Unique High Performance Solar Facade Installed in Constance

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In recent weeks a solar facade was installed at the new customer services centre of the municipal utilities of Constance that boasts technical properties never achieved until now. The whole of the building represents a huge glass cube. The outstanding feature here is the large photovoltaic elements with a performance potential that is unique in the world.

Arnstorf, July 2011 - In recent weeks a solar facade was installed at the new customer services centre of the municipal utilities of Constance that boasts technical properties never achieved until now. The whole of the building represents a huge glass cube. The outstanding feature here is the large photovoltaic elements with a performance potential that is unique in the world.
Construction and assembly was carried out by local companies, while the concept was developed by the Lindner Group, based in Lower Bavaria. The aptly-named “Energy Cube” swears by using regenerative energies and intends to continue providing the customers of the municipal utilities with all its service provision from a single location in the future.

The structure is a so-called Energy-Plus House, which means it produces more energy itself than it consumes during its useful life. The cube, with an edge length of 15 m, receives its energy from geo thermal energy and from a photovoltaic system installed on its south-facing facade and on the roof.  In cooperation with the Technical College Rosenheim, the Lindner Group developed a bespoke functional glazing. The internal shell of the installed twin facade has been highly insulated. The external shell is permeable to light and thus serves simultaneously as a window. Daylight can be directed by way of adjusting the sun blinds.  On one hand this requires less artificial lighting, while on the other hand the reflective aluminium blinds ensure that rooms are kept cool in the summer.  What’s more, the blinds automatically adjust to the position of the sun. Partially, the electrically driven parallel push-out windows guarantee optimal ventilation of the areas permeable to light.

Air circulating in the interstice of the glazing is suctioned off and is then used energetically via a heat exchanger.  All glass modules are custom-built models.  They measure three x four metres and each one weighs more than one ton. In total 80 units were installed on an area of approximately 1,000 m2. The photovoltaic module achieves peak performances of 1,246 kW peak (kWp) – at the current state of technology this is an absolute superior performance.  The total performance is therefore 23.2 kWp at 22% transparency.  “Worldwide this is unique and was not even possible just over half a year ago” stresses Arnold Wild, Head of Building and Real Estate at the municipal utilities, who also designed  the four-storey building.  In addition to the transparent modules there are also opaque areas, which can be LED-lit in different colours as desired. Depending on the event in question, the “Energy Cube” may appear gleaming in red, symbolizing energy, or in green, symbolizing ecological or 'green' issues. The additional LE coating of the inner glass panes allows short-wave radiation through, but long-ware infrared radiation is reflected away.

The “Energy Cube” provides space for 20 jobs, and will be the central contact point for all products and services to do with energy, mobility and leisure.  Apart from consultations with private customers and companies, the building will be used for exhibitions, seminars and ticket sales.  Some of the rooms can also be used by businesses in the building trade to organize events . The cube was officially opened on the 8th of July 2011. Trade visitors who would like to get more information about the facade and the building technology are welcome to enquire within.

More Information on » Lindner Facades you will receive on our Website.

Contact details:
Lindner Group
Marketing
Ingo Bofinger
Bahnhofstraße 29
94424 Arnstorf
Telefon: 08723/20-27 58
Ingo.Bofinger(at)Lindner-Group.com

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