The final report for the ZEB-project is published and can be downloaded as PDF or viewed online as an e-book.

Download as PDF

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ZEB's årlige rapporter

ZEB annual report 2015 (pdf)

ZEB annual report 2015 (flipping book)

ZEB annual report 2014 (pdf)

ZEB annual report 2014 (flipping book)

ZEB annual report 2013 (pdf)

ZEB annual report 2012 (pdf)

ZEB annual report 2011 (pdf)

Administration of the Centre

The Centre has a General Assembly and an Executive Board. The General Assembly includes all partners. The Board is comprised of the Centre management and partner representatives. The user partners have majority on the Board and are selected from different groups of user partners.

The Research Centre is organized as a joint NTNU/SINTEF unit, hosted by The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). The Centre leadership is thus shared between the two organizations.

The Centre encompasses the whole value chain of market players within the Norwegian construction business. The companies represent more than 200.000 employees and have a yearly turnover of 360 billion NOK (Statistics Norway, 2011).

Visiting address

Alfred Getz vei 3
Senralbygg I, 8th floor
Trondheim

Members of the ZEB Board

• Fredrik Shetelig, NTNU
• Arild Gustavsen, NTNU
• Jonas Holme, SINTEF Byggforsk
• Rune Stene, Skanska
• Phillipp Müller, SAPA Group
• Zdena Cervenka, Statsbygg
• Tine Hegli, Snøhetta
• Jens Petter Burud, Caverion
• Rune Eliassen, Weber AS

ZEB's reference group

• Guro Hauge, Lavenergiprogrammet
• Kristin Amundsen, NBBL
• Birger Bergersen, NVE
• Thomas Bartholdsen, Forbrukerrådet
• Anders Selstrøm Moe, NAL
• Thor-Jostein Egeland, Norsk VVS og Miljøteknisk Forening
• Egil Skavang, Arkitektbedriftene
• Trine Dyrstad Pettersen, BNL

ZEB – Zero Emission Buildings

A zero emission building produces enough renewable energy to compensate for the building's greenhouse gas emissions over its life span. The ZEB research centre has defined different levels of zero emission buildings depending on how many phases of a building's lifespan that are counted in. The 5 most important definitions, in rising ambition level, are:

ZEB – O

The building's renewable energy production compensate for greenhouse gas emissions from operation of the building.

ZEB – O ÷ EQ

The building's renewable energy production compensate for greenhouse gas emissions from operation of the building minus the energy use for equipment (plug loads).

ZEB – OM

The building's renewable energy production compensate for greenhouse gas emissions from operation and production of its building materials.

ZEB – COM

The building's renewable energy production compensate for greenhouse gas emissions from construction, operation and production of building materials.

ZEB – COMPLETE

The building's renewable energy production compensate for greenhouse gas emissions from the entire lifespan of the building. Building materials – construction – operation and demolition/recycling.

The illustration shows the different phases of a building's life that are included in the various ZEB definition levels. The renewable energy production (green circle) compensates for all greenhouse gas emissions throughout the life span of the building in the example.

Each of the user partners is important for the Centre’s innovation and value creation:

BNL - Federation of construction industries (incl. Construction products association): The potential for social profit from increased innovation within the industry is considerable, and it is to a large degree the society itself that will benefit from the innovative efforts to be addressed by the Centre. Rethinking construction and stimulating renovation is of utmost importance for a healthy development of the industry.

Brødrene Dahl (HVAC equipment supplier): A cluster like the ZEB Centre consortium would create synergy effects for all the different industries by developing optimal solutions together. This will help the company to bring knowledge to its manufacturers to guide them to optimize their products. Through the Centre the products can be tested and the results documented and used to show the market that building environmentally friendly is possible and profitable.

ByBo (housing developer): The win-win situation created by increased knowledge and better products at competitive prices is a driving force for the company to search innovative solutions in a traditional market. The company expects that cooperation with the proposed centre will greatly improve its ability to identify such innovations.

Caverion Norge (technical installations contractor): The company will continuously develop its own solutions and be able to use the results from the FME Centre in this work. Caverion expects demand for energy-efficient buildings and solutions in the future and that it will increase the company’s sales in energy-related technology.

DiBK – Norwegian Building Authority: Practical and user targeted research activities are the basis for standardization, and the results can be transformed into regulations. Development of building requirements regarding energy efficiency and energy supply will undoubtedly contribute to significant benefits for society. Research on actions to be taken in the existing building stock should be a part of the research activities and will be of importance for further development of building regulations and building practise on this field.

DuPont (building products producer): DuPont is a dynamic market-driven science company and has a strong R&D capability. There is a lot of R&D effort in order to improve existing and to develop completely new innovative products. DuPont and the ZEB members could mutually benefit from cooperation to test new concepts and accelerate the developments toward achievement of Zero Energy Building. DuPont's focus will continue to be on existing commercial products, but also on future innovative solutions that could be tested during the ZEB project.

Enova SF was established in 2001 in order to drive forward the changeover to more environmentally friendly consumption and generation of energy in our country. Enova promote more efficient energy consumption and increased production of “new” renewable energy. Enova do this via targeted programmes and support schemes in the areas in which the greatest effect in the form of saved, converted, or generated clean energy can be documented.

Entra is state-owned through the Ministry of Trade and Industry. Entra’s main purpose is to provide premises to meet central government needs and to operate on commercial principles. In addition, Enta is also able to serve municipal and private customers. The company’s strategy is to maintain an active presence throughout the value chain. Its buildings shall be eco-friendly, modern and flexible.

Forsvarsbygg (Norwegian Defense Estates Agency): NDEA as a public-owned building client is under considerable political pressure to act as a role model for private building clients. By applying the latest technology in order to reach superior energy performance, public construction activities are targeted to be demonstration objects for the whole construction industry.

Glava (producer of insulation materials): New superior insulation materials and thermal protection building systems for the future will lead to new market shares.

Husbanken (The Norwegian Housing Bank): The Centre has the potential to play a decisive role concerning reduced energy use and emissions from the building stock, both by research and other related activities. Husbanken especially sees a huge potential in using pilot projects as centre points and arenas for regional dissemination of ambitions, knowledge and for regional market development. This will be an essential foundation for innovation and value creation and implementation of results and experiences done by the research Centre and its partners.

Isola (building products producer/supplier): A large range of new products can benefit from basic R&D in cooperation with the ZEB Centre. Innovative new products will be instrumental in further growth and development of the company.

Multiconsult (consulting company): The development of new tools that can provide analysis of the environmental impact of new products or services may lead to new standards, guidance, and analysis models that will help introduce new services to the construction sector.

NorDan (building products producer): NorDan participates in ZEB in order to be in the forefront regarding development of environment energy efficient windows and doors.

Norsk Teknologi (Norwegian Technology; Confederation of companies within the technical and technological sector): Norsk Teknologi is a federation of 1550 companies with a total of 32,800 employees and annual revenue of 3.8 billion Euros. A significant potential for innovation and value creation is possible related to investments in energy efficiency measures.

SAPA Building system: An increased value added from additional investment in product development, including both active solar energy generation and improvement in more established passive energy efficient products and building envelope solutions, is foreseen.

Skanska (large building contractor and developer): A national centre as proposed, with a joint effort from universities, research institutes and the building industry, will contribute to sustainable construction through increased awareness and competence combined with development of new quality assured concepts, components and materials.

Snøhetta (architect): The Centre will expand the office’s competence in designing buildings with very low impact on the environment, with special focus on climate. Generation of sustainable solutions will be implemented and multiplied in projects all over the world.

Statsbygg (Directorate for Public Construction and Property): The ZEB Centre provides an opportunity to develop knowledge needed by Statsbygg to fulfil Statbygg’s existing and future requirements for energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. Innovation and higher efficiency in the Norwegian property, building, and construction industry is of vital importance for Statsbygg as well as for the Norwegian society.

Sør-Trøndelag Fylkeskommune: The County Council of Sør-Trøndelag County Authorityhas adopted a goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions in their own organization by 50% by 2020. Sør-Trøndelag County Authority wants through a partnership with ZEB to enhance expertise within the organization and spread knowledge of innovative solutions for investment and operation. As a major builder organization we want to contribute to increased knowledge and the development of sustainable solutions in the delivery chain, including contractors, architects and others.

Weber (building products producer/supplier): The building industry will be facing radical new challenges with respect to more energy efficient and robust products and solutions. The company’s ambition is to continuously offer new solutions to the market, fulfilling future requirements and strengthening its position in the Norwegian and European market. The company expects “ZEB-Research Centre” to be a hub and catalyst in the development, and to be an important partner for the company.

The "Sun Ship": PlusEnergy building by Rolf Disch SolarArchitecture, Freiburg, Germany
Photo credits: © Rolf Disch SolarArchitectureThe vision of The Research Centre on Zero Emission Buildings, ZEB, is to eliminate the greenhouse gas emissions caused by buildings. This national research centre will place Norway in the forefront with respect to research, innovation and implementation within the field of energy efficient zero-emission buildings.

The main objective of ZEB is to develop competitive products and solutions for existing and new buildings that will lead to market penetration of buildings that have zero emissions of greenhouse gases related to their production, operation and demolition. The Centre will encompass both residential and commercial buildings, as well as public buildings.

In addition to being highly energy-efficient and carbon-neutral, the buildings and related solutions also have to fulfil a range of other criteria in order to be competitive. They need to provide a healthy and comfortable indoor environment and be flexible and adaptable to changing user demands and needs. They need to be cost-effective, i.e. give economic benefits to producers, users and the society. They need to be architecturally attractive and easy to construct, use, operate and maintain. Finally, they need to have minimum environmental impacts during production, use and demolition, and be robust with respect to varying climate exposure and future climate changes.

About the Centre

The vision of The Research Centre on Zero Emission Buildings, ZEB, is to eliminate the greenhouse gas emissions caused by buildings. This national research centre will place Norway in the forefront with respect to research, innovation and implementation within the field of energy efficient zero-emission buildings.

The main objective of ZEB is to develop competitive products and solutions for existing and new buildings that will lead to market penetration of buildings that have zero emissions of greenhouse gases related to their production, operation and demolition. The Centre encompasses both residential and commercial buildings, as well as public buildings.

ZEB activities

The activities for ZEB are divided in five work packages, these are:

WP-1: Advanced materials technologies

WP-2: Climate-adapted low-energy envelope technologies

WP-3: Energy supply systems and services

WP-4: Energy efficient use and operation

WP-5: Concepts and strategies for zero emission buildings

The "Sun Ship": PlusEnergy building by Rolf Disch SolarArchitecture, Freiburg, Germany
© Rolf Disch SolarArchitectureIn February 2009, the Research Council of Norway assigned The Faculty of Architecture and Fine Art at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology to host the Research Centre on Zero Emission Buildings (ZEB), which is one of eight new national Centres for Environment-friendly Energy Research (FME). The main objective of the FME-centres is to contribute to the development of good technologies for environmentally friendly energy and to raise the level of Norwegian expertise in this area. In addition, they should help to generate new industrial activity and new jobs. The centres have been selected primarily on the basis of the scientific merit of their research, and their potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to generate innovation and value creation. The Research Council of Norway has been responsible for selection. Over the next eight years, the FME-Centre ZEB will develop competitive products and solutions for existing and new buildings that will lead to market penetration of zero emission buildings related to their production, operation and demolition.