THE APPLICATION OF INNOVATIVE ENERGY-EFFICIENT ... · INFRASTRUCTURE – Community integration of innovative energy solutions, integration into the district heating network, (in the

THE APPLICATION OF INNOVATIVE ENERGY-EFFICIENT TECHNOLOGIESIN THE SUSTAINABLE MODEL OF A HOUSING ESTATE – SEESTADT

ASPERN IN VIENNA

Joanna BIEDROŃSKA *

*PhD Eng. Arch.; Faculty of Architecture, The Silesian University of Technology, Akademicka 7, 44-100 Gliwice, PolandE-mail address: [email protected]

Received: 6.11.2017; Revised: 10.11.2017; Accepted: 3.03.2018

A b s t r a c tAt present, there are many housing estates being built in the world, whose urban and design assumptions must inscribe intoa sustainable development trend and take into account the energy efficiency conditions of multi-family buildings in the over-all economic and environmental perspective. At Seestadt Aspern, a new district of Vienna, one of the largest urban devel-opment projects in Europe, called Aspern Viennas Urban Lake, is being developed. A part of the Aspern Smart CityResearch (ASCR) research programme are projects involving innovative energy technologies and their achievements aretested under real-life conditions. The data is analysed by the ASCR and the aim is to optimise the energy consumption ofthe building, thereby reducing energy costs. The aim of this paper is to convey the energy concept of the newly emerginghousing estates with sustainable construction characteristics as a signpost for the application of guidelines and standardsin possible Polish solutions. Improved overall efficiency of future energy systems may prove to be significant if the use ofrenewable energy sources increases. The author’s research methodology was based on the analysis of literature data, thelocal vision of the housing estate, her own conclusions obtained within the framework of an information excursion with theparticipation of a guide from the ASCR research centre.

S t r e s z c z e n i eObecnie powstaje na świecie wiele osiedli, których założenia urbanistyczne i projektowe muszą wpisywać się w nurtzrównoważonego rozwoju i uwzględniać warunki energooszczędności budynków wielorodzinnych w ogólnym rozrachunkuekonomicznym i ujęciu środowiskowym. W Seestadt Aspern, nowej dzielnicy Wiednia jest tworzony jeden z największychprojektów urbanistycznych w Europie pod nazwą Aspern Viennas Urban Lake. Częścią programu badawczego Aspern SmartCity Research (ASCR) są projekty uwzgledniające innowacyjne technologie energetyczne a ich osiągnięcia testowane sąw warunkach rzeczywistych. Dane są analizowane przez ASCR a celem jest optymalizacja zużycia energii w budynku, a tymsamym obniżenie kosztów energii. Celem artykułu jest przekaz koncepcji energetycznej nowopowstającego osiedla o cechachzrównoważonego budownictwa jako drogowskazu do zastosowania wytycznych i standardów w możliwych rozwiązaniach pol-skich. Lepsza ogólna efektywność przyszłych systemów energetycznych może okazać się znacząca jeśli nastąpi wzrost wyko-rzystania odnawialnych źródeł energii. Metodyka badań Autorki oparta została o analizę danych literaturowych, wizjęlokalną osiedla, własne wnioski uzyskane w ramach wycieczki informacyjnej z udziałem przewodnika z ośrodka badawczegoASCR.

K e y w o r d s : Sustainable housing development; Energy efficiency; Energy-saving.

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1. INTRODUCTIONThe building of new housing estates in cities is condi-tioned by maintaining the principles of sustainabledevelopment. Creating environmentally effectivesynergy between such elements as: architectural sub-stance, technical infrastructure and biologicallyactive areas is to ensure the best possible quality oflife and work for the users, as well as to support thedevelopment of a human being in the entire com-plexity of its existence. In housing estates which aremodel solutions, the knowledge of urban plannerstoday has to be extended to the living environmentecology: the reduction of the negative impact ofbuildings on the environment, protection of naturalresources, adaptation of the layout of buildings to thetopography of the terrain, adjustment of technicalinfrastructure to the use of renewable energy sourcesin order to save energy and water. Considering thatthe most frequently mentioned features of sustain-able design are energy efficiency and the use of alter-native energy sources, it is hard not to underestimateprojects that residential areas become a field ofexperimentation for large-scale solutions. TheEuropean Union and, in particular, the WesternEuropean countries, the Scandinavian countries givepriority to energy saving and the use of alternativeenergy sources. Towards the Union’s sustainabilitypolicy, and undoubtedly this is energy generation, it isimportant to integrate the various areas of the Unionand to align the levels of development, exchangeexperience and knowledge in order to achieve com-mon objectives in three areas: social, environmentaland economic[1].In Vienna, considered one of the most dynamicallydeveloping cities, the new Seestadt Aspern district,built according to sustainable construction criteria, isone of the largest urban projects in recent years.What distinguishes this project and enterprise of theEuropean significance is the far-sighted programmeand a kind of energy research ground in the integrat-ed system of the entire complex of a large territorialscale.

2. THE SEESTADT ASPERN DISTRICTAND ITS SUSTAINABLE CHARACTERThe district is built in the north-eastern part ofVienna, 10 km from the city centre, around an artifi-cial lake, in the area of the former airport. The landdevelopment plan was adopted in 2007, with thedevelopment directions set for 20 years. By 2030, aliving space of over 240 hectares will be created forapprox. 20,000 inhabitants. All construction worksare based on the 2010 environmental impact assess-ments. The new multifunctional residential districtwill provide jobs for the residents, as offices (plannedemployment of 15,000 people), commercial (5,000),scientific, research and educational facilities areplanned for the quarter. In the centre there is an arti-ficial lake occupying 5 ha, which is surrounded by anopen space in the future, combined with the greeneryof the nearby Danube-Auen National Park on theone side, and high quality infrastructure and urbanplanning on the other. 50 per cent of the space isreserved for public space in streets, squares, parksand recreational areas. Already at the beginning ofthe construction works, the area was connected withthe city by the U2 subway line, and ultimately a rail-way station is to be built there, enabling access toBratislava (30 min) and the airport (15 min). AspernSeestadt is a place that has everything you need for amodern economic balance, between work and privatelife, meeting the needs of residents and building anew quality of life. Meeting the sustainability criteriain the Aspern Seestadt district contributes toVienna’s recognition as a city with the highest stan-dards of living in the world and innovative environ-mental infrastructure solutions, which are ranked atthe top of all Smart City rankings in each category ofactivity.In the south-western part of the estate, in 2016, thefirst residential district for about 6,000 people wasestablished.

Conclusions: The housing estate meets general urbanand architectural requirements for sustainable devel-opment and the principles of new urbanism.However, the main aspect of sustainable develop-ment of the District was the inclusion of energyrequirements in the “Nachhaltiger Stadtteil AspernNACHASPERN” Environmental Research andEnergy Reports [6].

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THE APPLICATION OF INNOVATIVE ENERGY-EFFICIENT TECHNOLOGIES IN THE SUSTAINABLE MODEL OF A HOUSING ESTATE...

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PLACE AND CLIMATE– Adaptation of the buildingdevelopment to climatic condi-tions resulting from geographi-cal location and localization.– Saving the land, as a redevel-opment of the former airportfor new housing needs, orga-nized green areas and properdevelopment of the city.– Use of natural and createdterrain conditions.– Possibility of using localrenewable energy sources: solar,wind, geothermal energy.

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SOCIAL CONDITIONS

– Creation of complex residen-tial units with a mixed functionalprogramme for services and jobs.– Hierarchisation of the externalspace with division into semi-pri-vate, social, public, with a largeshare of greenery– Creation of common publicspaces: housing estate centres,green interiors in housing devel-opment as places of social con-tacts– Creation of playgrounds, fieldfacilities.– Creating hiking and cyclingroutes for resting and recreation.– Social participation in theprocess of development andexploitation of the housingestate.

BUILT FORM

– Dense, diversified buildingsare composed exclusively ofenergy-saving and ecologicalhouses.– Effective location of buildingsin relation to the cardinalpoints.– Diversification of develop-ment functions: service, com-mercial, gastronomic, educa-tional, scientific, recreationalfunctions ensuring the needs ofinhabitants at the primary level(1st stage).– The variety of forms anddetails of buildings in individualresidential sectors creates origi-nal interiors and identifies, con-nects the local community.– Use of advantages of the loca-tion.– Use of natural building mate-rials.

Table 1.Characteristics of a sustainable housing estate – 1st stage of development of the southern part of the housing estate[3],Source: own study, [11, 12]



INFRASTRUCTURE– Community integration ofinnovative energy solutions,integration into the districtheating network, (in the futuregeothermal energy participa-tion).– Use of renewable energysources.– Optimal control of the ICTsystem for the distribution, use,storage and transmission ofenergy – energy efficiency.– Integrated water and sewagemanagement– Adaptation of road infrastruc-ture to ensure pedestrian safetyin the area of the estate, limita-tion or elimination of car trafficin favour of cycling.– Bicycle parking facilities, bicy-cle rental stations, car parks onthe outskirts of the estate.– Environmentally friendlytransport, the introduction ofefficient public transport, U2subway line and bus lines.

ENVIRONMENTAL

– Subordination of the buildingand biological, economic andclimate criteria.– Use and protection of thelandscape.– Creation of a natural ecosys-tem in the form of greenery andartificial lake fed from ground-water.– Meeting the energy needs ofrenewable energy sources.– Use of rainwater resources,grey sewage and groundwater,opening of soil, avoiding wasteand using low-emission materi-als.– Establishing common gardensfor healthy food

ECONOMICAL CONDITIONS

– Accessibility of low-cost apart-ments with the possibility offuture purchase.– Categorisation of the comfortand price of apartments – keep-ing functional and social diversi-fication.– Energy consumption monitor-ing by integrating energy andwater-saving technological sys-tems.


3. ASPERN RESEARCH PROJECT –OBJECTIVE AND STRATEGYParticularly important in the implementation of theconcept of sustainable development is research basedon analysis, defining parameters of high energy effi-ciency with a guaranteed share of renewable energy.The entire project, including the energy managementstrategy, is being developed by the Aspern Smart CityResearch (ASCR) research team in accordance withthe latest standards developed for energy-efficientbuildings. Projects involving innovative energy tech-nologies are part of the research programme. TheASCR is implementing one of the most innovativeand sustainable energy efficiency demonstration pro-jects in Europe. The starting point of the project isthe development of an integrated energy conceptbased on the estimation of future energy demand,analysis of available resources and potential usingrenewable energy sources. Priority areas have beendefined for heating and cooling energy systems. Theresulting data contribute to the evaluation of the eco-nomic viability and to the analysis of the underlyingenergy benefits. The aim of the project is to improvepeople’s quality of life, while combining sense ofeconomy and innovative technology.Initially, the district was to be heated using geother-mal energy, but due to its insufficient efficiency it wasdecided to connect the district to the central heatingnetwork. The power plant was planned to be locatedabout three kilometers east of the city, but the dis-covery of rock layers and hot water sources did notyield the expected energy gains. At present, thesestudies do not preclude the use of this heat source inthe future and are being continued. Smart energymanagement is about combining conventional dis-trict heating solutions with new energy productiontechnologies.Integration and optimisation of individual energy-related sectors in the entire system is an importantaspect of the Smart City. The Aspern research pro-ject addresses the problem of integration of networksand building control systems, integration of renew-able energy sources, electricity and heat resources onthe basis of a general technical concept. Researchfocuses on improved interaction between local ener-gy production and demand from the intelligent low-voltage network. The integration of these elementsusing information and communication technologiesis the basis for new services: a building is able toactively participate and adapt to the current marketsituation, or act as a supporting element of network

operations using its internal accumulated energy.Only by combining technical solutions in differentareas, a building can control the superior market andnetwork parameters and serve the purpose of dataand information exchange.The ASCR examines user behaviour on energyissues. The energy efficiency of buildings can bechecked by continuous monitoring of energy con-sumption. Here, the research programme is based ondata on energy consumption in public buildings andhomes. All buildings are equipped with smart metersand other measuring instruments. Therefore, tenantshave the opportunity to participate directly in thisscheme. It is not single elements which are studied,but complex interactions using real data. Thanks toASCR research, emphasis on the needs and habits ofthe user, tomorrow’s standards can be predicted as aresult of smart energy management, smart networksand smart home solutions, such as a combination ofconventional energy sources and new technologicaldevelopments, e.g. the integration of electricity andrenewable energy networks and energy storage tech-nologies. The overall objective is to keep energydemand as low as possible.For all building projects, there are minimum stan-dards for ‘sustainable construction’ according to thecriteria laid down by the Austrian Association forSustainable Construction (ÖsterreichischenGesellschaft für Nachhaltiges Bauen -ÖGNB) [6]. Inthe ASCR research project, the buildings aredesigned according to the low energy house categoryand will be equipped with solar collectors, photo-voltaic panels and hybrid devices on the roof [7]. Alldevelopment projects had to take into account struc-tural conditions for the operation of solar systems inbuildings. Their roofs are therefore designed andprepared for these systems in case of necessity ofmodernization (Fig. 1).

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4. INNOVATIVE ENERGY TECHNOLO-GIESThe first building on the estate is the AspernTechnology Centre – IQ Centre managed by theVienna Business Agency, which is also a businessincubator. Since October 2013, ASCR, a researchcompany, has been based here, which has set up thetechnical infrastructure for the research programmeand, in its current state of investment, has startedresearch with real data. As a representative building,it holds a quality certificate for buildings meeting thecriteria of energy efficiency, ecology and comfort atthe highest level. At the same time, it is the first com-mercial building of the Plus energy in Austria. As anactive building powered by photovoltaic energy fromroof and façade panels (Fig. 2), it produces 15%more energy than it consumes. The value of the eco-logical building is achieved thanks to the use of eco-concrete in the production of which CO2 emissionshave been reduced, as well as high thermal insulation,

building technology in the passive house standard, aventilation system with the recovery of 90% energy,ventilation controlling CO2 emissions, LED lightingand heat energy extracted from geothermal energy.Innovative energy technologies, which are the subjectof ASCR research, are particularly relevant to threerepresentative building complexes: an educationalcampus (currently a school and kindergarten), a resi-dential building and a dormitory “Greenhouse” builtas a passive house. These buildings are equipped withheat pumps, solar collectors, photovoltaic cells(Fig. 3) and hybrid solar systems, suitable for thestorage of thermal and electrical energy, and ASCR’sresearch company is to test them in real time opera-tion of these devices. “The concept of utilizing thesolar radiation energy to improve the annual heatbalance is reflected in the passive architectural solu-tions too. These lection of them is conditioned by thelocation, character of the local climate, physiograph-ic features of the area, method of a given building’sutilization and by economic reasons” [8].


Figure 1.View of roofs of buildings prepared for PV installations. Source: own study

Figure 2.Centre building with PV installation on the façade. Source: own study


Complex Corporate Technology (CT) systems allowoptimal control of the distribution, use, storage andtransmission of energy. Intelligent building controlsystems are adapted to the expected energy demand,taking into account weather forecasts and other datato assess the cost differences between conventionaland intelligent components of multiple renewableenergy systems. The scope of aggregation must becreated from several buildings, and in the future evenup to several thousand buildings. At least two systemsare required for this purpose. One is located in thebuilding itself, and it is the Building EnergyManagement System (BEMS), which calculates theenergy consumption of a building at regular intervalsaccording to forecasts of energy consumption, theother works as an interface between individual build-ings and concerns the exchange of electricity. Allinformation generated by these systems is collectedand processed, and researchers from the ASCR areable to analyse the impact of different sources, com-binations and changes in network and building condi-tions with a view to optimising forecasting andimproving energy efficiency on a continuous basis [9].Conclusions: In order to be able to contribute to bal-ancing energy markets in the first place, smart gridsare needed that not only provide knowledge aboutthe state of the grid at a given moment in time, butalso provide an opportunity to anticipate future ener-gy burdens.

5. CONCLUSIONSToday, three years after the completion of the firsthomes, Aspern Seestadt District is probably the firsttown ever built so that researchers can explore howthe interaction of buildings, renewable energysources, local electricity distribution networks andthe entire power supply system can be optimised tomaximise efficiency and reduce overall energy con-

sumption. As “Aspern – Vienna Urban Lakeside”,the new technology can bring important informationto other cities. Cities are responsible for 75 per centof the world’s energy consumption and 85 per cent ofall greenhouse gas emissions.In Poland, cogeneration and hybrid systems are usedto a small extent, in which renewable energy sourcescooperate with innovative energy-efficient conven-tional systems within the housing complex. We muststrive to ensure that integrated renewable energyproduction systems with high energy and environ-mental efficiency contribute more to the design ofnew developments. Would it be possible to ensure agreater share of renewable energy production sys-tems in the form of roofing and facade surfaces cov-ered with photovoltaic panels? The installation of asuitable surface area of solar panels or photovoltaicpanels on multi-family buildings requires the archi-tectural and urban planning of these buildings to beadapted to such an undertaking. The spatial charac-teristics of such a complex should correspond to thepriorities of solar panels.According to the data of the Report “The PV marketin Poland 2016” prepared by the Renewable EnergyInstitute, it occures that “in recent years the marketof photovoltaic systems in Poland has been growingconstantly, despite the unclear legal situation of thissector. The total installed capacity of the photovolta-ic (PV) systems connected to the grid is 119.2 MW.87.7 MW of which are installations that received cer-tificates of origin of energy (as at the end of the firstquarter of 2016). Micro-installations alreadyaccounted for 31.5 MW, i.e. 26% of the total installedcapacity (as at the end of 2015). In 2015 alone,77.2 MW of PV installations increased, includingapprox. 8.8 MW from the Prosument programme ofNFOŚiGW from the BOŚ Bank line. In addition, theIEO estimates that about 8.3 MW of installed capac-ity is the installation not connected to the grid

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Figure 3.Roofs of representative buildings with PV installations. Source: own study

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(OFF-GRID). The value of the photovoltaic marketin 2015 is estimated at approx. PLN 470 million(increase by 60% in comparison with 2014)” [10].The report shows that the photovoltaics market inPoland is developing, however, in order to move for-ward in the direction of European standards, it is nec-essary to pass a favourable act on RES, giving thepossibility of re-sale to power grids of surplus elec-tricity produced and reducing the costs of PV instal-lations so that they can be widely used.In the initial phase of implementation of a far-reach-ing, far-sighted investment, the Aspern project, whichhas been assessed with the highest possible score assustainable, becomes an element of promotion,examples of good practice. The idea of showing pro-totype solutions is well known and this example canserve as a set of possibilities for various social, tech-nical and spatial solutions, characterised by a largeenergy research programme.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTThis paper is an extension of the paper contained inthe post-conference monograph BIWA 2 in Gliwicein Polish.

REFERENCES[1] Schneider-Skalska G. (2012). Zrównoważone

środowisko mieszkaniowe. Społeczne – oszczędne –piękne. Wydawnictwo Politechniki Krakowskiej,Kraków 2012. (Sustainable Housing Evironment.Social – Economical – Beautiful. The PublishingHouse of Cracow University of Technology, Cracow.

[2] Majerska-Pałubicka B. (2014) Zintegrowane projek-towanie architektoniczne w kontekście zrów-noważonego rozwoju, doskonalenie procesu.Wydawnictwo Politechniki Śląskiej, Gliwice(Integrated Architectural Design in the Context ofSustainable Development. Process Improvement.The Publishing House of the Silesian University ofTechnology, Gliwice

[3] Biedrońska J. (2015). Osiedle ekologiczne jako modelzrównoważonej społeczności. Badania interdyscypli-narne w architekturze 1. BIWA 1, T. 1, Problemyjakości środowiska w kontekście zrównoważonegorozwoju, Wydział Architektury Politechniki Śląskiej,(Ecological Housing Development as a Model ofSustainable Community 1. BIWA 1, Vol.1, TheProblems of Environment Quality in the Context ofSustainable Development, The Faculty ofArchitecture of the Silesian University ofTechnology).

[4] Baranowski A. (1998). Projektowanie zrównoważonew architekturze, Wyd. Politechniki Gdańskiej,Gdańsk, 1998. (Sustainable Designing inArchitecture, The Publishing House of GdańskUniversity of Technology, Gdańsk).

[5] Stangel M. (2013). Kształtowanie współczesnychobszarów miejskich w kontekście zrównoważonegorozwoju. Wydawnictwo Politechniki Śląskiej, Gliwice2013. (Shaping Modern Urban Areas in the Contextof Sustainable Development. The Publishing Houseof the Silesian University of Technology, Gliwice).

[6] https : / /nachhalt igwirtschaften.at /resources/edz_pdf/1109_nachaspern.pdf (accessed 10th March2017).

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[8] Biedrońska J., Figaszewski J. (2015). The graphic pre-sentation of building’s passive heating and coolingstrategy, Architecture Civil Engineering EnvironmentACEE, 8(1), 5–11.

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[12] https://www.wien.gv.at/stadtentwicklung/projekte/aspern-seestadt/bauen-energie/energieeffizientes-wohnheim.html



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THE APPLICATION OF INNOVATIVE ENERGY-EFFICIENT ... · INFRASTRUCTURE – Community integration of innovative energy solutions, integration into the district heating network, (in the