Buildings are generally known for being energy guzzlers. The reasons can be the lack of thermal insulation or outdated heating and cooling technology.
In addition, residential and office buildings often still rely on fossil fuels.There are now ways and means to measure the sustainability of buildings using rating tools.
At the same time, architects and planners are working with investors to construct office buildings that are (more) sustainable and climate neutral.
ThedekoGraphics building near Heidelberg (Germany), contains a heat pump system with 45 kW heating capacity in combination with a 70,000 litre ice energy storage tank. In addition, there is a power roof including a photovoltaic arrangement and a charger system.
An important part of the overall set-up is the aquatherm black system, the harp-shaped pipe system made of the corrosion and UV-resistant plastic polypropylene. This was mounted as a solar air absorber on the flat roof of the building and filled with a water-glycol mixture.
The system extracts heat from the ambient air and solar radiation, which is used as a direct source for the heat pump as well as for regenerating the ice storage tank.
Installed below the photovoltaic system, aquatherm black system also absorbs heat as an absorber surface and makes it available to the heat pump and the ice storage.
In addition, the system contributes significantly to the cooling of the photovoltaic system thus increasing the efficiency of electricity generation.
The power roof, with its ice storage and heat pumps, is currently one of the most efficient, environmentally friendly and economical heating systems in Germany.
Electrical energy can be used to drive the heat pump and other electrical consumers in the building. Thermal energy is used directly via the heat pump and stored temporarily in the ice store.
All this occurs without harming the environment and allows dekoGraphics to make use of its properties and contribute sustainably to the reduction of CO2 emissions.