Build my new home: step-by-step

Contacts

www.oai.lu

www.guideoai.lu

www.architectour.lu

Basic principles of new construction

Choosing a location

• Is the commute from my home to work reasonable?
• Is the site well served by public transport?
• Are there social and cultural facilities nearby?
• Has the site been examined for noise, air and soil pollution and flood risk?
• Is the estate in an area where geothermal drilling is permitted?
• I consult the geoportail.lu to analyse various maps and images of the housing area beforehand.

Orientation and compactness

• Does the building face south and/or are there large glass facades on the south side?
• The right orientation of the building and its compactness are decisive for the planning of an energy-efficient building.
• If there are large areas of glass, have I planned for external shading systems to ensure a suitable room temperature in summer?
• Have I considered compact construction to reduce heat loss?
• Will the use of solar energy, if any, be obstructed by the shade of nearby trees or objects, or by the topography?
• A visit to the building site in winter can provide an initial assessment of shading.

Types of construction

• Have the advantages and disadvantages of the different types of construction (wooden, solid, hybrid) been explained to me by the planner?

Sustainability

• Did the planner inform me about the sustainability of the building materials and did I opt for sustainable and renewable materials?
• Building and insulation materials made from renewable raw materials and mechanical fixation are the most important characteristics of a sustainable new building!
• Have I ensured that the building materials can be dismantled in order to separate, sort and reuse the materials in the event of future dismantling of the building?

Heat pump

• Have I found out about the permits required for geothermal drilling on my property to install probes?
• The installation of a separate electricity meter to monitor the energy consumption of the heat pump is a requirement for the granting of state subsidies.

Heating with wood

• I am planning to use a pellet stove, have I thought about providing sufficient space for the fuel supply, boiler and heat storage unit in the building?

Solar thermal system

• Are the orientation and inclination of the roof suitable for a solar thermal system, and is there a risk of shading?
• If I use Solar Keymark-certified solar panels and an integrated calorimeter to count the solar energy produced, I am entitled to state subsidies.

Photovoltaic installation

• Is the orientation and slope of the roof suitable for a photovoltaic system, and is there a risk of shading?
• If a photovoltaic system is not planned, at least one conduit must be provided that can accommodate electrical wiring suitable for such an installation at a later stage.
• I have the possibility to consume the electricity produced by my photovoltaic system myself!

Ventilation system

• Is the fresh air input in the right place?
• The fresh air should come from a place with the best possible air quality and the coolest possible temperature. This means, for example, a place away from the road, parking spaces, waste bins, etc. and preferably not on the roof or at ground level.
• Have I ensured that the supply and return air outlets in the house are correctly positioned?
• I make sure that the supply and return air outlets are not blocked by furniture or other objects. I certainly do not place seats or beds near the air outlets!
• Is the comfort ventilation system easily accessible so that the filter can be changed easily?
• Is the required air output and pressure loss calculated?
• Is the control panel of the comfort ventilation system easily accessible and is it possible to define individual programme settings for the day?
• Is the ventilation unit installed in the thermal insulation?
• Are the ducts or the ventilation boxes arranged in such a way that they can be easily cleaned?
• Is the noise protection respected?
• Undesirable air flow noises and vibrations can be avoided in good time with optimal planning.
• When planning the comfort ventilation system, have I considered installing an air-to-soil heat exchanger (Canadian well)?
• The air-to-ground heat exchanger improves the efficiency of the comfort ventilation system in winter and can prevent overheating of the house in summer.

Electromobility

• Am I planning to install a charging station for electric cars?
• I coordinate with my electrician to ensure that my installation meets all the standards and requirements of the network operator!
• If I am not planning to install a charging station at the moment, I still need to provide empty conduits for the electricity as well as for the data connection cables between your smart meter and the charging station later.
• Do I plan to power my electric car with my own electricity, produced by my photovoltaic panels?
• I make sure that my charging starion station is equipped with a communication gateway (LAN, Wifi, GPRS), to facilitate self-consumption!

Smart home

• Do I want to build a "smart" house, in other words, do I plan to have an intelligent management system networking home automation technologies and household equipment in order to increase the quality of life and living, security and energy efficiency?
• Have I thought about equipping all the rooms in my home with a high-speed internet connection?
• And don't forget the internet access in the technical room.