Norway commits €36 million to zero-carbon building research

2009-02-27T00:00:00-00:00

The Norwegian government recently announced plans to set up eight new national Centres for Environment-friendly Energy Research. One of these, being hosted by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) will receive €36 million over the next eight years to pursue zero-carbon buildings.

The Research Centre on Zero Emission Buildings (ZEB) at NTNU’s Faculty of Architecture and Fine Art will tackle the ‘40%’ problem.

The building sector accounts for around 40% of material and product use and 40% of primary energy consumption, while producing 40% of greenhouse gas emissions.

Dean of the Faculty of Architecture and Fine Art, Tore Haugen, with by ZEB leaders Anne Grete Hestnes (left) and Marit Thyholt (right), in front of a solar cell wall at NTNU.

ZEB will focus on developing products and solutions for new and existing buildings to reduce greenhouse gas emissions – during their construction, inhabitation and demolition. Research will encompass residential, commercial and public buildings.

The Centre will be collaborating with international partners such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the US, the Fraunhofer Institutes in Germany, Tsinghua University in China and Chalmers University in neighbouring Sweden, as well as industrial partners including Skanska, Glava and Isola.

For further information:
www.ntnu.no/ab/english

Afion Media Ltd

Norway commits €36 million to zero-carbon building research