We set new standards

“A formula for sustainability”. This is how Green Building Council Denmark describes the certification system DGNB. As is often the case with popular expressions, there is a risk that the word sustainability is becoming too vague and randomly used.

There is a need to establish clear criteria for, the definition of a sustainable building. The construction sector must live up to the same high standards and this requires professional consensus on how we measure sustainability and the methods needed to meet these ambitions. With a scheme like DGNB, builders can obtain a seal of approval based on knowledge and recognised methods. As such, sustainability can be showcased and this creates value for both customers and society.

But does this mean that we can be content with simply establishing some goals and procedures? No. Because sustainable development is highly dependent on innovative input. DGNB is therefore a dynamic scheme, which constantly aligns itself with societal and technological developments.

Sustainability experts at Artelia, such as Peter Hesselholt, Karoline Geneser and Steffen E. Maagaard have, for a long time, contributed to the development of DGNB in Denmark and they work on several fronts to develop common standards for the industry.

Optimising energy retrofitting processes
If Denmark is to be CO₂ neutral by 2050, much is yet to be done to energy retrofit the country’s many old buildings. Unfortunately, it is often the case that the expected savings from energy retrofitting are never met. Artelia is a contributory author of SBI-instruction 269 ”Energy retrofitting of larger buildings – methods and procedures”. The instruction shows how to tackle the procedure correctly from the earliest phases up until operation. Corporate Technical Director for Energy Design & Indoor Climate at Artelia, Steffen E. Maagaard is one of the authors and points out that clear specifications and tighter procedures go a long way.

”Regardless of how good one’s calculations are, it is important to be aware of how complex it is to achieve the desired level of energy consumption. There are several factors which are of significance and these need to be high-lighted and systematised.”

More accurate indoor climate calculations
In the same category, Artelia has contributed to preparing the new “Sector guidelines for indoor climate calculations” for InnoByg and Realdania. The guidelines were launched at the sustain-ability event, Building Green 2017, in Copenhagen, where they were quickly snatched up. It is now in its second edition in print. The guidelines will set a high level of professionalism and ensure that the sector will benefit from using a common approach to indoor climate calculations. Furthermore, the guidelines maintain the balance between theory and practice. For this, Steffen uses solar shading as an example.

Case study with photo from PhD defence
In December 2017, Torben Østergaard defended his Business PhD, which he did in collaboration with Artelia, Aalborg University and the Innovation Fund.

This scientific dissertation has led to the development of a unique and innovative design tool, which can show an array of options early on to give a building the optimal indoor climate and minimise energy consumption. Torben Østergård explains:

“The unknown options in the early phases are investigated by conducting thousands of simulations prior to the meetings with architects, clients or contractors. As such, we can explore the many solutions together and immediately be able to see the consequences of various design preferences. If the architect wishes to increase the glazed area by 20 %, we can now see how this will affect energy consumption and thermal comfort. We can demonstrate different ways of reaching a specific level of energy consumption, taking both indoor climate and cost into consideration.”