KUBIK, an international outstanding and unique experimental facility for R&D aimed at developing new concepts, products and services to improve energy efficiency in buildings.
The main characteristic of KUBIK is the capability to built realistic scenarios to analyse the energy efficiency obtained from the holistic interaction of the constructive solution for the envelope, the intelligent management of the climatization and lighting systems and the supply from renewable energy.
The R&D infrastructure consists of a building able to provide up to 500 m2 distributed in an underground floor, a ground floor and up to two storeys. The supply of energy is based on the combination of conventional and renewable energy (geothermic, solar and eolic). In addition, the building is equipped with a monitoring and control system which provides the necessary information for the R&D activities.
KUBIK´s main structure provides an experimental, adaptable and reconfigurable building to create the indoor environments to analyse and to allow the assembly of the constructive solutions for the envelope, floors and partitions which performance under realistic conditions must to be tested.
KUBIK is an engine for the innovation in the construction sector thanks to its open and comprehensive conception of the construction, renewable energy integration and user´s comfort aspects in real conditions.
KUBIK IS TECNALIA’S COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING RESEARCH INTO ENERGY EFICIENCY IN BUILDING.
Capabilities
KUBIK enables energy performance, acoustic performance and air tightness analysis and testing of components.
It has an advanced monitoring system, equipped with over 400 sensors that record conditions inside and outside the experimental facility.
Customers have access via the Internet to measurements being taken. In addition, the monitoring system is integrated into an Intelligent Energy Management which optimises the energy consumption of the building.
The experimentally-obtained results enable diagnoses and proposals for potential product improvements to be made.
Product development
Currently, the technical development of a product begins with the numerical analysis and simulation of the product, carried out in a virtual scenario. The product is then tested in a laboratory in accordance with standard procedures, and is finally launched on the market.
KUBIK offers and intermediate step that permits to test the products in realistic conditions. This speed up the product development and reduce the risk of malfunction of highly innovative products or products without previous experiences on the market place.
Assembly of components
KUBIK not only assesses in service performance but also develops and evaluates assembly and erection procedures.
Reconfiguration
KUBIK allows reconfiguration of the scenarios at construction level, by exchanging the components of the envelope.
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