Can Your Office Building Generate More Power Than it Uses?
According to Emil Eriksrod of R8 Properties, the 11-story office building projected to open in Porsgrunn, Norway, will be not only sustainable but also able to produce more power than it consumes. It will be the first of its kind in the country and Eriksrod said he "hopes we will be plagiarized and copied, replicated in all seven continents," - a statement not expressed by many developers.
The price of being environmentally conscious doesn't come cheap. Emil Eriksrod of R8 Properties has revealed that the project will cost initially $17 million to complete. Patrick Sisson mentions that Architects and designers expect that the costs will be recuperated over its estimated 60-year lifespan since the Powerhouse project will generate enough power to pay back the energy cost of construction, production, and transportation of the materials used during the construction process.
Even though the building is predominately praised for it's energy conservation, it will also feature a roof garden, a gym, a large lobby, and a cafeteria for staff.
The video above provides a glimpse at all the environmental features the building will have like the green facade, solar panel roof, and heating and cooling wells.