Osaka Gas Experimental Residential Complex

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Remodeling Experiment | Outline of Phase 2 Experiments |

Outline of Phase 2 Experiments

Framework of Experiments

1. A Highly Efficient Energy System
   • Energy System for Whole Building by Small-size co-generation System
   • Cogeneration System with Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell
2. Promoting Ways of Living in Harmony with Nature
   • Energy Information-providing System
   • Coexistence between Humans and Nature
3. Recycling of Waste
   • Kitchen Garbage and Wastewater Treatment System(AQUALOOP SYSTEM)
4. Ensuring a Highly Flexible Architectural System
   • Long-term durability of the Basic Building Structure.
   • Experimental Housing Remodeling
5. Using Construction Materials and equipment that are Gentle to Peoples and the Earth.
6. Forming a New Urban Community
   • Three-dimensional Street
   • Improvement of the Residential Environment by Residents
7. Proposing a Housing Plan Responding to a Society with Declining Birthrate and Aging Population
   • Housing Plan by Using a method called "Scenario Approach"
   • Proposal of Houses Supportive to the Elderly
8. Providing Equipment that Contributes to Comfortable Life
   • 24-hour Ventilation and Air-conditioning System
   • Floor Heating, Heating and Drying Equipment in the Bathroom, Dish washer
   • Condensing CH Boiler

Schedule
From April 2000: Phase-2 experiments with monitor residents

Energy System for Whole Building by Small-size co-generation System

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Throughout the year, water is preheated in the hot water tank. In winter, recovered heat will be used to heat water for room heating. A newly developed heat storage absorption type-refrigerating machine is installed to utilize waste heat during the summer. Through the system, the usage of waste heat is leveled out throughout the year.

Energy Information-providing System

Provision of information regarding energy consumption Residents will be informed of the amounts of energy consumed in the housing. They will be urged to make their efforts toward energy savings by making a comparison of energy consumption or learning the cumulative amount of energy consumed.

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It is impossible for people to live without energy consumption. By providing end users with energy-related information, such as the amounts of energy consumed by individuals and the increase/decrease of energy consumption from the previous year, Osaka Gas raises the awareness of consumers regarding the use of limited energy sources.

Improvement of the Residential Environment by Residents

Relationship between residents and the residential environment is important in maintaining better residential environment. Residents' attachment to their residence and their active involvement in building management will improve their residential environment. In Phase 2, focus was on the creation of a new community, relationship between residents and residential environment. Surveys were conducted on the evaluation of residential environment, including building and green areas, and how to create a new community as well as evaluations on each residential unit. Before moving into the complex, residents met to talk about how to manage three-dimensional streets and green areas and how to create and manage a better residential environment. Residents were given further opportunities to hold meetings and carry out cooperative work to improve and maintain their residential environment.

Remodeling

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The residential unit 404 called "the Three-generation Family House" underwent major renovation to divide it into two units. On the assumption that young families would live there, these units were named 404 "Woody House" and 405 "the Next-generation family house". A 3-dimensional street was established, and external walls were newly constructed between the two units. In unit No.404 on the north side of the building, almost all the infill was recycled, and in unit No.405 on the south side all the infill was disposed of and a completely new housing plant was used with the moving of the exterior wall minimized.

Customized Housing Planning ---- A method called scenario approach, with more emphasis on individuals, is used in the housing plan. Given the current social climate where people are living longer and having fewer children, an increasing number of women are joining the workforce, and the number of single-person households is rising, the potential future household will be elderly households, single-person households, working couples households and communal households made up of single people. In the remodeling of unit No.405, a movable partition and other systems were installed to create a living environment with added flexibility. Targeted were the husbands and wives from five sets of working couples. They were each asked to draw up possible scenarios for their lives today and the lives they expect to be living 10 years from now. The unit was remodeled so as to respond to their scenarios.

• Unit No. 405 "the Next-generation Family House"
  In this housing plan, a working couple can have rooms for individuals and share a bedroom and dining room.
  It is assumed that private rooms allotted to husband and wife respectively would be used as offices, and so
  their private rooms have entrances linked directly to the outdoors. Such privately situated rooms also enable
  single people to live together.

  Working parents with children plan	Communal living for single people plan	Open plan for an elderly community
  Both the parents and the children have their own private rooms. If there is only one child, then the other room can be used as the parent's bedroom or a dining room. If there are two children, then the parent's bedrooms can be used for two children's bedrooms.	When single people live together, the very privately situated rooms are used by�@individuals, while the living room, kitchen and bathroom are shared.	By moving the kitchen, a single elderly person can use the private room on the north side while the living room is open the outside world so that the residence can serve the local community. A private living room is maintained as well.
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