Case Study: nZEC - Energy refurbishment of 21 dwellings in Tartu Street, Elva, Estonia
Name of organisation: EKÜL - The Estonian Union of Co-operative Housing Associations
Stage of development: completed
Year of finalization: 2011
Type of project: refurbishment
Area: urban
Scale: individual buildings
Type of building: Apartment in a block of five or less stories
Number of units/dwellings: 21
Tenure: shared ownership/cohousing
Street: Tartu str 27 C
Postcode: 27 C
City: Elva
Region/ County: Põlvamaa
Country: Estonia
Last Update: 23.02.2015
Short Description
The project was carried out because of high price for heat and uncomfortable indoor climate. Heating system was one pipe system with no possibility to regulate on the radiator level. Ventilation was designed as natural from windows, but due to the fact that most of the appartements have already changed windows the natural ventilation does not worked properly any more. Heating system was unbalanced and heat supply to the radiators was unstable. At the same time support scheme for renovation was available. Scheme terms were connected with energy saving % compared with last 3 years consumption. Conditions - 35% investment support means 50% savings. Association general meeting decided to go on 35% investment support. Flat owners are in 50% pensioners with reasonable low income (about 300 EUR month). Conditions foreseen that renovation should consist from total insulation of all external walls (U value 0,2) and roof (U value 0,15), installation of windows with U value not higher than 1,1. Heating system should be regulated on the radiator level, ventilation should have heat recovery element, flat based system was decided to use. Renovation project was designed for these conditions.
Key Elements
Certification
Energy certificate.
Project Management
Monitoring service quality.
Work with Residents
Site visits together with community members.
Funding
Financial planning (pay-back time calculation), accessing funding from financial incentives and loan from private bank and splitting cost with residents.
Funding
Private energy auditing and public research from Tallinn Technical University for typical block houses.
Capacity Building
Private energy auditing and public research from Tallinn Technical University for typical block houses.
Thermal Insulation
Thermal insulation system (insulation+cover), elimination of thermal bridges with full insulation.
Ventilation
Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery system on flat.
Heating and Hot Water
District heating.
Main Results
The most important is that flat owners got comfortable living with high quality indoor climate and with the same annual expenditure like before renovation. The apartments value is higher and house main constructions are now protected and there is no thermal bridges. Ventilation system will use exhaust air heat, heat consumption is expected 50% less than before.
Lessons learned
The awareness of flat owners should be on the level before the refurbishment decision that they can understand the difference to live in not renovated and renovated apartment house.
Additional Information
Ms Anu Sarnet
EKÜL - The Estonian Union of Cooperative Housing Associations
E-mail: anu.sarnet@ekyl.ee
Web: www.ekyl.ee
