Houses with almost zero energy consumption: the future is electricity

A new opportunity for electric heating systems in the era of nearly zero-energy buildings - EPBD 2020 nZEB and a new concept for the near future. The existing knowledge of FENIX Jeseník, the medium-term outlook in the field of legislation, and the vision of the owner of the FENIX holding, Ing. Cyril Svozil, to have practical experience and exact data on the operation of such a facility before 2020, has led to the establishment of the new FENIX OFFICE CENTER in Jeseník.

The heat loss of buildings – and thus the energy consumption – has significantly decreased in recent years, and in many cases, operational costs have ceased to be the deciding factor. More important factors have become the total initial investment, maintenance and inspection costs, automation, lifespan, system reliability, and comfort level. In the 2013-2014 season, FENIX Jeseník, in collaboration with the University Centre for Energy-Efficient Buildings of CTU Prague (UCEEB), conducted measurements and evaluations of three such buildings. The results showed that electric heating systems are 20-25% more efficient than hot water systems in buildings with low energy consumption due to their flexibility. In the last two years, FENIX has also extensively experimented with photovoltaic (PV) rooftop plants, the use of alternative water heating, etc. This has led to a number of significant conclusions. The effort to build low-energy houses faces new challenges. As of 2020, it will not be possible to build buildings other than those with nearly zero energy consumption.

FENIX OFFICE CENTER – a pilot office center meeting the standards of 2020
The manufacturer of electric heating systems, FENIX Jeseník, is responding to this development and will begin construction of the new FENIX OFFICE CENTER in Jeseník in October 2015. The office center with nearly zero energy consumption will meet the standards that will be valid for buildings in 2020. The building will be heated with electric underfloor heating using ECOFLOOR mats and radiant panels produced by FENIX, rooftop photovoltaics, and home batteries for storing surpluses and ensuring consistent energy consumption of the facility. The new office center will also be adapted for cooperation with the “smart grid”, allowing battery charging not only from the PV plant but also at designated times from the electrical grid. The FENIX OFFICE CENTER project is being implemented by FENIX Jeseník in collaboration with UCEEB CTU Prague and under the technical patronage of the Ministry of the Environment, the Ministry of the Environment, and the Energy Regulatory Office. Construction is expected to be completed in May next year. The purpose of the project is to verify the cooperation of the rooftop photovoltaic power plant with home batteries and the “smart grid” to demonstrate the benefits of this solution for energy system operators as well as for users.

Advantages and efficiency of electric radiant heating systems in such energy-saving buildings
Radiant heating systems are the ideal heating system for buildings with nearly zero energy consumption. They are highly flexible and quickly respond automatically to additional heat gains in individual rooms of the house. Conventional hot water systems (with any source, including heat pumps) cannot provide this flexibility and precision in delivering small amounts of necessary heat to different areas of the building; efforts for more perfect control, in turn, incur disproportionate costs. Another advantage is the fact that radiant electric systems provide heat primarily through radiation, which is the most efficient way of heat transfer, and all living organisms are genetically predisposed to absorb radiant heat. The application of electric radiant heating systems is also supported by advancements in energy storage through home batteries. Their increasing affordability brings about a fundamental shift in the view of electric heating of buildings.

Details about the new FENIX OFFICE CENTER project can also be found at www.fenixgroup.cz