ZEB Laboratory in Trondheim - a pioneering Zero Emission Building
‘The World’s Most Sustainable Construction’ was used as headline for this impressive construction in connection with its opening back in March 2021. The 2000m2 building is distributed over four floors and located in Trondheim, Norway. In the main part of the building, hybrid ventilation has been established, where automatically controlled windows complement the mechanical CAV systems. ZEB stands for Zero Emission Building.
Visit a reference projectSolution
Natural ventilation , Hybrid Ventilation
Location
Trondheim, Norway
Sector
Education
Project Type
New build
Most sustainable construction in the world
The ZEB Laboratory was at its opening, the most sustainable construction in the world with documented CO2e report. Its main purpose is to investigate, develop and demonstrate new and innovative materials and solutions in the field of 'zero-emission technology'. The ZEB Laboratory is funded by NTNU, SINTEF, the Research Council of Norway and Enova, and has been developed in a collaboration between NTNU, SINTEF, Orion, Veidekke Entreprenør, Link Arkitektur, Siemens, Vintervoll, Bravida, Multiconsult and Aas-Jakobsen.
Natural ventilation leads to energy savings
To minimize the building's annual energy consumption, natural ventilation is used via automatically controlled windows located high in the facades. The windows are used as a supplement to mechanical ventilation and contribute to a sustainable fine-tuning of the indoor climate. The windows are installed in all areas with a façade facing the outdoors , e.g., in canteens, presentation rooms, offices, test rooms, etc. WindowMaster has delivered a total of 43 window actuators and 6 MotorControllers with the unique MotorLink communication technology. The products are integrated in the BMS system via BACnet.
Intelligent control of windows: MotorLink®
MotorLink® is a communication technology that enables 2-way control and feedback between window actuators and the Building Management System via the MotorController. All WindowMaster control systems are MotorLink® capable with many of our actuators. Click below to learn more and see related products.
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Testing the ventilation concepts of the future
In the building, several different types of mechanical ventilation have been established, e.g., underfloor air distribution system. It provides a unique opportunity to test different mechanical and natural ventilation concepts separately, and in interaction (hybrid ventilation). It is possible to set these areas in 'research mode' and create your own algorithms. Two of the rooms in the building are identical test rooms, which also can be used as office space. In addition to the automatically controlled windows at different heights above the floor, a shaft has been established at the back of both test rooms functioning as extract for the natural ventilation. This makes it possible to test various natural ventilation principles, including stack ventilation. It is also possible to test several mechanical and hybrid ventilation concepts in these test rooms. The many test opportunities will benefit the sustainable buildings of the future.
CO2 emissions are compensated by energy production
The construction itself meets the requirements of ZEB-COM, which means that CO2 emissions from production and transport of materials, construction of the building and operation over a 60-year period are compensated by energy production on the building. The energy production comes from solar cells, which are estimated to produce more than twice as much energy as the building uses.
