New option for eco-friendly homebuilders

The two companies have cooperated to develop an innovative house which can save up to 70 percent of energy, compared to traditional houses. The 'Warm Home For You' project is aimed at persuading individual investors to construct energy-saving homes.

"The project stems from the need of promoting responsible business. Energy-saving solutions in residential construction allow the future residents of our houses to save on heating expenses but also mean a lower consumption of resources essential for the production of heating energy at the national scale, and a significant reduction in carbon-dioxide emission," says Torsten Penkuhn, the president of BASF Poland.

Dariusz Stachura, the president of Termo Organika, adds that it is hard to encourage people to think pro-ecologically. "By constructing a house according to our design the investor saves money, has a pretty house and obviously protects the natural environment," says Stachura.

'The Warm Home For You' is a 186.2-sqm house constructed with special insulating materials that lower the yearly energy consumption to 50 kWh per sqm. Both companies will pass the design of the building to members of the Chamber of Polish Architects and Association of Polish Architects. It will also be available at Lipińscy Domy studio, which designed the original house. BASF and Termo Organika will return a third of the design costs if the investor sticks to the technological guidelines described in the plans and uses the same materials and technologies.

Fortis Bank is also a partner in the program and will provide a special 'warm mortgage' to help those wanting to build an eco-friendly home in line with the design.

The National Agency for Respecting Energy (NAPE) has also become a patron of the program. The organization provides information concerning energy saving and environmental protection both in Poland and abroad.