Energy Positive Hotel Set for Construction in the Arctic Circle
Michael Molitch-Hou posted on February 23, 2018 | 85 views
The average global temperature is currently 1 °C hotter than average, and we’re seeing the effects in terms of extreme heat, ocean acidification and warming, extreme storms, melting glaciers and increased sea levels. To prevent these changes from becoming irreversible, humanity needs to ensure that annual global temperatures don’t pass 2 °C over the average.
This means keeping at least 80 percent of fossil fuel reserves in the ground. While this may involve serious changes to the way we produce and consume goods, it also means relying on sustainable energy and completely rethinking the way we do so. Since buildings consume 40 percent of the world’s energy, we’ll have to rethink our buildings, as well.
Svart is designed to be an energy positive hotel in that it will generate more energy than it uses over the course of 60 years. (Image courtesy of Snøhetta/Plompmozes.)
The European Union (EU) has taken steps to address this issue by requiring that all new constructions after 2020 be net zero buildings. The Powerhouse collaboration in Norway, however, takes this requirement even further. Made up of several construction firms and environmental organizations, Powerhouse isn’t just making facilities that use net zero electricity, but also buildings that actually generate energy.
Dubbed “plus houses” by the group,…