ABSTRACT
Since some years in Switzerland and Germany databases DIAS and NESA have been developed, aimed at improving the dissemination of knowledge related to passive solar and energy conscious design of buildings [1, 2]. These databases describe in a multimedia way low energy and solar architecture on the respective national platform. In principle similar programs may be put up for every European region.
To improve the exchange between European professionals in the field of energy efficient architecture and to ease the access of building related small and medium size enterprises to the common market an All-European database is to be built by groups from various European countries, i.e. Germany, Switzerland, France, Benelux and the UK. The projected Interactive Database for Energy-efficient Architecture IDEA shall serve technology transfer as well as education. It will visualize information on exemplary buildings, describe both their architectural and energetic concept and show how to successfully transfer ideas from previously realised designs. It will assemble technical information like standards and regulations put in place in European countries and will provide weather data from all European regions. IDEA will integrate calculation tools to evaluate e.g. energy consumption, heat transfer through building components, HVAC-equipment and lighting. Another essential criterion to be investigated is the impact a building executes on the environment. An encyclopaedia will guide the user in a didactic manner all along the way from renewable energy fundamentals to the design of low energy buildings.
