THIS SUMMER, I hope to find an online journal of Sverre and Sophie Simonsen's Active House. It's situated in Lystrup, a suburb of Aarhus, and it takes the Passiv Haus to another level. I work with a Passive House owner and its incredibly effective insulation, heat exchanger and energy management are more than most people want to buy. Instead of a home that lays down markers for ecological practise, the Active House tries to produce more energy than it consumes. So that means huge windows on all sides--glass equivalent to 40% of the floor surface area. Solar panels and photovoltaic cells keep the house warm and powered for most of the year. Smart software controls the interior climate, opening and closing windows according to conditions. I want to read how the Simonsen family of four live within a 4000 KWh annual allowance and hope they write about life in their Active House after moving in on 1 July 2009.
Andrew Purcell "Light Years Ahead" on the green pages of The Guardian, 21 May 2009. Photo by Morten Fauerby.
