The Sunshine House in Slatiňany in the Chrudim region will serve clients of the Home at the Fountain

Slatiňany – The so-called Solar House in Slatiňany, located in the Chrudim region and previously used by the Social Services Home in Slatiňany, will undergo a change in purpose. After renovations, it will serve individuals of working age with neurodegenerative diseases, supervised by the Home at the Fountain in Přelouč, Pardubice region. The building in Slatiňany has been a pioneer in the use of renewable energy sources, which have been operational for three decades but are gradually reaching the end of their lifespan, said Miroslav Kubín, the director of the Social Services Home, to ČTK.

The house has a rooftop system of solar thermal panels. The energy collected is stored in a tank with a volume of 1,082 cubic meters and insulation that is 70 centimeters thick. Underfloor heating is provided by a heat pump with a backup electric boiler. Heating is also supported by a biomass boiler, which has been in use for 22 years and is likely to need replacement in the future.

"The solar system, which is fully functional, was designed with a projected lifespan of 27, at most 30 years. However, this year we are entering the 31st heating season," Kubín stated. According to him, only the heat pump has reached the end of its service life, which extracted heat from water in the accumulation tank. This tank was built from steel components of a silage tower. Its riveted joints are sealed with silicone caulk, and it is possible that, due to corrosion, it will need to be demolished in the future.

Clients of the social services home have gradually moved into small modern households, thus the organization no longer needs the Solar House. Modifications will be necessary for the needs of the Home at the Fountain in Přelouč. The layout of the rooms on the first and second floors will change, the attic will undergo partial reconstruction, windows and doors will be replaced, and the house will be insulated. In contrast, it will lose the inadequate emergency staircase and a two-story annex with a vestibule. A bed lift will be added to the northern façade, and the removal of the shingle cladding will restore the original appearance of the building.

The estimated costs for the renovation, including furnishings and related services, amount to 42 million crowns. The reconstruction could start next year, as the Pardubice region has already announced a public competition for a project designer.