Advanced solar low-energy buildings. Task 13 of IEA's solar heating and cooling programme.

The energy consumption for heating has in many countries been greatly reduced over the last few years. This is mostly achieved by the use of traditional energy conservation and solar technologies. The total energy consumption, especially in residential buildings, is, however, still large and warrants considerable effort. To obtain a significant further reduction in the energy consumption for heating, and also to reduce the consumption for cooling, ventilation, and lighting, it has become necessary to develop new building concepts. Such new concepts require the use of new materials, components, and systems.
Recent advances in several areas of research have resulted in concepts and products that can potentially be used. For instance, the developments in material technology, with products such as transparent insulation, is having a considerable impact. The developments in other areas also need to be explored, and the most promising materials, components, and systems need to be analyzed, tested, and developed for the purpose of integrating them in whole building concepts.
The experiences gained and developments made with the various technologies are not automatically available to groups doing research in other areas. A joint project such as an IEA task, with participants with contacts within different fields, therefore greatly increases the possibility that all potentially usable ideas are explored. At the same time the testing facilities and analysis capabilities existing within the various countries can be utilized by the group as a whole.