The construction industry is responsible for around 25% of annual CO₂ emissions. In view of this challenge, OPENLY building owners are committed to significantly reducing emissions from new builds and refurbishments.

New discipline in architecture

The future of architecture lies in the development of buildings that are based on sustainable components and have a plus-energy focus. The aim is to design construction and renovation projects in such a way that:

• components with the lowest possible carbon footprint are used (avoidance of emissions),

• materials are recyclable,

• and ideally CO₂ is stored long-term.

Material selection without bias

OPENLY has no material bias and is independent of the construction lobby. The selection of building materials is based exclusively on the principle of the greatest possible benefit for the environment and society.

• Wood, concrete and steel should be used specifically where they offer the greatest added value.

• Where these materials are not absolutely necessary, their use should be avoided.

• Concrete is viewed critically due to its climate-damaging production.

• As a renewable but limited resource, wood must be used responsibly.

The following applies to every construction and renovation project: the selection and combination of building materials must always be carried out with sustainability, recyclability and CO₂ reduction in mind. This is the only way the construction industry can make an effective contribution to climate protection.

Buildings should be planned so that they have a useful life of 100 years or more and can be maintained sustainably. Such buildings also offer the highest long-term return on investment. The Openly team was significantly supported by Willem Bruijna leading expert in this field.

The foundation, the standard dimensions and the supporting structure are particularly important for the longevity of a building.

Ideally, openly engineered buildings are characterized by the following features:

• On the first floor, they have extra height, which allows for flexible uses.

• They are based on a column and slab grid that allows them to be adapted and repurposed as required in the future.

Optimales Raumklima durch innovative Bauweise Gebäude von OPENLY engineered zeichnen sich durch hervorragende Isolationswerte (< 0,17) und eine hohe Speichermasse aus. Dadurch reagiert das Raumklima zeitlich verzögert auf äußere Temperaturschwankungen und bleibt stets angenehm.

Natural temperature equalization The heat stored in summer supports the heating of the rooms in winter. Conversely, the storage mass ensures pleasant coolness in summer. This means you benefit from a balanced indoor climate all year round.

Comparison with traditional stone houses The feeling of space is reminiscent of entering an old stone house in Tuscany on a hot summer's day - with the decisive advantage that OPENLY buildings remain pleasantly warm in winter.

Healthy building ecology and ideal air humidity The diffusion-open walls, for example made of hempcrete, ensure a constant air humidity of approx. 40% in winter. This promotes a healthy living climate and meets the highest ecological standards.

See for yourself Visit our pilot project "Valley Widnau" and experience the exceptional living and working environment on site!

As the electricity from the building's own photovoltaic system is self-generated, the use of an electrically powered heat pump is an obvious choice.

The question relates to the energy source (geothermal probe, earth baskets or air).

Depending on the situation, a heat pump can achieve an efficiency of 2-4, and even up to 6 in summer with air.

Simplified:
One kilowatt hour (KWh) of electricity can produce approximately 2-4 kilowatt hours of energy (heat).

In addition, storage tanks (water tanks) can be filled when power is available (good weather). The OPENLY OS (software based on Eisbär) controls the entire building, including the weather forecast.

Solar panels on 95% of the roof surface are actually a must for every new build and renovation project. They are also a business case, particularly due to the rise in energy costs.

The reference area usually provides enough energy for the PlusEnergy standard.

It's relatively simple:
A solar system delivers approx. 200 KwH per m2 per year in central Europe. More in the south, less in the north. This is roughly equivalent to the annual consumption of a dishwasher.

Thanks to the excellent building physics, an OPENLY only requires around 10W/m2 for heating, making it easily a plus-energy house. See explanations on building physics in other chapters on this page.

See data

PV Fact Sheet

An OPENLY engineered building requires approx. 10W of heating energy per m2. That is almost nothing.

This opens up new options for heating energy input in the building.

Starting with classic radiators, underfloor heating or alternative systems such as infrared panels (where permitted) or new types of tiled stoves. The focus is always on avoiding building installations as far as possible, as these are expensive and maintenance-intensive and have a limited service life.

Cooling in summer is an increasingly important aspect. Architectural measures for solar shading should be used primarily and air conditioning only secondarily. However, OPENLYs provide sufficient energy for this in summer thanks to the solar system.

Did you know?
Residential buildings in Central Europe require more energy for hot water production than for heating in winter.

Instead of a boiler, OPENLY uses a central fresh water station with storage tank served by the heat pump. Hot water is produced only when and where it is needed, with excellent water quality at all times.

The water prefabricated wet rooms from Dade Design showers installed in a closed, decentralized system recover around 30% energy(Joulia technology).

OPENLY Valley Widnau even goes one step further and has prefabricated all the wet cells. prefabricated and lifted them into the timber construction as prefabricated elements. If floor plans are changed at a later date, these wet rooms can simply be moved (using a pallet trolley).

The subject of energy storage covers two topics:

A) Seasonal storage Overproduction in summer, demand in winter (currently unresolved*)

B) Day/night storage
The efficient way to store energy in water by using the surplus solar energy to heat the storage tanks for heating and hot water during the day (and not at night with cheaper nuclear power as before).

For the remaining short-term storage, we have opted for a battery system that is linked to the hybrid inverter of the PV system and is also capable of providing emergency power.

With regard to home batteries, the prices are currently still far too high (500 EUR/KwH). In the near future, we will be able to use e-cars as overnight batteries. Our recommendation at present is to invest sparingly in home batteries.

*We looked at hydrogen (H2) for the seasonal storage system for some time but then rejected the system as there are no (affordable and feasible) solutions in the multi-family home context. Alternatives are compressed air or spring storage systems.

Either way - energy storage always has something to do with mass. At OPENLY, we pay great attention to building the technical rooms as generously as possible in order to be able to install future storage solutions.

Openly operating system

Our everyday life is determined by cell phones and software.

OPENLY is based on digital building technology that allows each room to be individually ventilated (OPENLY AIRBOX©), lit and controlled.

The asymmetrical generation and use of electricity requires clever solutions to consume energy when energy from solar panels is available. The heat pump, household appliances and charging of electric cars takes place when this is the case. This requires software

More information about the OPENLY SYSTEM

For OPENLY Valley Widnau, we used a BUS system from Digitalstrom (similar to the well-known KNX system). The Swiss industry pioneer Cleverson is responsible for the implementation. The Limmat Tower from HALTER with 140 apartments is an impressive example.

Each room can be programmed and controlled via tablet, mobile app, ALEXA or manually via switches. The software measures and controls each room according to the desired CO2, humidity and temperature settings.

Avoidance is also the top priority when it comes to electrical installations. In the OPENLY VALLEY Widnau project, for example, practically no electrical cables (blue hoses) were laid. All push-buttons are wireless (Enocean) and can be extended and replaced as required. The electricity for the luminaires runs "surface-mounted" in copper pipes.

Again, the focus is on adaptability in the future and re-use and value retention of the raw material.

The user interface inspires owners and tenants to track and optimize their own energy consumption. Who is the most efficient tenant/owner in the building?

We are convinced that gamification is much more effective (and entertaining) than legal regulations.

Naturally, only A+ hardware is installed in our buildings.

Some components from the OPENLY Valley Widnau project already come from re-use.

The Swiss innovation leader in the circular economy EBERHARD has built a database for re-use iron beams together with OEBU.

For the OPENLY Valley Widnau project, we purchased around 10 tons of HEB and HEM steel beams that had already been installed once in a building. Of course, our carbon footprint includes transportation from the warehouse and installation.

When designing OPENLYs, attention should be paid to re-use possibilities. For example, 400 tons of clay, 1 kilometer of copper pipes or 300m3 of wooden beams can be used directly in another project without any processing.

The remaining components of the OPENLY construction system are recycled. The word says it all. If you use high-quality materials, they have a value after the end of their useful life. These include raw materials in solar cells or glass, hemp fibers, copper, iron & steel.

The Swiss innovation leader in the circular economy EBERHARD has set up a database for re-use iron girders. OEBU supported the project.

For the project OPENLY Valley Widnau approx. 30 tons of HEB and HEM steel girders were required, of which approx. 1/3 came from re-use.
This means that these steel girders had already been installed in a building or excavation pit.

OPENLY uses these beams as a kind of "plug-in system" for wooden hollow box ceilings that are filled with clay. In this way, the materials are combined in the best possible way - each where it is best and strongest. On the one hand, wood is saved, and on the other hand, jointless and beamless timber ceilings can be created without underlays and overlays.

And best of all: almost CO2 neutral! (thanks to re-use).

Of course, our total carbon footprint includes transportation from the Eberhard warehouse to installation.

More info & pictures of the system