Skanska Sweden used passive house techniques to refurbish rundown apartment buildings in Brogården, Alingsås, Southern Sweden, into modern and energy efficient homes.

Project Introduction
Brogården is a residential area in Alingsås that consists of 299 apartments in 16 three-storey buildings. The neighborhood was originally constructed between 1971 and 1973 as part of the “Million Program” in Sweden. The program involved the construction of one million new homes in ten years to raise housing standards and meet an acute housing shortage. However, 35 years later the Brogården apartments were in a poor state of repair with crumbling brick facades and poor insulation, which caused drafts and low indoor temperatures. The apartments also had dysfunctional ventilation systems and were not considered suitable for elderly residents due to the poor indoor environment.

Skanska is refurbishing the Brogården apartments between 2008 and 2013 for the public housing company, Alingsåshem, as part of a project worth around US$ 55 million. The project involves the extensive renovation of the buildings with passive house techniques, and includes the installation of new façades and roofing, thicker insulation and new ventilation systems. Each building is protected during construction by a plastic case to prevent moisture damage and ensure construction quality. The redevelopment of each apartment building takes around 8 months to complete and two or three projects are conducted simultaneously to ensure that the renovation of all 16 buildings will be completed by 2013.

The Brogården apartments were redeveloped with passive house techniques. The buildings do not use conventional heating systems and require very little energy for space heating. Under normal conditions the apartments are sufficiently warmed by the heat generated from human occupants, electric lighting and domestic appliances. The apartments are more airtight and better insulated than conventional buildings, and are equipped with highly efficient heat recovery ventilation systems.

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Skanska AB