Resurrecting the Nullenergihuset in Denmark

Abstract

The concept of a Zero Energy House is a desirable fundamental goal in housing technology. Creative engineers and architects have for years dreamt of and built comfortable modern houses with technological sophistication that harvested all local energy to create a comfortable, tropical savannah environment indoors with only the natural sunlight available onsite and any other sources of energy from natural income energy. A first proof of concept house at “high ” latitude, the “Nullenergihuset”, (Danish for zero energy house) built in 1974, is such a house, and deserves continued and expanded awareness and publicity about what it offers and its lessons. This paper seeks to achieve that publicity and awareness through pointing out the valuable example this house offers a world which badly needs just such an example of housing technology.