Passive house standard at 17 kWh/m²a

Planning:
Arch. DI MAS Erich Mayr

The new wing of the 200-bed Aparthotel Adler in Hinterglemm (province of Salzburg, Austria) is an example of low-energy construction applied in a commercial field.

The hotel was built in the late 1970s and was extended in the 80s and 90s to about 200 beds. In 2003 the complex was extended with low-energy methods to include a swimming pool, a wellness area and a restaurant that are colorful, light and sunlit.

The new wing combines the methods of solar construction, which correspond to the low-energy standard. The generously glazed front is strictly oriented to the south. East, north and west sides of the building have 30 cm of thermal insulation. Per square meter of utilized space, an annual requirement of 17 kWh has been computed, which is slightly more than the energy of a 10-watt light bulb in continuous operation.

A further component of this low-energy concept is controlled ventilation, which ensures continuous air exchange and counters the energy losses of conventional ventilation. The overall results are very low operating costs and CO2 emissions with simultaneous maximum comfort.