Reduce your environmental impact and reduce costs

A ClimateHouse is a home that has been awarded the ClimateHouse energy efficiency certification. These buildings are constructed using environmentally friendly and sustainable methods that reduce resource consumption and the amount of energy required to heat the space during colder periods. The ClimateHouse concept is also known as KlimaHaus in German and CasaClima in Italian. An Italian-made concept, the certification system is managed by The CasaClima Agency, based in Bolzano, Italy.

Judging just by the aesthetics of ClimateHouse projects developed, planned, and built by Bastian Schendzielorz and his company, it would be easy to think they might have put form before function. But the stunning exteriors deflect from the Bavarian innovator’s main objective: achieving the best possible energy balance within a home. And that starts with the choice of building materials,: 

"I pay close attention to the energy balance of every building material used, which means the house already has the best possible total energy balance once construction is complete," 

Schendzielorz is not alone in this approach, but he is part of an absolute minority in the construction industry. This sector is responsible for roughly one third of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. Cement production alone is responsible for about 10% of global emissions. For comparison, total air traffic accounts for only about 2 to 3%. 

It follows that the next question would be how the house is made as energy efficient as possible. Here, too, Schendzielorz takes a holistic approach. 

With this in mind, Schendzielorz started looking into photovoltaic systems and contacted several providers. Most of the companies he contacted seemed to lack the necessary eye for the big picture. But together, Solarwatt and Schendzielorz were able to find a good solution to meet all the individual requirements for this passive house. The heating is generated by an infrared heating system and a wood stove. Naturally, the system is powered using solar energy whenever possible. There’s also a battery storage system in place to ensure there’s always plenty of solar power ready for when it’s needed. 

"If I were to look at my normal electricity consumption without the heating, we would probably be at 80 to 90% self-sufficiency." 

Hot water is provided by a heat pump. And here, too, the ClimateHouse is different to most other houses. Typically, heat pumps are located outdoors. It’s not that unusual to integrate one into the wall of the house, but Schendzielorz placed his heat pump on the top floor. 

"The reason is very simple: the pump should be located as closely as possible to the primary source of consumption. In this case, that’s the shower on the top floor. That way, you can avoid installing a circulation pump.” 

You won't find any pipe that runs further than 5.5 metres from its outlet in the ClimateHouse. The particular placement has another, positive side effect: The heat pump can provide air conditioning in summer, because it can suck the warm air out, cooling the ambient air. 

• Together with Bastian Schendzielorz, we planned a system that covers 45 % of his energy requirements and reduces his energy costs to €7 per month. 
• Bastian and his wife can always adjust their electricity consumption as they need using the SOLARWATT Manager, depending on the weather or their general needs  on a daily basis. They can also choose to have it all regulated automatically. 
• The battery system ensures that clean energy is still available for use in bad weather or at night. 
• The heat pump and infrared heating systems are also powered by clean solar energy.