New lab sets sights on energy-efficient 'Zero' house
Spain’s Tecnalia Technological Corporation and the Metropoli Foundation have created a new enterprise focused on eco-efficient architecture.
AmetsLab will explore, among other subjects, buildings that minimise to zero three fundamental aspects: energy, water and waste.
The idea of a “Zero Energy” structure is that the building should generate only the energy it needs for its functioning. For its conception, construction and functioning, the building should require and receive the minimum amount of energy and this should be obtained from renewable energy sources. To achieve this, it will be necessary to harness the experience and knowledge of bioclimatic architecture, renewable energy sources, electric energy micro-grids and materials optimisation.
The target of “Zero Water” is to minimise water consumption by, for example, reusing water (“greywater”) and collecting rainwater.
The “Zero Waste” objective is based on the optimisation of waste management during the stages of construction, useful life and deconstruction of buildings and on the capacity to reuse or recycle used materials when dismantling and deconstructing.
In the early stages, AmetsLab (“amets” means “dream” in Basque) will focus its research and design efforts on buildings and offices for small and medium-sized companies, professional studios and offices, business centres and nurseries and other tertiary uses of, on average, three- to four-floor-high buildings.
