South Tyrol (Italy) and the Region of Lower Saxonia (Germany)

The initiative is pursuing its objective to build low-cost and low energy housing for the poor in developing countries. The majority of them are not able to purchase the necessary energy at a reasonable price. In addition, they live in homes with poor thermal insulation that need more energy than a regular house does.

The cooperation is based on the idea of passing on the expertise acquired in South Tyrol, as far as lowering the energy need in the domestic sector is concerned, to free them from fossil fuel dependency. Lower Saxonia provided their experience from their connections with different regions in Africa. South Tyrol transferred their knowledge of ‘KlimaHouse’, which is based mainly on the dissemination of the concept and the building’s certification.

The energy consumed in the private sector, mainly in the domestic arena, represents the major part of consumed energy.

A range of views:

Global: no additional CO2 emissions will occur and so does not increase global warming because no fossil fuels are used. However, an increment of living standards and comfort simultaneously happens.

Regional: poor countries have few oil reserves. Furthermore the coal, available in some regions, is a fossil fuel, which in the future should not be used on a large scale. So no extra dependency on fossil fuels would occur.

Individual: constantly increasing costs for energy from fossil fuels are a huge problem, particularly for the poor. The economic difference between rich and poor will become even greater if no new way is found to help them.
This cooperative initiative helps local actions solve global problems. It is important to realise that everybody involved will succeed. It is a win-win situation if it is followed step by step. The recognition of local benefits always stimulates people into action.

To succeed, we need to deal with the following two sectors:

Firstly, the technical and construction side of the houses: this means high insulating panels are the base for lowering the need for energy. The panels are used as a sandwich with two metallic sheets on the external sides and with foamed plastic as an insulating material. Even if this is made from fossil origins, it is a starting point which will be further developed with locally available renewable materials. Technically speaking, there is still a lot to solve: thermal bridges, wasting energy, hygienic-sanitary conditions, a availability of electricity and water, waste conditions and more.

Secondly, the human and social side of the project: our goal is not to encourage European exports to poor countries, but to solve the need for housing in these regions and satisfy the social aspirations. This means low cost for acquisition and maintenance, but it also takes into account social aspects and customs. The only way to fulfil the needs of local residents and increase their sense of self-esteem is to develop a new identity in their own social milieu. This way, the initiative will be accepted by everyone. When you possess your own quality home, it gives you an idea about the social status of the owner. These are the prerequisites needed to start a professional career and a family life.

The aforementioned viewpoints have to be developed independently from each other, but must be well coordinated. The success of each step will be the responsibility of the working teams in place.

Next steps:

The technical level: There are units available at 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 m². To envisage the actual houses on the specific sites, we need more information to meet the needs and characteristics of the areas where the houses will be built:

• Doors, windows and other components should be available locally, but have to meet specific criteria.

• The interior ventilation system has to satisfy cooling and heating requirements and have to be in line with microclimatic conditions.

• Sanitary facilities must fit local existing infrastructures of waste, water or other elements.

• No specific preparation of the basement is needed where the house will be built.

• A unit of 30 m² can be built by two skilled people in just two hours; no specific tools, no cranes or lifting gears are required except for one wrench, one measuring tape, one spirit level and one ladder.

This project mostly uses locally available materials and local renewable energy supply. Its objective is to help poor regions become autonomous. The transfer of know-how from the two European regions will be the start of a similar development in every country where energy savings and low-cost structures are needed.

Especially the 20 m² unit can be used after catastrophic events like earthquakes and floods, because the technical characteristics are suitable for these requirements. It is for all these reasons that this range of housing goes someway to meeting current needs and the needs that we can expect of people in a future, altered by climate change, in the poorest areas of the world.