The buildings-sector on one hand makes up 40% of EU's energy consumption. On the other it has an important potential for energy efficiency enhancements. As heating requires the biggest part of the total energy demand for dwellings in South Tyrol, low energy houses and passive houses (building stock: 210 kWh/(m²a), low energy house: 30 kWh/(m²a), passive house: 20 kWh/(m²a)) tackle a major Step towards the reduction of energy needs. Since passive house concept and erection are, at least in our region, not yet daily practice it is suitable to evaluate the buildings energy performance and living comfort.

The EURAC accomplishes a 2 years monitoring campaign of one of Italy's first multiple family passive houses. Main goal of the monitoring is the evaluation of the energy consumption of the building and of the obtained living comfort. Therefore on one hand the design and real figures will be compared and the reaching of passive house standard verified,

on the other hand measured data will be the base for optimization in case of deviation. Finally the results of the monitoring will be compared to those of other monitored passive houses in Europe.

The energy demand (heating, electricity, hot water) of each dwelling unit is measured such as the obtained living comfort (Temperature, humidity, CO2). Further the total heating and electricity energy demand of the building will be detected and the efficiency of heat recovery, of the pellet boiler and of geothermal supply air preheating/precooling quantified.

Additionally regular surveys of inhabitant's satisfaction will take place.

The monitoring campaign started in June 2006 and will last 2 years. The first  results have been presented on the "International Passive House Conference" mid of April 2007. A current major step in the project is the elaboration of a TRNSYS simulation model in order to facilitate the understanding of the buildings behaviour.