KREIS-Haus - Experience circular systems: from the lab to the field
What does a circular economy look like in everyday life? And most importantly, how does it feel? In the KREIS-Haus, visitors experience how a circular economy works in the context of construction and living. Additionally, they will have the opportunity to participate in a research project.
The KREIS-Haus
KREIS-Haus stands for Klima und Ressourcen-Effizientes Suffizienz Haus (English: climate and resource efficient sufficiency house). The project shows how a functioning circular economy can be implemented in the smallest of spaces. From the building materials to the nutrients in the wastewater – everything is in circulation.
The KREIS-Haus is a joint project of the research group Eco-technology at ZHAW and the Synergy Village association, which is the location of the KREIS-Haus. The research group leads the research and educational projects in the house. The Synergy Village association is the implementation partner and owner of the house. The association is responsible for the operation of the KREIS-Haus, supports the research work and welcomes visitors to the idyllic grounds.
Why do we need a KREIS-Haus?
In times of climate change and scarce natural resources, the building sector plays a very import role. 40% of worldwide resource and energy consumption can be attributed to the building sector. Therefore, there is great potential to implement measures to increase the efficiency of energy and resource consumption in buildings. This is where the KREIS-Haus project comes into play.
The scientific community is constantly developing new circular technologies, materials, and concepts for use in buildings. However, it takes a long time for this fundamental research to be applied broadly in practice. A reason for this is that there is often too great of a risk in using unproven innovations in practice. The KREIS-Haus fills this gap between research and industry, by providing a space to try out these new technologies and materials and presenting them to the public as an inhabited model house.
New innovations will be continually tested and improved through the interactions with visitors. By doing so, a climate and environmentally friendly lifestyle can be developed. Our goal is to enable for everyone to experience a climate-neutral, ecological, and sufficiency-orientated lifestyle.
How does the KREIS-Haus work?
The house consists of a residential unit with sanitary facilities and an adjacent conservatory. Natural building materials (such as clay and wood) as well as durable, recycled and reused materials (such as second-hand windows and recycled glass shards for the floor) were used for the construction. The dry separating toilet saves water and allows for nutrients to be reclaimed and used as fertilizer in the rooftop garden. Lightly polluted wastewater from the kitchen and bathroom is treated directly in the building and used for irrigation purposes. The solar panels are integrated in the conservatory and produce the required electricity. Any surplus electricity is stored in Second-Life batteries. The entire house is built on a screw foundation without the use of concrete.
KREIS-Haus Bootcamp (course/workshop in German)
- Date: 23. - 27. Juni 2025
- Location: KREIS-Haus, Verein Synergy Village, Oberschirmensee 16, 8714 Feldbach
Experience in a five-day intensive course how circular systems in the construction sector can be designed sustainably. Learn how to utilise resources efficiently and achieve economic benefits. In the inspiring KREIS-Haus, you will discover practical approaches to sustainable building and develop realisable projects.
Tours
Come discover the KREIS-Haus in one of the regularly offered public tours or register for an individually organized group tour. Through stimulating stories, you will learn more about the building materials and design.
Overnight stays
Visitors have the opportunity to stay overnight in the KREIS-Haus and participate in the research project. All visitors will be asked to participate in a scientific survey after their stay.
Consultation
Do you have your own building project and would like to benefit from our experiences in the KREIS-Haus? We would be happy to advise you for your individual building project. The insights made at the KREIS-Haus can be applied at many different levels of construction: from tiny houses to renovations and larger developments of entire neighborhoods. Contact us for an offer.
Live Webcam
Follow the KREIS-Haus from home with our Live Webcam. Click here for a time-lapse of the construction and operation.
January 18, 2025
Devi Bühler wins the Zurich Future Prize for her efforts in the KREIS-Haus! Discover this and more exciting news in this newsletter. News from the KREIS-Haus
April 15, 2024
A new research insight into the water cycle, registration open for the two workshops on "Closing water and nutrient cycles" and "Biogas from your own garden".
April 27, 2023
A new podcast is out, initial user feedback results are posted, and the "Closing Water and Nutrient Cycles" workshop is open for registrations.
August 12, 2022
Insight into the first results from the research on urine fertilizers and much more.
June, 2022
An insight into the solar plant in the KREIS-Haus and the research on the ZHAW Campus Grüental.
September 3, 2021
The KREIS-Haus was inaugurated at a two-day opening celebration on the 3rd and 4th of September, 2021. We have now moved on to the testing phase with overnight stays, tours and workshops.
At a Glance
- Project leader: Devi Bühler
- Main project partners and location of the KREIS-Haus: Synergy Village
- Current research projects:
- Third-party funder:
- Contact: kreishaus.iunr@zhaw.ch
