School, Burnhaupt-le-Haut

The new school of Burnhaupt-le-Haut employs an innovative environmental approach. It is the first school in Alsace and the second in France to produce more energy than it consumes. The architect Thomas Weulersse of the Studio d-Form was inspired by the German concept of "Passivhaus",where buildings are so energy efficient they need little or no outside energy source.

The facade clad with ceramic panels. Ventilating and insulating in clay constitutes an ideal principle of construction for the insulation and the protection from the external environment.

A durable and effective insulation contributes to the reduction of the consumption of energy for heating and in air conditioning.

The system of double flow ventilation  is associated with a 15kw wood pellet boiler. The very strong insulation in natural and ecological materials is assured by 46 cm walls and 56 cm roof thicknesses in absorbent cellulose cotton and rigid wood wool. Windows are triple glazed and the roof windows are quadruple glazed. Electrical energy production is guaranteed by the implementation incorporation of 280 m2 of photovoltaic panels exposed facing due south.

These factors provide optimum levels of occupant comfort and operational efficiency.

The heating constant building temperature is assured assisted by three sources of energy:

• the sun, the building are orientated to take advantage of south light and 85% of the south facade consists of big large horizontal glazed  windows,
• a small wood pellet boiler and
• the occupants of the school.

Inma Martin


The new school of Burnhaupt-le-Haut is the first school with positive energy in Alsace and the second in France. The project joins in an innovative environmental approach. The architect Thomas Weulersse of the Studio d-Form was inspired by the German concept of "Passivhaus" so this school produces more energy that the one that it consumes.

The facade clad with ceramic panels, ventilated and insulated in clay constitutes an ideal principe of construction for the insulation and the protection from the external environment.

A durable and effective insulation contributes to the reduction of the consumption in heating and in air conditioning.

The system of ventilation double flow is associated with a boiler in pellet of 15 kW. The very strong insulation in natural and ecological materials is assured by 46 cm walls and 56 cm roof in absorbent cotton of cellulose and wool of stiff wood. Windows are in triple glazing and the windows of roof in quadruple glazing. As for the production in electrical energy, it is guaranteed by the implementation of 280 m2 of the photovoltaic panels exposed due south.

That provide optimun levels of occupant comfort and operational efficiency.

The heater is assured by three sources of energy:

• the sun, the building are orientated to take advantage of south light and 85 % of the south facade consist of big glazed horizontal window,
• a small boiler wood.
• the occupants of the school