More than 8,500 m2 that is designed to produce and consume energy in a sustainable way. In Ettelbruck, Luxembourg's National School of Health has launched a pilot project that has won numerous awards for its energy model.
The Luxembourg National School of Health’s pilot project is certified by the Swiss "Minergie-A-ECO", which stipulates very strict standards for energy efficiency and the comfort of a building. In addition, this certification requires the use of environmentally friendly materials and prohibits the use of harmful products in construction.
Martine Schmitt, architect at the Luxembourg Public Building Administration, explains that "throughout the construction process and at every stage, we try to challenge, minimise and optimise. For example, photovoltaic panels form the entire roof. There is no roof deck underneath, so this element is really integrated into the building". Inside, she explains, "we have replaced the plasterboard (plaster panels) and replaced it with clay panels, which are more environmentally friendly". According to Schmitt, this allows "the building to breathe and react well to indoor humidity, ensuring users are in optimal comfort".
Although work on this 8,555 square metre building was completed in 2019, its features continue to spawn interest. Schmitt reminds us that "it has won European awards, including a European award for the integration of renewable energies. It has also won the Luxembourg prize in the European category for timber construction. So, even after a few years in service, it’s a building about which we still receive enquiries and people come to visit because they want more information about it.