Green architecture, by design 

• Air heat pump produces 2.2 times more energy than it consumes
• 82 m2 of photovoltaic panels produce 11 600 kWh per year

Fluid’ Concept, a design agency specialising in the construction and renovation of buildings with very low-energy consumption, decided in 2008 to build a new head office in Neufchâteau, France. They saw it as an opportunity to showcase the company’s design strengths and improve its 'green' image.

With large bay windows, the design follows the principle of bioclimatic architecture to maximise natural light and 'solar gain'. The building is timber-framed and the walls contain 21 cm of fiberglass wool plus 10 cm of wood wool insulation. Very low-consumption lighting using LEDs has been implemented throughout the building. Heating is provided by an air-to-water heat pump and ventilation is provided by a dual-flow controlled mechanical ventilation (sometimes called VMC) system with an extractor for sanitary facilities.

Key benefits

The air heat pump produces 2.2 times more energy than it consumes, keeping energy consumption for heating as low as 13 kWh/m2. In addition, 82 m2 of photovoltaic panels are installed on the roof, which produce 11 600 kWh per year.  This energy production represents around half of all consumed electricity on the property and the excess is then sold back to EDF, the French power company.

Thanks to all these measures, Fluid' Concept is a truly low-energy office with conventional primary consumption of some 61.1 kWh/m2 of 'gross floor area' or GFA per year.