Research and practice: Active townhouse in Frankfurt
The ‘Active Townhouse’ (Aktiv-Stadthaus) just south of Frankfurt’s main train station is the first multi-story residential building in Germany to comply with the Efficiency Plus Standard, which the Federal Ministry of Building introduced in 2012. On an annual basis, the new-build is expected to achieve a net positive energy balance (including household electricity) both in terms of primary energy and final energy. The building’s footprint is 150 metres long, but only about 9 metres deep and is flanked to the south by a busy inner city thoroughfare. Unfortunately the sunny side of the new building is also the noisy side; in contrast the north side adjoins a courtyard-like space with underground car parking.
