THE SELF-SUFFICIENT SOLAR HOUSE IN FREIBURG - RESULTS OF 3 YEARS OF OPERATION

Energy efficiency is the key to buildings with minimized environmental impact. The combination of this approach with active and passive sola r energy utilization can lead to purchased energy demand close to zero . Nevertheless, energy autonomy under Central European climatic condit ions requires seasonal energy storage, especially energy with a high e xergy content. The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems built an energy autonomous house in Freiburg, Germany, in 1992. Highly effi cient solar systems are combined with a hydrogen-based seasonal-storag e system. Long-term storage of low-temperature heat was avoided by ext ensive passive solar energy utilization. After describing the project, this paper focuses on the experience of nearly 3 years of operation. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.