This new energy concept from Sweden can make any building net zero

A new Swedish energy concept can turn any building into a net zero energy structure. Pioneered by Malmö-based company Innenco , the concept utilizes a building’s thermal mass to drastically reduce energy use by around 85 percent. With their active elements systems, heat pumps, chillers, and adding solar panels , Innenco can bring new or existing buildings to net zero energy consumption. Inhabitat spoke with CEO and founder Jonathan Karlsson to find out more. Innenco, which stands for innovative energy concept, dramatically slashes a building’s energy use. Karlsson told Inhabitat, “Our vision is to create possibilities to make new net zero constructions in an efficient way, giving everyone the capability to do so.” Their technology changes how a building operates for vastly improved energy efficiency . Related: California city could become the first Zero Net Energy city in the U.S. It starts with their active elements system: pipes are integrated into the frame construction to utilize a building’s thermal mass. Adding heat pumps and chillers to the system allows Innenco to get four to six times greater efficiency in heating and cooling . At this point they’re able to reduce energy use by 85 percent, so to cover that last 15 percent, they install Innenco Quantum Solar panels. “This makes an investment in solar cells much lower than a traditional system, and we can get net zero for a really cost-efficient investment,” Karlsson told Inhabitat. Buildings with the Innenco system installed tend to maintain a temperature of around 22 degrees Celsius, or around 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Innenco has already seen their concept work in the real world. They’ve installed their system in homes, offices, schools, and industry premises. Karlsson said they were excited to discover they could utilize a really high rate of thermal mass in industry buildings, and think their concept could translate well to skyscrapers . They’ve worked in Sweden, the Czech Republic, Spain, and the Netherlands, with projects coming up in Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. They provide maintenance, and their energy concept can be installed as new buildings are built or integrated in old ones. Karlsson said sustainability projects should deliver social, environmental, and economical benefits, all three of which Innenco aims to offer with their concept. “Reducing carbon dioxide emissions is a really high goal for us,” Karlsson told Inhabitat. “It’s the climate condition; it’s really necessary to figure out how we can help the planet.” Innenco hopes to introduce their energy concept to other markets too, such as the United States. You can find out more on their website . + Innenco Images courtesy of Innenco

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This new energy concept from Sweden can make any building net zero

FedEx, United bet it’s (finally) time for jet biofuels to take off

Aviation biofuels are on the rise again thanks to airlines like Virgin, Southwest and United, as well as buy-in from manufacturers and logistics providers Boeing and FedEx.

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FedEx, United bet it’s (finally) time for jet biofuels to take off

Confessions of a VERGE Virgin

It's not a tech conference, it's not a sustainability conference. It's something in between that's new and different.

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Confessions of a VERGE Virgin

4 steps for post-storm recovery of building systems

Post-Hurricane Sandy, building remediation became a necessity in many locations. Here's how to do it right.

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4 steps for post-storm recovery of building systems

Lessons from Richard Branson: Boosting your brand with sustainability

Jean Oelwang, CEO of Virgin Unite, speaks with GreenBiz contributor Marc Stoiber about how Virgin has spread its entrepreneurial zeal around the world. Here are some lessons marketers could learn from Virgin.

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Lessons from Richard Branson: Boosting your brand with sustainability

View from the C-Suite: Virgin America CEO David Cush

The head of the U.S.-based airline talks about the imperatives for greening the airline industry, Sir Richard’s impact, and how algae-based fuels could be a game-changer for the industry’s carbon footprint.

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View from the C-Suite: Virgin America CEO David Cush

The World’s 11 Most Bicycle Friendly Cities

Image: Virgin Vacations According to a list by Virgin Vacations, who suggest they relied on a methodology developed by the League of American Bicyclists (LAB), known as The Bicycle Friendly Communities Campaign, which uses five criteria (engineering, encouragement, education, enforcement, plus evaluation and planning) to identify cities that actively support bicycling. Three of the top five from the eleven cities are in the USA, which at first glance might seem a little odd, but they are the only three American cities to have earned Platinum status from the LAB as US Bicycle Friendly Communities…

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The World’s 11 Most Bicycle Friendly Cities