House of the Future - Research and Technology Program Geared to the Future of Building, Living and Renovating

The energy-efficient renovation of existing buildings is capable of contributing to the ecological advancement of society. The Austrian environmental program “Nachhaltig Wirtschaften” (Sustainable Management) sponsors sustainable-oriented research and technical development by supporting three distinct sub-programs: “House of the Future”, “Factory of the Future” and “Energy Systems of the Future”. The role of these programs is to provide exemplary, trend-setting projects in the areas of the efficient usage of energy and renewable raw materials, and eco-efficient procedures and products. The House of the Future is based upon the two most important developments in the field of solar and energy-efficient construction; low energy solar technology and the concept of the passive-energy house. There have been a total of five specifications since the conception of the program in 1999, and over 170 research projects have been sponsored. This article presents various findings relevant to the topic of energy-efficient renovation, of both historic and post-war buildings.