AMSTERDAM — The Ideal Sustainable Home will be constructed for public view at Sustain ‘99, The World Sustainable Energy Fair, May 25-27, 1999, in Amsterdam. The home will be fully fitted with all accessories and latest innovations to demonstrate that clean energy and energy efficiency can be affordable with a higher standard of living.

Apart from the use of PV (photovoltaics), solar thermal water heating, passive glazing and CHP (combined heat and power), the house will take on many energy efficiency techniques, including a low-water washing machine and a rainwater collection system. Furniture and fittings will be produced from sustainable wood and other materials.

The organizers will invite builders and architects from all over the world to see the very best in these practical building techniques. Organizers will also demonstrate how it is possible to build an affordable “Zero Energy” home as well as the high commercial potential for these technologies and methods.

NOVEM-The Netherlands Agency for Energy and Environment, The World Wide Fund for Nature and Stichting Project bureau Duurzame Energie - The Dutch office for the promotion of the use of renewable energy, are all backing this high profile project. The project has also been given particular support from Greenpeace as part of its public solar energy promotional campaign. REMU, the electricity supplier in central Holland, will assist coordination of the project and will consult on all energy issues.

This architecturally designed house will be built inside the exhibition hall, is targeted to appeal as a desirable “above average” middle European family home and will be available for sale.

The project is being coordinated by Ecofys, one of the international consultancies working in energy in buildings, and will be built by one of the largest construction consortiums in The Netherlands, NBM-Amstelland. The house will be relocated after the fair in the major housing project at Leidsche Rijn near Utrecht.