Office for Environment and Energy in Basel
- Jakob Schoof
Energy guzzler or passive house? Buildings don't always tell which is which simply by looking at them. The Office for Environment and Energy in Basel, however, the city's first office building that meets the Swiss energy-plus standard Minergie- A-Eco, clearly displays its self-sufficient character in terms of energy supply. Of its 1641 m² of facade surface, more than two thirds are covered with photovoltaic modules - a response to the constrained inner city location bordering the fringe of the old town, making a vertical building the only viable option. The roof surface alone would have not sufficed in order to generate enough solar energy for heating, warm water, ventilation, lighting and electrical appliances.
