Magazine: Plus-energy school in Hohen Neuendorf
The Hohen Neuendorf primary school on the outskirts of Berlin is the first school building in Germany to produce more energy than it consumes. The optimisation of the building’s energy performance begins with the plan layout: All classrooms are south facing, corridors and ancillary spaces face north. A 400m² photovoltaic system has been installed on the south facing roof slope. The building envelope, with U-values of 0.11W/m²K (roof) and 0.13 to 0.15W/m²K (opaque facades) achieves close to passive house standard; the air tightness also complies with this standard. The timber-aluminium windows are triple glazed. The majority of the school’s heating demand is supplied by a 220kW wood pellet boiler. In addition a 10kW – also wood pellet fuelled – combined heat and power plant has been installed.
