The new positive energy building in the Fondo neighbourhood is now a reality

  • Smart energy management

Santa Coloma de Gramenet now has a new sustainable public housing development in the Fondo neighbourhood. The building, developed by INCASOL in collaboration with IREC as part of the European project syn.ikia, features 38 affordable rental units designed with positive energy criteria, meaning they can generate more energy than they consume.

This innovative project, part of a broader urban regeneration plan, is a pioneer in Catalonia. The energy surplus generated by the building will be shared with surrounding public buildings, such as the Fondo Health Center (CAP Fondo) and other residential buildings also managed by INCASOL, creating an energy synergy in the area. This collaboration is one of the key aspects of the syn.ikia project, led by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), which aims to promote neighbourhoods with a positive energy balance.

The research and design development involved the collaboration of IREC’s Thermal Energy and Building Performance Department, specialists in energy efficiency. An integrated design was implemented, where a multidisciplinary team worked together to optimize the building’s energy, economic, and social aspects. This approach, longer and more complex than conventional processes, ensures a building with minimal energy demand.

The building incorporates various energy efficiency measures, such as highly efficient centralized heating and hot water systems, a photovoltaic system installed on the roof to maximize solar energy, and a smart management system to optimize consumption. Detailed studies were also conducted to adjust thermal insulation and the window-to-wall ratio to ensure maximum comfort with minimal energy consumption.

One of the new features of this project is the role of the energy manager, who will be responsible for managing the building’s centralized energy, supervising maintenance, and billing residents for thermal energy consumption. This role is uncommon in the public housing sector and represents a pilot test to see if energy management can be improved in such buildings.

The first families to live in this building received the keys of their apartment today, October 18, 2024, at a ceremony attended by Councillor Sílvia Paneque and other local and regional authorities. The housing units have been allocated to groups at risk of social exclusion and will be managed by the Catalan Housing Agency (ACH).

This project not only represents progress towards sustainability but also aves the way to a broader initiative to create neighbourhoods with a positive energy balance, demonstrating that public housing can be both socially fair and environmentally responsible at the same time.

A related press release of the event can be downloaded from the Govern de la Generalitat de Catalunya here.

Syn.ikia has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 869918.