HELTH
Healthy and Energy-efficient Living in Traditional Rural Houses
- Thematic cluster:
- Cultural heritage Green energy
- Programme:
- Central Baltic Programme
- Priority:
- 3. Attractive and dynamic societies
- Direction of support:
- Improving living conditions and social inclusion
- Duration:
- May 2010 - Aug 2013 (3 years, 4 months)
- Total funding:
- 1 003 330 €
- ERDF funding:
- 811 747 €
- EUSBSR Priority area
- Improving and promoting people’s health, including its social aspects
Improving the access to, and the efficiency and security of the energy markets
- Website:
- http://helthproject.eu/
Development idea
The way of life and the methods for heating houses have changed over the years. Modern people have various requirements when it comes to the comfort, function and energy efficiency of houses. Modern ways of heating change the indoor climate of a house, potentially leading to moisture as well as the risk of water vapour condensation and mould, which have an impact on the durability and quality of both wooden and stone houses.
Aim of the project
The HELTH project has developed optimal solutions concerning how traditional rural houses may be renovated to achieve healthy and energy-efficient living conditions.
Main project activities
Researchers analysed different heating and ventilation strategies to reduce fuel usage and carbon emissions in addition to guaranteeing an effective and healthy indoor climate, longer durability and better energy performance. By creating simulation software, researchers were able to find out the influence of renovation solutions on the indoor climate, energy efficiency and hydrothermal performance. The project has also organised training e.g. for homeowners relating to how they can use their houses in more energy-efficient ways and how they could renovate their old houses by respecting the values of them.
Partners
Estonian Open Air Museum
- Country:
- Estonia
- Region:
- Põhja-Eesti
- ERDF funding:
- 222 673 €
- Amount of eligible national funding:
- 39 294 €
Tallinn University of Technology
- Country:
- Estonia
- Region:
- Põhja-Eesti
- ERDF funding:
- 212 433 €
- Amount of eligible national funding:
- 37 486 €
Harju County Museum
- Country:
- Estonia
- Region:
- Põhja-Eesti
- ERDF funding:
- 68 501 €
- Amount of eligible national funding:
- 12 088 €
Gotland University
- Country:
- Sweden
- Region:
- Gotland
- ERDF funding:
- 158 140 €
- Amount of eligible national funding:
- 52 716 €
Aalto University
- Country:
- Finland
- Region:
- Uusimaa
- ERDF funding:
- 150 000 €
- Amount of eligible national funding:
- 50 000 €
Results
Reseach report on energy efficiency of old rural houses
The research focused on the indoor climate and the energy efficiency of old rural houses to find suitable renovation solutions.
HELTH project scientific research is reported in the following technical papers:
1) Renovation alternatives to improve energy performance of historic rural houses in the Baltic Sea region. 2) Air tightness, air exchange and energy performance in historic residential buildings with different structures, 3) Indoor hydro thermal condition and user satisfaction in naturally ventilated historic houses in temperate, humid continental climate around Baltic Sea, 4) Indoor Climate and Humidity Loads in Old Rural Houses with Different Usage Profiles, 5) Energy Performance of Renovation Alternatives of Traditional Rural Houses in Estonia, and 6) Field Study of Airtightness of Traditional Rural Houses in Estonia. Furthermore, two reports on studied houses were published as well as about biodegradation of structures and materials.
A compilation of the above-mentioned articles (ENG)
Healthy and Energy-efficient living in Traditional Rural Houses - Technical survey of Finnish houses (ENG)
Healthy and Energy-efficient living in Traditional Rural Houses - Technical survey of Estonian houses (ENG)
Healthy and Energy-efficient Living in Traditional Rural Houses - Biodegradation of structures and materials (ENG)
Book "The Values in an Old Rural House"
The publication introduces how old rural houses can be valued and renovated.
The purpose of the book is to demonstrate and explain the grounds for assessing values of old rural houses through specific examples as well as to show the plurality of assessments and to introduce renovation solutions based on them.
