Deși proiectele "net zero" au creat de o mulțime de agitatie în ultimul timp în domeniul construcțiilor verzi, orașul solar Sonnenschiff din Freiburg, Germania se incadreaza in acest scenariu

Orașul autonom indeplineste aceste aspecte prin designul solar inteligent și o mulțime de panouri fotovoltaice indreptate în direcția cea bună.

Proiectul este realizat de Rolf Disch, Sonnenschiff (Solar Ship) și Solarsiedlung (Solar Village) care sublinia producția de energie de la început prin încorporarea inteligenta a o serie de acoperișuri ce prezentau generatoare solare mari.

Clădirile sunt, de asemenea, construite la standarde Passivhaus, ce permit proiectului sa produca de patru ori cantitatea de energie pe care o consumă!

The project started out as a vision for an entire community — the medium-density project balances size, accessibility, green space, and solar exposure. In all, 52 homes make up a neighborhood anchored to Sonnenschiff, a mixed-use residential and commercial building that emphasizes livability with a minimal footprint. Advanced technologies like phase-change materials and vacuum insulation significantly boost the thermal performance of the building’s wall system.

The penthouses on top of the Sonnenschiff have access to rooftop gardens that make full use of all available solar resources. The rooftops feature a rainwater recycling system that irrigates the gardens and supplies the toilets with greywater.

The project also makes use of a woodchip boiler for heat in the winter, further decreasing its environmental footprint. Advanced technologies like phase-change materials and vacuum insulation significantly boost the thermal performance of the buildings' wall systems.

Smart orientation was a key strategy used to maximize energy efficiency. The buildings are separated so as to provide sufficient light to the lower floors in the winter months.

Triple-pane windows allow for a lot of glazing without the heat loss penalty.

The project's interior spaces have a lot of natural light (note the lights are not on in this office).

Pedestrian access is provided throughout the entire neighborhood.