Sustainable and Energy-Efficient Solutions from DMDmodular
The real estate market needs a revolution – it is responsible for 38% of greenhouse gas emissions that enter the atmosphere. Therefore, it will play a
significant role in introducing solutions to meet the challenges of the future. Upcoming changes in regulations concerning the ecological aspects of buildings will soon compel real estate investors to seek urgent solutions enabling them to achieve the objectives outlined in the Net Zero strategy. DMDmodular has recently achieved a significant milestone by successfully completing a relevant energy-efficient housing project, fully financed by EU funds, that tackles the industry’s most pressing challenges.
This energy-efficient multi-family building emerged as a response to an initiative led by the Polish National Center for Research and Development, titled “Energy and Process-Efficient Modular Construction” was designed and build using a volumetric modular system, and It was developed by DMDmodular in collaboration with researchers, architects, and technologists.
The project comprises 29 apartments ranging in size from 45 to 70 square meters, and it was materialized through 56 fully finished and furnished modules. These modules, manufactured at DMDmodular’s facility near Kraków, were transported and assembled in Mysłowice, Poland during July 2023.
This building stands as a technology demonstrator, offering an invaluable scalable and global solution for both local governments and private investors developing projects across the countries. Energy efficient modular technology can effectively address the housing shortage and energy crisis, as well as rising construction costs associated with traditional methods.
The project is defined by its superior quality finishing, energy efficiency, and remarkably rapid construction timeline of just 4 months. This high quality, energy efficient and quick delivery method not only can help alleviate housing shortages and the immediate need of building solutions to rebuild Ukraine (only 250 km from the Ukrainian border), but also significantly enhances returns on investment in the build-to-rent sector, encompassing hospitality, PRS ventures, co-living initiatives and student accommodations, compared to conventional construction techniques.
The showcased multi-family building integrates innovative solutions that enable a positive energy balance, resulting in surplus energy generation. It incorporates cutting-edge air handling units with 95% air recovery efficiency, moisture recovery systems, ceiling-based heating and cooling through capillary mats, thermal energy storage, and thermal energy recovery from sewage tanks. The building solely relies on renewable energy sources for its energy needs and integrates measures to minimize water consumption and the overall carbon footprint.
The demonstrator was also developed with numerous sustainable materials from Polish and foreign companies. One of them is the Norwegian waterproof wall systems in the form of easy-to-install panels. Manufactured from PEFC certified, layered plywood and high-pressure laminate, Fibo’s wall panels offer a sustainable - a 40% lower carbon footprint - alternative to tiles. The panels have been installed on surfaces where high strength, durability and quick assembly have been implemented in bathrooms and kitchens.
The garnered experience of DMDmodular has facilitated the establishment of a seamlessly coordinated supply chain comprising cooperating companies. For investors, this translates to project implementation stability and cost predictability, which, especially in light of the fluctuating prices of construction materials, stands as one of the advantages of DMDmodular technology compared to conventional methods.
Poland offers a sustainable and efficient supply chain which is a perfect environment for company Fibo, which supplies DMDmodular, focused on
turn-key modular units. The country has become one of the hottest manufacturing clusters in Europe as the economy continues to perform strongly being among the three fastest growing economies in the EU. Poland is a major producer and supplier to the automotive industry and a leading manufacturing position in the windows industry in the EU. And it holds the fourth position in the world as an exporter, and sixth place as a producer in the furniture industry. Thanks to the stable and credible local supply chain, DMD claims to be the attractive and reliable business partner for the UK construction market.
DMDmodular is an award-winning company focusing on the housing and hospitality industries, delivering unique volumetric modular solutions to international markets. Noteworthy recent developments are PBSA schemes in Scotland, Denmark, and Switzerland and numerous houses for recreational parks in the Benelux region. Furthermore, the company is presently engaged in several hotel projects, encompassing establishments in the UK and Belgium. DMD earned international recognition in 2022 by securing an award in the Green Building Category for its innovative co-living modular solution implemented in Paris.
More from Modular Advantage
A Huge Win for the Modular Construction Industry in Massachusetts
In early February, 2024, the Massachusetts Board of Building Regulations and Standards (BBRS) released its proposed 10th Edition building codes. This draft included several amendments targeting modular construction that would have created an extremely difficult environment for the entire modular industry and could have eliminated the industry entirely in the state.
FEMA Announces Hawaii Housing Plan Using Modular Construction
Utah becomes the second state in the country, following Virginia, to fully adopt ICC/MBI standards 1200 and 1205. MBI will continue to work with leadership in Utah to implement the new program.
Supply and Demand: Solving Canada’s Housing Crisis One Relocatable Housing Unit at a Time
Not only do Moda Modular’s repurposed employee housing solutions cut the emissions related to construction down to nearly zero, but they also keep building materials that are often not biodegradable from slowly decaying in storage facilities.
It’s the classic environmental mantra of reduce, reuse, and recycle, scaled up and applied to building after building.
ICC/MBI Standards 1200 & 1205 Provide Foundation for Utah’s First-Ever State Modular Program
Utah becomes the second state in the country, following Virginia, to fully adopt ICC/MBI standards 1200 and 1205. MBI will continue to work with leadership in Utah to implement the new program.
Repetition, Communication, and Coordination: A QSR Case Study
This modular QSR project seemed like any another modular building on the surface. Inside, it was anything but. The rhythm, the desire to iterate and repeat, and the constant communication between all parties made it stand out.
Modular Architecture: Thinking Outside of the Box with Sara.Ann Logan
At a time when modular buildings were still seen as less than by many in the architecture and construction world, Sara.Ann Logan took the plunge and partnered to launch a design-build firm that designed, built, and constructed modular high-end single-family homes. But even though she could see the value of this kind of construction, it wasn’t universally accepted.
Colorado Developer ‘Attacks’ Attainable Housing Crisis
City, county, and state government bodies are reaching out to Fading West Development, a modular manufacturer and developer in Buena Vista, CO, to learn more about how they are using modular construction to solve the affordable housing crisis in Colorado. Governments are eager to learn how they’ve made modular development successful and profitable while meeting the growing need for affordable housing.
CES Group’s Stuart Cameron Will Convince You the Moon Is Achievable with Modularized MEP
While most people think of construction as a gradually layered process, MEP assemblies—such as the modular ones—tend to provide all-in-one installs, like a car factory. A modular MEP product helps developers, architects, and fellow modular manufacturers reach their goals through early integration and planning. MEP assemblies address all the unseen things like electrical, heating, and plumbing when looking at a finalized building. The very nature of MEP assemblies are crucial to any initial prospectus.
Automation: The Future for Offsite Modular Construction
Offsite modular construction lags far behind other industries in embracing and adopting automation. Some people believe it will decrease jobs. Others feel they’ve done okay without it, so why change? In reality, conventional construction methods simply cannot keep up. Cooper Lane of Brave Control Solutions points to the labor shortage and the housing crisis that’s rampant in Canada, the U.S., and globally.
Seizing the Modular Construction Opportunity
The CSA Public Policy Centre’s new report, Seizing the Modular Construction Opportunity, highlights how innovative modular methods can help to bring various building forms—from single unit housing to complex high-rises—online more quickly. Owing to efficient manufacturing practices and controlled factory environments, modular can achieve completion rates that are 25% to 50% faster than conventional construction approaches.