First building to be heated and cooled thanks to the action of microalgae.
Technology advances and is increasingly surprising in the world of architecture. In Germany the first building with cooling with algae, new technology for buildings where they are heated and cool thanks to the action of microalgae with the help of the Sun. So now we have another way to save on heating for the winter.
Technology is advancing by giant steps and new ways of heating homes in a more optimized way appear to the benefit of leaving more common ones such as heating by diesel or gas that are more polluting.
We moved to Hamburg to see the first “green” building (four floors and fifteen apartments) called BIQ (Bio INtelligent Quotient) which has "bioreactive" facades, made up of glass panels filled with microalgae (no larger than bacteria), which are grown on the basis of light, water, nutrients, and carbon dioxide. The microalgae are cultivated in the glass elements that make up their «bio skin». These are used to produce energy, and they can also control light and shade.
The microalgae allow the building to supply its own energy. The only thing that algae have to do is simply grow with the help of light. This type of facade is the first in the world applying the latest energy technology.
To understand more clearly the process that microalgae carry out, we leave this video.
How does algae cooling work?
The façades of the building that give the sun are covered by a type of honeycombs that contain algae in water (Bioreactor Panels). The algae are fed by liquid nutrients and CO2 produced by the building, in addition to sunlight. And all they have to do is grow.
Once the algae have grown sufficient, they can be harvested.The algae are transported through the building canals to a processing plant that separates the "biomass" and transforms it into methane gas, plus other fuel oils (they produce up to 5 times more biomass per area than land plants), that is the first source of energy. The second is taken from solar thermal heat captured by the water itself contained in the panels, which is then used for heating and hot water. In addition, when the algae grow, they provide shade and acoustic insulation. (Actually the image displayed below is interactive from HERE)
Is this innovative system expensive?
Like all new technology, the price skyrockets. The construction of the BIQ Building cost 6.5 Million dollars, a disproportionate price for the building's surface, but we must recognize that progress is a necessity and that, like any energy production system, costs will be reduced over time, or we hope so.
Can it be applied in any building?
Yes, both in new and existing ones. Initially it is better for buildings that need a constant demand for heat, industrial facilities, hotels … etc.
Disadvantages of algae heat?
The colder the worse, since energy production is limited. Another issue is that the facility requires a complete building remodel.
Advantages of the algae system?
Initially as a technology, it directly complements photovoltaic cells that are having a true technological revolution in recent years. This technology links the flows of carbon emissions, heat, water and biomass to create closed cycles that create sustainable energy.
Of course we are facing a system that will give much to talk about and a new way of understanding green building from a more lively perspective.
To access the Project… BIQ - Bio INtelligent Quotient (In German)
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Links of interest:
- The sunning. Practical case
- How color affects architecture.
- Natural lighting.
- Building efficiency improvement.
- Architecture with containers.
- Wood and architecture. (More than 30 manuals)
