• Renovation of 700 apartments built in the 1970s
• Renewable energy
  • Solar collectors
  • solar cells
• Local rainwater treatment
• Heat recovery
• Replacement of direct electricity heating system by bio-fuel district heating
• Improvements to building envelopes
  • insulation
  • windows
  • doors
  • roofs
• Choice of materials from a LCC perspective.

Renovation, with a focus on the environment, of 700 apartments erected 1972-78 in, Österäng, Kristianstad, Sweden. The apartments are owned by the Municipal housing company of Kristianstad, ABK.

The production costs were 134 million SEK (around €15 million) and the cost for renovating the whole area was about 500 million SEK (around €55,5million).

At the time when it was decided to renovate them, the multifamily houses had at the technical defects of different kinds such as:

• concrete of low quality
• leaking roofs
• deficits in the drainage system
• rotten windows and doors
• moisture-problems in bathrooms
• PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), asbestos, moisture and mould
• In addition, the housing area had a generally negative reputation.

Renovation

Design

The consultants involved in the renovation project were highly qualified in their special areas. In the first phase, the renovation did not include life cycle costing (LCC). However, in later phases ( the northern part) there was a clear focus on sustainability, ecological, social and economic aspects.

Procurement

The client/manager, ABK, chosen to “steer” the single contractor in its use of architecture, choice of materials and technical solutions. Among other things, ABK has a document setting out environmental and quality requirements (ABK:S Miljö& Kvalitetskrav which is based on experience from it´s own construction and management experience.

Implementation

Features included solar collectors, solar cells, local treatment of rainwater, heat recovery and broadband. There was also a focus on the social life between the buildings and on accessibility.

Renovation

Dangerous materials for example asbestos, PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) were replaced. The direct electric heating system was replaced by biofuel-based district heating. The building were given extra insulation ( new windows, doors and roofs). Materials were chosen from a LCC perspective.

Demolition

The procurement procedure included requirements on environmental management systems according to SS-EN ISO 14001 and /or EMAS, a environmental plan suitable for the project including a plan to minimise waste and to take care of waste products. The contractor had special insurance covering environmental harm.

Management

Feedback control for installations