Viability of free-running buildings in the Nordic region
Ljubas, Marko and de Wilde, Pieter LU
(2025)
19th IBPSA Conference on Building Simulation, BS 2025
In Building Simulation Conference Proceedings
19.
- Abstract
Contemporary Nordic building design prioritizes energy-efficient HVAC systems to mitigate carbon emissions. However, this approach underestimates intensifying climate risks, creating critical vulnerabilities as extreme weather and energy/resource scarcity escalate. To address this gap, a free-running building concept, eliminating heating, cooling, and mechanical ventilation, was examined for Nordic climates. Informed by the existing building, “2226” in Austria, prototypes were modeled in IDA ICE using worst-case climate scenarios, simulating thermal inertia, thermal transmittance, and natural ventilation. Results revealed that colder zones lacked heat gains in winter, while southern regions experienced overheating. Further optimization... (More)
Contemporary Nordic building design prioritizes energy-efficient HVAC systems to mitigate carbon emissions. However, this approach underestimates intensifying climate risks, creating critical vulnerabilities as extreme weather and energy/resource scarcity escalate. To address this gap, a free-running building concept, eliminating heating, cooling, and mechanical ventilation, was examined for Nordic climates. Informed by the existing building, “2226” in Austria, prototypes were modeled in IDA ICE using worst-case climate scenarios, simulating thermal inertia, thermal transmittance, and natural ventilation. Results revealed that colder zones lacked heat gains in winter, while southern regions experienced overheating. Further optimization of the model and additional research on hygrothermal performance are warranted. The study advances a resilience-driven framework, prioritizing passive design strategies to reduce HVAC dependence in an energy-constrained future.
(Less)
- author
- Ljubas, Marko
and de Wilde, Pieter
LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2025
- type
- Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
- publication status
- published
- subject
- host publication
- Proceedings of Building Simulation 2025 : 19th Conference of IBPSA - 19th Conference of IBPSA
- series title
- Building Simulation Conference Proceedings
- volume
- 19
- publisher
- International Building Performance Simulation Association (IBPSA)
- conference name
- 19th IBPSA Conference on Building Simulation, BS 2025
- conference location
- Brisbane, Australia
- conference dates
- 2025-08-24 - 2025-08-27
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:105035259593
- ISSN
- 2522-2708
- ISBN
- 9781775052043
- DOI
- 10.26868/25222708.2025.1214
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 0a054815-70ec-44e5-9102-07c57333af65
- date added to LUP
- 2026-05-11 12:48:53
- date last changed
- 2026-05-11 12:49:38
@inproceedings{0a054815-70ec-44e5-9102-07c57333af65,
abstract = {{<p>Contemporary Nordic building design prioritizes energy-efficient HVAC systems to mitigate carbon emissions. However, this approach underestimates intensifying climate risks, creating critical vulnerabilities as extreme weather and energy/resource scarcity escalate. To address this gap, a free-running building concept, eliminating heating, cooling, and mechanical ventilation, was examined for Nordic climates. Informed by the existing building, “2226” in Austria, prototypes were modeled in IDA ICE using worst-case climate scenarios, simulating thermal inertia, thermal transmittance, and natural ventilation. Results revealed that colder zones lacked heat gains in winter, while southern regions experienced overheating. Further optimization of the model and additional research on hygrothermal performance are warranted. The study advances a resilience-driven framework, prioritizing passive design strategies to reduce HVAC dependence in an energy-constrained future.</p>}},
author = {{Ljubas, Marko and de Wilde, Pieter}},
booktitle = {{Proceedings of Building Simulation 2025 : 19th Conference of IBPSA}},
isbn = {{9781775052043}},
issn = {{2522-2708}},
language = {{eng}},
publisher = {{International Building Performance Simulation Association (IBPSA)}},
series = {{Building Simulation Conference Proceedings}},
title = {{Viability of free-running buildings in the Nordic region}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.26868/25222708.2025.1214}},
doi = {{10.26868/25222708.2025.1214}},
volume = {{19}},
year = {{2025}},
}