Sonnenschiff: Solar City Produces 4X the Energy it Consumes

Although <a href="http://inhabitat.com/index.php?s=net+zero">net-zero</a> projects have been creating a lot of buzz lately in the field of green building, the Sonnenschiff solar city in Freiburg, Germany is very much <em>net positive</em>. The self-sustaining city accomplishes this feat through smart solar design and lots and lots of photovoltaic panels pointed in the right direction. It seems like a simple strategy -- but designers often incorporate solar installations as an afterthought, or worse, as a label. Designed by <a href="http://www.rolfdisch.de/index.php?p=home&amp;pid=276&amp;L=1&amp;host=2">Rolf Disch</a>, the Sonnenschiff (Solar Ship) and Solarsiedlung (Solar Village) emphasize power production from the start by smartly incorporating a series of large rooftop solar arrays that double as sun shades. The buildings are also built to <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/04/07/passivhaus-the-greenest-building-standard/">Passivhaus</a> standards, which allows the project to produce <b>four times</b> the amount of energy it consumes!

The homes are designed to the Passivhaus standard and have great access to <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/2006/08/09/green-building-101-energy-atmosphere-part-1/">passive solar</a> heating and daylight. Each home features a very simple shed roof with deep overhangs that allows winter sun in while shading the building from the summer sun.

The project started out as a vision for an entire community -- the medium-density project balances size, accessibility, <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/2010/08/03/sydney-transforms-waterworks-ruins-into-incredible-public-park/">green space</a>, and solar exposure. In all, 52 homes make up a neighborhood anchored to Sonnenschiff, a mixed-use residential and commercial building that emphasizes livability with a minimal footprint.

The penthouses on top of the Sonnenschiff have access to rooftop gardens that make full use of all available solar resources. The rooftops feature a <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/03/05/cista-rainwater-cachement-by-moss-sund-and-figforty/">rainwater</a> recycling system that irrigates the gardens and supplies the toilets with greywater.

The project also makes use of a woodchip boiler for heat in the winter, further decreasing its environmental footprint. Advanced technologies like phase-change materials and vacuum insulation significantly boost the thermal performance of the buildings' wall systems.

The project's simple envelope design is brightened by a colorful and dynamic façade. Gardens and paths cross through the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/?attachment_id=149326">development</a> as well, linking the inhabitants. Offices and stores expand the livability of the community while contributing a sense of communal purpose.

Pedestrian access is provided throughout the entire neighborhood.

The project's interior spaces have a lot of natural light (note the lights are not on in this office).

Triple-pane windows allow for a lot of glazing without the heat loss penalty.

Smart orientation was a key strategy used to maximize energy efficiency. The buildings are separated so as to provide sufficient light to the lower floors in the winter months.

The home's feature a simple passive heating and cooling strategy.

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