Powerhouse represents a collaboration in the development of climate buildings, and consists of the entrepreneur and project developer Skanska, the environmental organization ZERO, and Snøhetta architecture and design office.
The objective of the Powerhouse collaboration is to be the most climate-ambitious player in the construction sector. We have noted the increasing focus on the climate. In the autumn of 2019, Powerhouse launched a new standard for future-proof buildings, called Powerhouse Paris Proof. The standard is based on the Paris Agreement’s 1.5-degree objective and sets a cap for total greenhouse gas emissions for a building throughout its lifespan. Another underlying requirement is that the building must be constructed as an energy-positive building.
The first project realised by the collaboration partners was Powerhouse Kjørbo, located in Sandvika outside Oslo, Norway. This was the first energy-positive building in Norway, and probably the first renovated energy-positive building in the world. ZEB (The Research Centre on Zero Emission Buildings) and Enova have been important partners to realise the project.
The Powerhouse Drøbak Montessori School was completed in the spring of 2018. In an effort to improve understanding and to exploit new and existing technology in buildings and construction, the Powerhouse collaboration developed the Smart by Powerhouse guide in 2018. The guide explains different levels of smart buildings and provides invaluable input in a design phase where the objective is to identify the right technology for the right ambition.
Powerhouse Brattørkaia opened its doors to the world in August 2019. You can also find Powerhouse Puls here, an exhibition centre for future-proof buildings.
