This demonstration project will build 3 semi-detached social houses on Alonso García Bravo street in Ribera del Fresno (Badajoz).

The houses will develop the usual program of uses. For its construction, natural and recycled mateials will be used, according to the results of the tests carried out in the previous phases of the project.

Due to its status as a demonstrator, one of the houses will be considered a "base house" and will be built with conventional construction materials and technologies. The remaining three houses will be considered "experimental houses" and will use natural and recycled materials. Each of these homes will test a different construction solution. 

So that their exposure to the environment does not interfere with the tests carried out once the houses have been built, the dividing façades at the ends will be built adiabatic, that is, as if they were in contact with a non-heated room.

Objectives of the project.

The main objective of the project is to develop an NZEB building model with a low carbon footprint and low cost (only 25% more expensive than the current average used in the construction of social housing), using green and circular economy criteria, and introducing sustainable building technologies and materials. 

In addition:

• 80% reduction in energy demand during the period of use of the building, compared to the average value of buildings in Spain and Portugal. 
• 20% reduction in the weight of the building, compared to the current construction standard. 
• 60% reduction of embedded energy and CO2 emissions in construction, using natural and recycled materials.   

Design strategies.

Some of the project design strategies are:

• Compactness.
• Thermal inertia.
• Treatment of thermal bridges.
• Crossed ventilation.
• Photovoltaic Solar Energy.
• Large gaps to the SW.
• Shading elements.
• Canadian well.
• Collection of rainwater for later use in irrigation or cisterns. 

Once the construction works are finished, all the homes will have a sensor installation that allows to know the consumption and the values of interior comfort. These sensors will measure the temperature, humidity and quality of the air, as well as the consumption of water and electricity.