calculation of the cooling load In a first step the cooling load has been calculated. WS2: Phone call with cooling system producer Axima Because the cooling load of the (prefered) floor cooling is too low with 20 W/m2 external knowhow is asked with Axima. In the phone call the idea is born to combine floor cooling with another cooling system: the ceiling convectors (100 W/m). WS3: Calculation, simulation and comparison of different possibilities The main aspect in the comparison was besides the consideration of the costs the influence on the room temperatures by each measurement. The following measurements were considered: I: standard glazing (Ug-value = 1,2; g-value = 0,63) II: better glazing quality (Ug-value = 0,9; g-value = 0,52) III: the best glazing quality available on the market (Ug-value = 0,7; g-value = 0,49) IV: reduction of glazig surface from 60 % to 40 % V: floor cooling VI: floor cooling with ceiling convectors for cooling VII: concrete core cooling VIII: ceiling radiant cooling panels IX: optimisation of the building materials with (PCM) X: multisplit system XI: ventilation (partly air-conditioning) WS4: Presentation of the results The results (influence on room temperatures by each measurement) are discussed with the building owner. WS5: Dynamic simulation of floor cooling in combination with different floor covers The question if the previewed felt carpet is compatible with floor cooling is resolved by an external ingineering company by simulating the different influences. WS6: Presentation of the cooling energy concept to the tenant (Software house) We present the cooling energy concept and explained the related conditions to the tenant. Every measurement is discussed in detail. Especially the question of cold feet in summer due to the floor cooling is discussed. Moreover the investment costs are considered. WS7: Clarification of cooling energy generation The conventional solution of installing a compression refrigerant machine in combination with a gas boiler is compared with the implementation of a heat pump. An underground survey is provided by the building owner. Together with a producer of heat pumps a cost-benefit-analysis of both cooling energy supply systems is carried out.

1. The cooling load is 50 W/m2. 2. The maximal cooling load is generally awaited for August and September. Some rooms will reach the maximum already in June and July. 3. It is agreed with the building owner to consider the ceiling convectors in the comparison. 4. A clear overview is made. 5. Each measurements has very different affects on the room temperatures. The passive cooling systems have only a low influence on the average room temperature on the hottest days. Whereas split systems and a fully air-conditioning system can provide a full comfort (adjusted to the outside temperature). However, the latter causes investment cost of 360.000 €. 6. Submission of BASF make clear that PCM costs (40 €/m2). Regarding its influence on the room temperatures it is economically not favourable. 7. From the point of effectiveness and economic measurement VI is the most favourable by the building owner. This measurement will be analysed in detail. 8. Because of the higher surface of the felt carpet (to tiles) the cooling power is higher (22 W/m2). The static calculations of Gertec are adapted. 9. In summertime the floor cooling is only active during night time. In the winter it is also used as floor heating. The water flowed ceiling covectors are in use when high heat loads occur. Both building owner and tenant prefer floor cooling with ceiling convectors (VI). 10. The investment costs of the heat pump are too high for the building owner due to the costs of the ground probes.

WS1: Check of quotation We check the quotation of the cooling/heating installer. WS2: Check installation

1. Training of employees of the "Welser Heimstättengenossenschaft" (social building association in charge of planning and constructing the building) in different seminars offered by O.Ö. Energiesparverband 2. general information on passive buildings - requirements - advantages - common incidents and how to avoid them - innovative material and ecodesign criteria

1. Informal discussions between the city of Wels, the "Welser Heimstättengenossenschaft" and staff of ESV 2. Information material and assistance for developing the requirements specification for the call for tender (architects competition) 3. Discussions on giving the status of a "lighthouse project" to the retirement and nursing home "Wels Vogelweide" and therefore to grant special subsidies for it

ESV is asked by the Upper Austrian government to act as an advisor and supporter for the planning and constructing team with the goal to optimise the building and energy concept, especially concerning the reduction of the need for cooling to the minimum and the use of renewable energy sources. Initially, in the tender documents the new building was designed to reach an energy performance indicator of 24 kilowatt hours per square meter and year. During the planning and advice process, O.Ö. Energiesparverband was able to improve the requirements specification to a passive building standard with an energy performance indicator less 10 kWh/m²a.

1. Proposal of additional factors to be taken into account for the retirement and nursing home by ESV: consideration of special needs of elderly and bed-ridden persons 2. Several meetings and discussions took place during this time. Participants: Gerhard Dell (CEO O.Ö. Energiesparverband), August Söllinger (director of Welser Heimstättengenossenschaft), Gernot Altenstrasser (master builder of Welser Heimstättengenossenschaft), Andreas Greif (CEO Ökoenergie Greif), Robert Kernöcker (regional government, department for environmental protection), Thomas Markowetz (regional government, department for environmental protection), Michael Nagl (office of regional minister for energy), Johannes Pointner (regional government, department for housing), Evelyn Svoboda (regional government, department for housing) 3. Press conference on 25 June 2008

Additionally to the general factors which have to be taken into account when constructing a new building, the new retirement and nursing home has to respond to the special demands of elderly and bed-ridden persons in a passive building. These needs have to be well considered and integrated in the planning and design process of a technically innovative building. As a result, the windows in the living or sleeping rooms will be installed on a low level, so that even persons lying in bed are able to see the nature and surroundings outside. The building will be constructed as a passive building with an energy performance indicator of 7.4 kWh/m²,a. The incremental costs for better windows (U value 0.64) and extra insulation (32 cm façade, 34 cm ceiling) amount to 130,000 Euro. At the press conference on 25 June 2008, the Regional Minister for energy, Rudi Anschober, the Regional Minister for housing ,Hermann Kepplinger and Mayor of the City of Wels, Peter Koits, introduced the project "Alten- und Pflegeheim Wels Vogelweide" and underlined again the importance of pilot projects for the acceptance, dissemination and awareness raising for new technologies and standards in the building sector.

Through the comprehensive project assistance of the O.Ö. Energiesparverband various measures and optimisations were put in place which resulted in the building reaching the passive building standard. • Better insulation • Mechanical ventilation system • Ground probe that preheats the incoming air by 10 degrees Celsius • Two-level heat recovery system • 270 m² solar thermal system • 22.5 kW photovoltaic system On the ground floor, the outer wall is insulated with 34 cm rock wool. The upper floors are equipped with a 22 cm thick EPS-Lambda Por insulation. The originally planned window shapes were simplified in order to reach a better U-value. In the new scheme, windows with a U-value of 0.64 W/m²K will be used.

June 2008 - ongoing - Ground-breaking ceremony: 16 June 2008 - Status April 2009: The building is structurally completed and now in the phase of drywall construction. It should be finished and ready to move into in March 2010.