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Nereus inspires students for modular building component "The Mobble"

The decentralized resource recovery concept from the Ghent "New Docks" demo case that is currently under construction is already being replicated. Students from the University of Ghent use the local Nereus approach for the modular construction concept "The Mobble".

The Mobble is a sustainable, modular construction concept and also the entry concept of students from Ghent University for Solar Decathlon Europe, a college student competition between universities in which they strive for the most sustainable and energy-efficient construction concept.Because circularity is central for this construction concept, attention is also paid to sustainable water management and waste water treatment with reuse and recovery. The approach taken by Nereus in the New Docks in Ghent served as a lightning example.

Energy and nutrient recovery
The waste water from the toilet and the kitchen is collected separately by means of a vacuum installation. Its organic fraction is converted by a low-oxygen (anaerobic) microbiological process into biogas with which heat and electricity can be produced. From this fraction, fertilizers for plants, such as struvite, can also be recovered.
The other waste water flow comes from the bathroom, the washing machine and the dishwasher. This "grey" waste water leaves The Mobble at 30 ° C and therefore still contains residual heat. After biological purification of the water in a membrane bioreactor, this heat is recovered by a heat exchanger and a coupled heat pump.

Water reuse
The purified waste water can also be reused in the home itself, together with rainwater. After filtering over activated carbon to remove the color and odor, the water is perfectly suitable for the toilet, cleaning, garden or washing machine. Further disinfection with UV or electrochemistry allows the recycled water to be used in the bathroom and even as drinking water in the kitchen. In combination with high efficient electrical appliances, this leads to 48% less water consumption. (In the Ghent New Docks democase, the water will be reused as process water at the soap factory Christeyns.

Apartment renovation, co-housing, housesharing ...
The renovation of large high-rise apartment buildings is this year’s theme of the Solar Decathlon Europer. The intention is that "The Mobble" facilitates the renovation of large-scale apartment buildings that were frequently built in Belgium in the 50s, 60s and 70s. The pavilion is a test set-up to demonstrate the renovation strategies for high-rise buildings to a wide audience. With a minimum of interventions, you have a wide variety of options. 
This concept also offers countless possibilities for co-housing, housesharing, smaller housing, and high-rise ontop concepts...

www.themobble.be