Huf Haus Launch in Ireland
Huf Haus have arrived in Ireland having with their Dublin launch on 20 May 2010. European market leader in Post-and-Beam architecture, they have revolutionised energy efficient building methods encouraging a future of environmental stability. Wide open spaces, triple-glazed glass walls and geothermal heating methods make for a new era of green construction. Huf Haus's factory even uses its wood offcuts to generate some of the electricity it uses.
Speaking at the launch, president of Huf Haus Georg Huf said, “HUF HAUS offers a greener and a smarter way of designing, building and delivering in a cost effective way the private homes and the public buildings of the future, and that is what we believe we can contribute in Ireland. We hope that our green [r]evolution concept will offer new opportunities to people who are looking to build an energy efficient home for their own benefit and the more widespread benefit of society in terms of environmental sustainability.”
Each Huf Haus is made individual to its owner's specifications, thus making each house different. Some of the ways Huf Haus uses materials and green consturction mehtods to save energy:
Insulation Materials
Heat efficiency in a Huf HAUS is gained by using the finest materials available. For instance, in the roof a 22cm layer of mineral wool has been used. All materials are non toxic and environmentally friendly. All windows are constructed from two panes of low emissivity glass with a 12mm gap filled with inert argon gas, giving a u-value of 1.1. The glass also has a special metal sheet embedded into it, this prevents heat loss whilst not preventing light.
Ventilation
The natural airflow ventilation helps maintain thermal comfort for it occupants. Motorised external blinds to control the internal solar gain. The 1.5m roof overhang enables greater control over internal thermal comfort, and atmospheric stability in all conditions.
Solar Gains
The house stores solar heat gain through the concrete screed structure during the day. A floating concert floor aids insulation and prevents acoustic reverberation within the house. The floating floor doesn't touch the walls, thus enabling heat to be kept in rather than thermally transmitted to the outer structures. Heat from these absorption areas is released during the night. This type of radiation provides a very comfortable form of heat.
Heating
The open floor plan and clearstory windows allow cross ventilation within the house - this allows natural cooling in the summer. In winter the house utilises the natural heat through the greenhouse effect and through very well insulated wall and roof panels
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