Turning the urbanization challenge into a solution
With 180,000 people worldwide moving to cities every day, the search for new solutions to housing issues intensifies. On top of solving the challenge of space, we also need to make sure that new housing solutions are attractive, efficient and gentler on the environment.
Finding a sustainable answer to today’s urbanization challenge means exploring the undiscovered resources in our cities.
Students are amongst the first to experience the challenges of finding a place to live in an undersupplied market. In fact, rising urbanization in Europe’s major cities will leave a projected shortfall of more than four million beds by 2025.
The Urban Rigger student housing project is an example of how architects and engineers working together can make a real difference to life in a growing city. Like placing buildings on water, rather than land. Developed by Udvikling Danmark in close collaboration with Bjarke Ingels and architects from BIG, Danfoss and other companies, these floating dorms are an ambitious attempt to meet the student housing challenge.
Rigger leaves a minimal CO2 footprint
Made from upcycled shipping containers, construction of the prototype was finished in the summer of 2016, and the Rigger is now located in Copenhagen’s harbor. Along with its modern style, its green benefits can also make people feel good about living there. “As the ultimate symbol of hedonistic sustainability, the students can take long, warm showers without feeling guilty,” says Bjarke Ingels, Founder & Creative Partner, BIG. “Today, sustainable is almost another word for common sense, or making things practical and smart. Companies like Danfoss have pioneered innovation and made cutting-edge technology available,” Bjarke Ingels adds.
Free and clean heating source
Danfoss has played an important role in the Rigger’s heating and ventilation infrastructure. Technologies like heat pumps, hydronic floor heating and heat recovery ventilation help ensure an ideal indoor climate is maintained, while also contributing to the Urban Rigger’s objective of a minimal CO2 footprint.
The Urban Rigger’s so-called “Hydro Source Heating” is an efficient, economical and sustainable solution that uses surrounding water as a free and clean heating source. The heat pump ensures that 75% of the energy for heating and hot water is extracted from the sea. Together with solar panels, this means the Danfoss 13KW heat pump uses very little electricity. Additionally, the Rigger’s ventilation unit removes stale air and supplies constant fresh air, while minimizing heat loss with up to 95% heat recovery.
| We have come to associate buildings with land, but could urban water areas be at least part of the answer to the world’s growing housing shortage? The potential is clear. |
- Around the world urban areas need to accommodate 180,000 new residents every day
- In Europe's major cities alone, there's a projected shortfall of more than 4 million student beds by 2025
- Today buildings account for 40% of the world's energy consumption and 1/3 of the CO2 emissions.
With Danfoss solutions for Urban Rigger:
- 75% of the energy for heating and hot water is extracted from the sea
- 15% energy consumption is saved with light floor heating
- Up to 95% of heat is recovered through the ventilation system
By using only 5% of urban water perimeter of 20 European cities, we can:
- Create 169,500 student homes with 14,100 Urban Riggers
- Save 855 GWh energy per year, the equivalent of the energy consumed by an European city with 42,000 citizens
- Reduce CO2 emissions with 170 kt CO2 per year, the equivalent of 90,000 EU passenger cars
Smart energy solutions for the homes of tomorrow
In Urban Rigger, we put our expertise and sustainable solutions to the test. Watch the video and see how we implemented some of our innovative solutions to make the Urban Rigger as sustainable as possible.
The Urban Rigger uses so-called “Hydro Source Heating”. This is an efficient, economical and sustainable solution that uses the surrounding water as a free and clean heating source. Together with solar panels, it ensures the Danfoss 13KW heat pump functions with very little electricity.
Danfoss has played an important role in implementing the Rigger’s heating and ventilation infrastructure. For example, by implementing our best-in-class floor heating technology, which ensure a comfortable indoor-climate.
We have implemented an innovative recovery ventilation unit which removes stale air and supplies constant fresh air while keeping associated heat loss to a minimum with up to 95% heat recovery.
Bringing sustainable student accommodation to European harbors
Start your career by engineering tomorrow
Tomorrow’s breakthrough innovation depends on inquiring minds committed to engineering smarter cities
Watch the video to learn about our solutions for the Urban Rigger and discover what it means to engineer tomorrow.
The UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs has estimated that by 2050, the world’s population will reach about 9.8 billion – nearly 70% of whom will live in cities.
And the cities are what we need to focus on to reach the goals of the Paris agreement, which sets out a framework to keep global warming below 2 degrees Celsius.
Explore our theme site on urban efficiency and discover why it’s the most effective way to turn the challenges of our cities into opportunities.
Go to Urban Efficiency site
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