Replacing the windows in a building can improve its energy efficiency significantly, but since refurbishment work is often carried out in a step-by-step manner, flexible approaches are required. In order to acknowledge particularly suitable products, the Passive House Institute is announcing the Component Award for the second year. This time the focus will be on windows which provide good results both during the transitional period without façade insulation as well as after completion of the refurbishment. The winners will be presented at the International Passive House Conference, which will be held from 17 – 18 April 2015 in Leipzig.
The Component Award 2015 will primarily assess the cost efficiency of Passive House windows within the context of building refurbishment; in doing so, the purchase costs will be measured against the potential savings. The competition jury will also consider the aspects of practicability, innovation and aesthetics. Manufacturers registering for participation will receive the plans of an installation situation with specifications of the window geometry, and will then be required to submit an offer.
“Refurbishments will constitute an increasingly greater proportion of construction activities in the coming decades, therefore it is important that building owners are able to have access to high quality products and concepts”, says Dr. Benjamin Krick, Head of Component Certification at the Passive House Institute. Categories for the award include wood, wood/aluminium, aluminium and PVC. The cool/temperate climatic zone will apply for all four categories. Any windows which have been certified by the Passive House Institute may be entered.
In the first Component Award, Passive House windows were compared with standard windows. “It was demonstrated that overall cost savings of more than 25 percent over the life-cycle of the products were possible with the leaders in this sector“, says Professor Wolfgang Feist, Director of the Passive House Institute. “With Passive House quality, the energy revolution becomes not only affordable, but also profitable”. The deadline for submissions for the Component Award is 1 February 2015.
Further details regarding the competition at: www.passiv.de/en/component- award
