Very Low Energy Houses

Houses with very low energy demand can be readily constructed today, reducing the need for heating energy by up to a factor 10 compared to the European average home. Over 10,000 such project have already been realised. There are very few single solutions that offer such a massive potential for contributing to energy sustainability, while producing significant social and economic side benefits.

But many challenges remain to realise this potential, in particular:

• tackling the renovation market
• motivating user behaviour
• mobilizing the construction sector

The briefing paper gives an overview of an emerging mainstream technology, presents ongoing successful programmes and discusses major technology choices.