VELUX Modular Skylights with electrochromic glazing can reduce the need for air conditioning by 52 days per year. VELUX Commercial and SageGlass, Saint-Gobain have provided a high-performance solution for a new headquarter for ACTIS in France. A 3rd party study confirms the energy saving potential.
VELUX Commercial and SageGlass (Saint-Gobain Group) collaborate on a shared desire: “We wish to improve people’s well-being by bringing daylight and fresh air into the buildings, and our collaboration is centred around bringing modular glass solutions with intelligent glazing to the market,” says Chloé Brismontier, Sales Director France, VELUX Commercial.
The first finished French project of this alliance was completed in May, where the new headquarter building of ACTIS, the European leader in reflective insulation, was completed. They wished for a building with an abundance of natural light and heat controlling, as temperatures increase significantly during summer in this region.
Head office of ACTIS in Limoux, France, climatic zone H3, 2800 m2
90m2 of VMS LongLights To generously – and naturally – enlighten the central atrium of the building, a modular skylight solution from VELUX Commercial, combined with a SageGlass electrochromic smart glass, was designed by the teams. The VMS solution consists 3 rows of 18 VMS modules, including 11 smoke vented modules and 4 comfort openings.
The skylights bring light to the centre of the building and all offices benefit from the natural lighting. The integration of ventilation modules allows for an intelligent system to cut off the air conditioning and the mechanical ventilation at night in summer in a free cooling mode, which results in energy savings. The electrochromic glazing prevents overheating in summer, thus ensuring great comfort and also contributing to energy savings. The fact that the glazing can remain clear in winter makes it possible to benefit from the intake of light, which contributes to the general well-being. The building therefore benefits from natural lighting without overheating, and from an efficient ventilation system allowing night cooling.
Open the skylights during night to cool down – and reduce energy consumption
A study carried out by French engineer office, NRGYS, shows that the combination of the night cooling from the opening modules and the dynamic glazing ensures 17°C, without air conditioning, when compared to a conventional skylight
A second simulation establishes that with this combination and air conditioning in use half the time, ACTIS reduces air conditioning by 52 days per year.
“This showcase is a very important example for our future strategy. We want to become a leading player in the Commercial market. If we can partner up with building owners and advise them to specify, design and install our skylight and ventilation solution, not only do we add more value to their buildings, we also contribute to making buildings more sustainable,” says SVP VELUX Commercial Nicolas Limbach.
If we can partner up with building owners, not only do we add more value to their buildings, we also contribute to making buildings more sustainable
Nicolas Limbach
SVP VELUX Commercial
Customer experience? Check-mark!
According to the customer, Thomas Thierry, Prescription Director at ACTIS, the result lives fully up to what he expected: “The skylights give THE feeling of the building. It is noticed by all visitors, both for aesthetic and technical reasons. We made the choice of both beauty and functionality,” he says.
A second project is already in the making. An existing library building, “Mediatheque” in Saint Dié des Vosges, in East of France, will be finished later this year and contain 126 VMS modules, where 70 will have the SageGlass panes.