House made of hemp ZEMP.HOUSE: $70 per year for heating instead of $1000

ZEMP.HOUSE — innovation in the multifamily housing segment

The authors of the ZEMP.HOUSE project, Andrii Lesio, founder of SHOVK studio and architect, along with Andrii Lesio, founder and CEO of OKNA.ua platform and director of the Prostir architectural workshop, presented the project at the Active House Days in Ukraine 2019 event. The project was recognised by the international Active House jury and received the grand prize from Active House and Velux.

The multifamily building was the first to combine a range of parameters that create a healthy living environment and make the structure compliant with sustainable development requirements:

1. Walls made of energy-efficient, fire-resistant construction blocks from industrial hemp.
2. Half of the energy costs for heating, ventilation, cooling, and household appliances are covered by an integrated solar power station embedded in the façade and roof.
3. No cement used in the living space.
4. A combination of windows and an automatic sun protection system to ensure natural lighting levels and save energy for heating, lighting, and cooling.
5. Natural light regulates the human circadian hormone cycle.
6. Hybrid ventilation with automated air quality control.
7. Use of geothermal energy for heating and cooling.

$70 per year for heating

According to calculations based on data for an average house in New England (a region in the USA) with a heated area of 173 m², the heating costs for a similar area in ZEMP.HOUSE will be only $70 per year!

For comparison, heating costs for the same area using natural gas would be $983, while using an air source heat pump would cost $1,262 (source: mass.gov).

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ZEMP.HOUSE heating costs versus average heating costs of existing homes Photo: ZEMP.HOUSE

* What are Passive House, Multi-Comfort House, and Active House?

Passive House, Multi-Comfort House, and Active House are all part of the so-called Net Zero concepts, united under the European Nearly Zero-Energy Buildings (NZEBs) framework (the American equivalent is Net Zero Energy Emissions NZEE). These are homes with near-zero energy consumption or minimal environmental impact.

Passive House is often mistaken for a zero-energy building, but in fact, a house is considered passive if it requires less than 15 kWh/m² per year for heating.
For comparison, heating consumption in most Ukrainian buildings (both multifamily and private) ranges from 150-250 kWh/m² per year.

Active House is mistakenly perceived as a house that generates more energy than it consumes. This is not necessarily the case. First and foremost, Active House is an approach that prioritises comfort, minimises energy consumption, and reduces environmental impact. Additionally, at least 25% of the total energy consumption, including household appliances, must be generated on-site from renewable sources.