Passiv house in Ölzbundt.
This is an english introduction to NAL|Ecobox that explains our objectives and gives a short description of our main projects.
Aims and Objectives
NAL|Ecobox is a self-reliant unit of the National Association of Norwegian Architects (NAL). Our objectives are to strengthen the environmental competence of architects as well as interdisciplinary cooperation within the overall construction trade. NAL|Ecobox plays a major role in order to implement NAL’s strategy on sustainable development within architecture.
The idea of NAL|Ecobox is to be a development agent that integrates environmental aspects into architecture and constructed surroundings. NAL|Ecobox targets architects and planners primarily, but we also want to reach the construction industry, entrepreneurs, consultants, researchers and public stake-holders.
NAL|Ecobox consists of a permanent staff of six employees. Our network of professional expertise is domestically wide and we cooperate with several of our collaborators on our projects.
The main projects of NAL|Ecobox are listed below:
The Ecobox Project Base
(Prosjektdatabase)
This database presents a broad range of environmental building and plan projects throughout Norway. There are more than 140 reference projects in the project base and it is available for anyone interested to use.
The Ecobox Literature Base
(Publikasjonsdatabase)
This is a base consisting of written publications of sustainable constructions and urban planning. The publications can be downloaded for free (note that most of the publications are in Norwegian).
Ecobox Beginners’ Kit
(Startpakke)
NAL|Ecobox offers a two-days course to Architect firms that gives an introduction to architectural sustainability and energy integrated design.
EcoProduct
EcoProduct is a web-based tool created in order to map and choose sustainable construction materials.
Norwegian Wood
NAL|Ecobox hosted the secretariat of Norwegian Wood – one of the main projects of
Stavanger2008 – European Capital of Culture 2008. Norwegian Wood contributed to carry out 15 building projects in Rogaland County, focusing on innovative wooden architecture, low energy consumption, environmental materials and universal design.
The Norwegian Wood conference was held in Stavanger from the 12th - 16th of November 2008. You can
look at the program and download the speeches from the Norwegian wood conference here.
Breakfast meetings
(Brød & miljø)
These are monthly breakfast meetings with professional ingredients. The meetings are free of charge and invites participants from the overall construction industry to discuss sustainable architecture and planning.
Intend
Ecobox are one of several collaborators on an international EU - project; INTEND - Integrated Energy Design. Here Ecobox, together with London Metropolitan University, is developing a database with examples of best practice on architecture with sustainable integrated design. The database will be published 2nd quarter of 2009.