On the ‘beach meadow’ outside Ballen lies the Energy Academy like a modern golden age painting in muted tones. The longhouses symbolise the many actions taken, which in 20 years have created Samsø’s success as Denmark’s ‘Renewable Energy Island’ 

 5,000 guests from around the world visit the site each year but the Energy Academy is also a project-focused organisation and a cultural lighthouse of communication. Here we work with examples of those alternative and sustai-nable solutions that work.Samsø is full of old, idyllic farmhouses. However, the Energy Academy’s modern longhouses show that time hasn’t stopped. The island is up to date technologically, with new heat pumps, flax insulation and energy solutions that help maintain a healthy bank account. ”On Samsø we say that we have to pinch the cold so the heat stays inside for as long as possible!”, says Jan Jantzen from the Energy Academy.The external aesthetics of the Energy Aca-demy may seem cool in their overall expres-sion. The long zinc roofs are assembled with four gable ends lifting themselves up like chimneys. It is a low-tech solution for natural ventilation, because the heat always rises upwards.The buildings do not have wood-burning stoves or oil-fired boilers, but are connec-ted to the local, straw-fired district heating plant, which is located just outside the town of Ballen. In addition, the buildings have a beautiful, lead-grey surface, which contains two solar panel systems that supply the site with electricity.Switched on to the presentThe longhouses are decorated in muted Nor-dic colours. Grey is the predominant colour. Some of the greatest masters of art have used the grey palette to show us the depth of emo-tions of colours. Just think of the Danish Golden Age painter Hammershøi’s blue and grey toned paintings of rooms, which ema-nate presence.The Energy Academy is also grey and ema-nates presence. In the evening, driving past us you might think we have forgotten to turn off the light but we’ve simply had a new light design fitted competing with the starry sky.The houses are buzzing with activity when hosting project meetings, management cou-rses or an association member meeting. The houses have become a modern gathering pla-ce for locals, where faith, hope and love are accepted.

På Strandengen udenfor Ballen ligger Energiakademiet som et moderne guldaldermaleri i gråtoner. Langhusene symboliserer de mange handlinger, som på 20 år har skabt Samsøs succes som Danmarks Vedvarende Energi Ø.

Vi kniber kulden
5.000 gæster fra hele verden besøger hvert år stedet, men Energiakademiet er også en projektorganisation og et kulturelt formidlingsfyrtårn. Her arbejder vi med eksempler på, hvilke alternative og bæredygtige løsninger, der virker. 

Samsø er fuld af gamle, idylliske bondegårde. Energiakademiets moderne langhuse viser dog, at tiden ikke er gået i stå. Øen er med på moden med nye varmepumper, hørisolering og energiløsninger, der luner på bankkontoen. ”På Samsø siger vi, at vi skal knibe kulden, så varmen blive inde længst muligt!”, fortæller Jan Jantzen fra Energiakademiet. 

Energiakademiets udvendige æstetik kan synes kølig i sit samlede udtryk. De lange zinktage er samlet med fire gavle, der løfter sig op som smarte skorstene. Det er en lavteknologisk løsning på naturlig ventilation, fordi varmen altid stiger opad. Bygningerne har ikke brændeovne eller oliefyr, men er koblet på det lokalejede, halmfyrede fjernvarmeværk, som ligger lige uden for Ballen by. Foruden det har bygningerne en smuk, blygrå overflade, som har to solcelleanlæg, der forsyner stedet med elektricitet.