Villa Alpes-Maritimes
France
View picturesEnergy-efficient construction is about much more than simply adding sufficient insulation. An energy-efficient home starts with a well-designed building envelope that limits heat loss, ensures good airtightness and structurally reduces the energy required for heating and cooling.
With SISMO building technology, insulation and structure are combined from the very beginning. Once the concrete has been poured, the SISMO modules form a strong, insulated structure with a high insulation value and excellent thermal properties.
This makes SISMO an efficient foundation for anyone looking to build energy-efficiently and create a sustainable building that is ready for today’s and tomorrow’s energy requirements.
Energy-efficient construction primarily focuses on reducing the amount of energy a building requires. Only then do we consider how the remaining energy demand can be met as efficiently and sustainably as possible.
An energy-efficient home therefore combines several principles:
This approach follows the principles of the Trias Energetica: first reduce energy demand, then use renewable energy sources and finally meet the remaining energy requirements as efficiently as possible.
The construction method plays a fundamental role. A building that is well insulated and airtight from the outset requires significantly less energy to maintain a comfortable indoor climate.
With SISMO, energy efficiency is not something that is added to the building afterwards. Insulation is an integral part of the building system itself.
The SISMO module consists of a three-dimensional galvanised steel lattice into which infill panels are inserted. The space between them is then filled with concrete. Insulating panels can be used for exterior walls, creating a permanently insulated structure.
This provides several advantages:
As a result, a SISMO building can operate energy-efficiently in both hot and cold climates. The need for heating and cooling is reduced, while indoor comfort increases.
Anyone looking to build energy-efficiently needs to consider more than insulation values alone. Airtightness and thermal inertia also determine how much energy a building ultimately consumes.
Good airtightness prevents heated or cooled air from escaping uncontrollably through gaps in the building. Combined with a controlled ventilation system, indoor air quality can be precisely managed without unnecessary heat loss.
SISMO adds the thermal mass of concrete to this equation. It helps reduce temperature fluctuations inside the building. During hot periods, the structure can absorb heat, helping to limit overheating. When outdoor temperatures fall, the stored heat helps maintain a stable indoor temperature for longer.
The result is a comfortable indoor climate with less need for active heating and cooling.
Energy requirements for new buildings are becoming increasingly stringent. Nearly zero-energy buildings combine high levels of insulation and airtightness with efficient ventilation and a very low overall energy demand.
For projects aiming to go even further towards zero-energy construction or passive house standards, a high-performance building envelope is the essential starting point. The less energy is lost through walls, floors, roofs and windows, the lower the remaining energy demand.
SISMO provides a strong foundation for this. The final energy performance can then be further optimised using technologies such as:
This allows SISMO to be integrated into projects designed to achieve nearly zero-energy or even fully energy-neutral performance.
SISMO’s performance comes from the intelligent combination of different materials.
Galvanised steel forms the three-dimensional lattice of the module and holds the infill panels in place. These panels can be adapted to the required application and insulation performance. The central cavity is then filled with structural material, typically concrete.
This combines structure and insulation within a single construction process.
The high thermal mass of the concrete is an important complement to the insulation. A building that is highly insulated but lacks sufficient thermal inertia can still overheat quickly during hot summer days. Thermal inertia helps reduce these temperature fluctuations.
Combined with intelligent orientation, suitable glazing and external solar shading, this creates a sustainable building that remains comfortable in different climates.
For architects, contractors and developers, energy-efficient construction is not only about reducing energy bills. An efficient construction process, predictable performance and design freedom are equally important.
SISMO combines these characteristics:
Because SISMO helps reduce energy demand at its source, heating and cooling systems can also be dimensioned more efficiently. This can reduce both energy consumption and operating costs over the long term.
Nearly zero-energy construction is no longer the exception. Standards are becoming stricter, fossil fuels are playing a decreasing role and buildings need to provide greater comfort while using less energy.
The most efficient approach does not begin with a larger heat pump or more solar panels, but with the building itself.
By first providing high-quality insulation, avoiding thermal bridges and achieving good airtightness, energy demand can be structurally reduced. Renewable energy and energy-efficient systems can then meet the remaining demand.
With its permanent insulation, airtight construction and thermal inertia, SISMO provides a strong foundation for energy-efficient, nearly zero-energy and zero-energy buildings.
