ECO-S
ECOLOGICAL WOODEN WINDOW INSULATION
ECO/10/276746/SI2.608190
1. BACKGROUND Buildings are the major source of global demand for energy and materials that produce greenhouse gases as a by-product. 80 % reduction of mentioned emissions is needed by the end of 2020 to reach the requirements of the Kyoto protocol. On the other hand, nearly-zero building should become standard at the same year. Windows are one of the most important parts of building as at least 10 % of heat is lost through window surfaces.
Therefore it is of a great importance to produce and install highly insulated windows to reduce heat losses and improve overall insulation of buildings.
Many low-energy windows are present at the market nowadays but most of them are made of window profiles which include synthetic insulation materials.
The aim of ECO-S project was to develop, put on market and commercialise eco-friendly and entirely wooden window insulation with air cavities that will play role as an insulation barrier.
2. OBJECTIVES The biggest challenge when designing a passive window is to avoid using additional insulation synthetic materials (e.g. polyurethane foam, EPS, XPS, polyethylene foam, etc.) into wooden window profiles. Therefore there is a need for innovative solution to avoid such approach and to produce entirely wooden window frames which will be highly insulative to reach passive standards.
The objective of ECOS project was to develop eco-friendly insulation made of wood. Air represents good insulation material if it is „caught“ into closed cavities. Therefore wooden insulation with small cavities was developed and optimized to be used in highly efficient windows and also for facade systems.
With such approach there is possibility to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions and water and oil consumption due to high thermal efficiency and ecofriendly production.
3. ACTIONS For the purpose of the project new investment in machinery for the production of ECO-S insulation was made. In next stages all new details and drawings were developed for new window types and the production was launched. 17.5
35
2
113
79
15000800
3
EHB SG 1500B/3
23
114
15000800
92/68
79/56
52/57
15000808
117
92
15000800
60/45
21 17.5
50
42 113
Commercial activities were ECO-S project top priority. Attendances at international fairs, scientific and non-scientific conferences and newly shot movie are just some of them.
New development activities took part in the scope or in correlation with ECO-S project. New approaches and new materials for development of high efficient window were introduced and tested. Some of them proved to be very promising and especially cost efficient and eco-friendly.
4. RESULTS 4 main types of ECO-S windows were developed and certified in the scope of ECO-S project: 2 timber windows (NATURE E92 and NATURE E112) and 2 timber aluminium windows (COMFORT E92 and COMFORT E112). Both E112 versions are certified as passive windows.
ECO-S windows were installed in buildings across Europe, in Unites states and Canada. Most commonly produced ECO-S window was NATURE E92.
20% 24%
49%
NATURE E92 NATURE E112 COMFORT E92 COMFORT E112
7%
According to LCA made on reference ECO-S window, 7 tonnes of CO2 was reduced so far with the production of ECO-S windows. New ECO-S insulation was developed by partner GS Stemeseder in collaboration with Competence Center Wood K plus and are made of Wood Plastic composite (WPC). It can be used in window and elsewhere as it has good thermal characteristics, high resistance and dimensional stability
5. PROJECT PARTNERS M SORA d.d. (project leader) M SORA d.d. is Slovenian private commercial organisation (SME) and joint stock company with more then 160 employees and over 60 years of experience. M SORA's largest departments are window production (M SORA Mizarstvo, wholesale of building joinery hardware (M SORA NORICA) and a building-material centre with a wide-ranging offer for ecological heating and photovoltaic systems (M SORA Gradbeni center). Main production of M SORA represent timber and timber-aluminium windows whereas R&D is representing strong part of the company.
G.S. Georg Stemeseder GmbH (partner) GS Stemeseder is Austrian manufacturer of AltoNova - wooden window frame protective systems made of aluminium. In addition to the aluminium profiles for wooden window frames, aluminium solutions are also produced for shutters and doors. GS Stemeseder has decades of experience in the field of aluminium, resulting in quality policies, customer orientation and a reliable delivery service which are the main priorities of GS Stemeseder.
6. SUMMARY ECO-S insulation (Ecological Wooden Window insulation) is an innovative solution for the production of passive or high energy efficient timber windows and facade systems. It represents an alternative to synthetic insulation materials which are commonly used in such products. In ECO-S project, various types of energy efficient windows were developed and two of them were certified as passive windows. Windows were produced and installed across Europe and also in United states and Canada. ECO-s project was extremely beneficial to increased development of new windows and quality of products in both partnering companies. ECO-S insulation became popular and well known product in Slovenia and across Europe and it is believed that it will be produced and developed even further in the future.
7. CONTACTS For further information, please contact the project coordinator: Barbara Šubic M SORA d.d. 4226 Žiri Slovenia E-mail: barbara.subic@m-sora.si Tel: +386 4 50 50 220
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