GRDF showcases modular ‘environmental’ homes
The gas-heated wooden demonstration homes in the Saint-Maurice l’Exil commune in southeastern France have demonstrated compatibility with new environmental regulations.
The two buildings, which have been developed by the local social landlord Alpes Isère Habitat with the support of gas distributor GRDF, are among the first to meet the new RE2020 energy efficiency regulation.
The two standout features are the modular wooden construction, with the modules delivered and assembled on site in a matter of days, compared with the months for building of traditional homes, and the installation of low energy gas boilers for hot water and heating.
In occupation since October 2021, the homes were confirmed as compatible with the energy and carbon requirements of the RE2020 regulation in July.
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“We wanted and succeeded in demonstrating that we could anticipate the regulation while being innovative,” commented Abdeselem Messabhia, operations manager in Alpes Isère Habitat’s promotion and construction department, adding that the design is readily reproducible and could serve as a model for future buildings.
RE2020 came into effect on 1 January 2022 with the aim for buildings to be built to use between 15-20% less energy than under the earlier RT 2012 regulation.
Two key criteria are a threshold on greenhouse gas emissions related to the energy consumption of the building and a threshold on the consumption of non-renewable primary energy in order to encourage the implementation of solar PV.
Further, a building life cycle assessment is required, encouraging the use of bio-based materials or low carbon concrete.
GRDF is promoting gas as an asset in new construction, offering seven solutions that are compatible with the requirements of RE2020. These include condensing boilers coupled with one or more of reinformed insulation, greywater recovery, solar water heater or thermodynamic water heater, or aerothermal or geothermal absorption gas heat pump.
Further ahead, from 2025 on when the threshold on energy consumption related greenhouse gas emissions reduces to a second lower level, 6.5kg CO2e/m2/year down from 14kg CO2e/m2/year for 2022, hybrid solutions are anticipated coupling gas boilers and heat pumps.
