THE AUTONOMOUS OFFICE

 

The Autonomous Office is a project located in the Science and Technology Park at Gijon, in Asturias (Spain). This Park is the location of reference in Gijon destined for the establishment of knowledge-intensive companies, the performance of R&D&i activities and the development of new pathways for technology transfer.

 

The objective of the “Autonomous Office” project is the construction of a sustainable, energetically selfsufficient building which will reduce the environmental footprint to a minimum; for this reason it has been awarded the LEED Platinum Certificate.

 

Data:

• Total Area - 422 M²
• Electricity generated in 35 years  - 310,428 kWh
• Total lighting points operating 4 hours per day in 35 years - 610 lighting points
• CO₂ emmisions avoided in 35 years - 208 Tons of CO₂
• Barrels of oil saved in 35 years - 183 barrels per m²

 

 

The development company for the construction of the building is Biogas Fuel Cell (BFC), devoted to the recovery and management of organic waste by its transformation into biogas

 

Onyx Solar® is participating with the installation in the building of various integrated photovoltaic solutions, which are the main source of power generation. Thus, by replacing traditional building materials with multi-purpose photovoltaic materials, in addition to creating clean, cost-free electricity from the sun, the power requirements of the air handling and lighting systems are also reduced by controlling the sunlight and increasing thermal and acoustic insulation.

 

The photovoltaic technology employed on two of the façades of this building is CIGS technology (Copper, Indium, Gallium and Selenium), which produces a peak installed power of 24.5 kWp and which will generate 10,686 kWh per year. It will also prevent the release of 3 tons of CO₂ into the atmosphere.

 

The project is co-financed by the European Union via the LIFE+ programme in the thematic field of Environmental Policy and Governance (LIFE11 ENV/ES/000622).