Massachusetts – The Harvard Center for Green Buildings and Cities (CGBC) has transformed a pre-1940s building into an ultra-efficient prototype for living, led by Norwegian design firm Snøhetta.
HouseZero is intended to produce more energy over its lifetime than was used to renovate it, as well as offset energy needed for its subsequent operation. For CGBC, the space will double as its headquarters and a research tool, using hundreds of sensors to continually monitor the building’s performance.
‘By creating both a prototype and an infrastructure for long-term research, we hope to raise interest in ultra-efficient retrofits and inspire substantial shifts in the design and operation of buildings,’ says Ali Malkawi, founding director of CGBC and the creator of the HouseZero project.
While Snøhetta has been leading the way in designing energy-positive buildings for a while it is interesting to see that they are now turning their attention to modifying existing structures to make them more environmentally friendly.