JANUARY 08, 2013

Muscat: The GUtech Eco Haus, an upcoming zero energy building, which will be built in Halban on the university's new campus in 2013,  would be based on the concept of a zero energy building. 

The Eco House team of the German University of Technology will present the concept of zero energy building in Oman and the promise it holds for residential purposes at the Gulf Eco Conference 2013. The Gulf Eco Conference 2013 will take place on  January 21-22 alongside the Gulf Eco Expo 2013 at the Oman International Exhibition Centre. 

The basic concept for the GUtech Eco Haus design was initiated by second year students of the Department of Urban Planning and Architectural Design at GUtech. This concept showcases how the next generation of architects envisions architecture should be and was earlier presented at the Oman Eco House Design competition organised by The Research Council (TRC).  

A model of the design was exhibited at Muscat City Center, the prototype of which the GUtech Eco Haus will be based on. Although the construction of Eco Haus will be adapted to site location and climatic conditions, the designs may be applied to any building in Oman. 

Such buildings will serve as a future point of reference, learning, and research into how to improve and develop a sustainable living environment for the citizens of the country.       

At the Gulf Eco Conference 2013, the GUtech Eco House team will highlight the finer points of what a zero building house will entail. This will  involve adaptability to climatic conditions, comfort designs, function, energy saving strategies applied to the design, orientation, materials used, ventilation process and effective use of natural sources of energy like solar energy, wind energy, hydro-energy etc.  

It will also focus on the positive benefits of such houses in terms of cost effectiveness, achieving energy efficiency, generating electricity from renewable energy sources  and bringing about sustainability. 

The GUtech Eco Haus will be constructed throughout 2013 and will be operational in 2014.

© Times of Oman 2013