The environmental effects caused by the use of power and
heating concerns us all. New and considerably stricter energy
regulations are, however, beginning to result in the power to act
and to require specialist knowledge. Helena Bülow-Hübe,
energy consultant at Tyréns, can see the opportunities
presented by participating in the construction projects from the
very beginning until the end.
Helena Bülow-Hübe is employed as a business developer
for the energy department here at Tyréns since the spring of
2007. Her projects cover both new design construction of companies
and housing as well as consultations and expert contributions. Her
first professional experience in the environmental business was
entirely coincidental and she was fresh from the university.
- My job as an environmental analyst in an effort made by the
government branch Västra Skåne meant analysing different
scenarios in preparation for closing down Barsebäck, says
Helena.
The project's complexity left her wanting for more, but also
frustrated by not going all the way. This resulted in 16 years
spent in the world of the universities, first as a doctorate and
then she spent her time researching and teaching in both Sweden and
Denmark. Her subjects were always energy and design, focusing on
the heat leakage from windows, daylight and sun screening. Now that
her career has returned to consulting, her greatest challenge is to
motivate the commissioners to widen their perspectives.
- To build energy efficient buildings is neither very technical
nor very difficult. It does require quality, though.
- My job is to make sure that every one involved, from the
commissioner, architect and construct engineer to the construction
worker, is in on it, she says and adds that a single poor joint can
collapse the entire project.
Increased will to invest
Malmö Stad has commissioned us to develop a building using
the passive house standards. The building is intended to be a
pre-school, but they want the facilities to be flexible so that the
building can be used for multiple purposes, such as a senior
citizens home.
- The idea of a passive house is based on a kind of self
maintenance principle when it comes to heating. The heating of the
facility or living space should be able to manage with just the
heat generated by computers, household appliances and people's
movement combined with sunlight. This will require a tightly sealed
climate screen and carefully executed details.
- It has been a great challenge to find solutions that will
fulfil the energy requirements while they allow for flexibility at
the same time, says Helena, mentioning the widely separate
requirements for the different areas of air exchange and
acoustics.
Even if there are quite a few who won't go as far as a passive
level - and in spite of the fact that the glass façade trend
still influences the market to a certain extent - Helena sees an
increased will to invest in the energy aspect. Mainly because of
the new energy regulations and the law concerning energy
declarations that came into effect in 2007. The energy declaration
requires every property owner to report what amount of energy their
properties consume - with the aid of an impartial energy expert.
Its purpose is to reduce the emission of green house gases that
affect the climate by making the building's energy consumption more
efficient.
To be able to argue your point
The energy consumption estimations have been optimistic in far
too many projects. An inspection of the completed buildings has
shown a significant higher consumption than expected. There are
quite a few reasons for this, but a lot of it is probably due to
the fact that people don't want to create energy efficient
buildings. Rather, Helena feels, they just want to make a show of
abiding by the rules.
But with the new requirements included in the energy declaration
concerning a follow-up investigation every other year, this
attitude will have to change.
Now we really are forced to predict the building's level of
energy consumption. It will require a thorough review of data
input, such as the U-value of a window, the effects of thermal
bridges and the size of the internal generation of heat.
According to Helena one of the biggest obstacles - and one of
the largest myths - when it comes to energy efficient buildings is
that their production costs more. She claims that the truth of the
matter is that you will profit in the long run from planning the
energy efficiency - both environmentally and economically.
While it is true that some solutions cost more during the
production stage, but it is always the operational costs that
dominates in the long run. By using quality products in the parts
that are the most difficult to alter and with the longest lifespan
- the climate screen - you will achieve a lasting
profitability.
Helena still maintains a hold on the world of research parallel
to her job as a consultant. Through continuously teaching and
guiding future architects and engineers she hopes to contribute to
a stronger profession with a substantial knowledge based on
reality.
- As well as the ability to defend one's own professional skill
and the value of a long-term ambition, she states.