Low-energy residential housing

Designs for houses with heating energy consumption 75%, 50%, 25% and less of the consumption of a standard small house that fulfils the current building regulations in Finland were developed. Over thirty concepts of heating energy consumption and energy-saving costs were analysed. The results of the theoretical studies have been applied to various experimental building projects. One of the most important projects is the Finnish demonstration house for IEA Task 13 “Advanced solar low-energy houses”. The total yearly consumption of purchased electricity is estimated at about 20 kWh/m² which is below 10% of the current average level in small houses in Finland.