A-hus, part of the Swedish wood industry group Derome, has started construction of a model house in Kungälv using materials and methods developed through its innovation project Klivet, which reduced construction-related climate emissions by 37%. The one-family home, a Villa Nolvik model, is being built with walls made from renewable and recycled materials, including milk cartons and newspapers.
The house also features a paper-based roof and energy-efficient systems designed to lower climate impact without compromising safety or build quality. According to A-hus, the increased use of wood as a structural material proved to be the single most effective factor in reducing emissions during construction, and the Villa Nolvik is built primarily in wood.
The house is part of a real-world study led by RISE, Research Institutes of Sweden, which will monitor how the selected materials and construction techniques perform over time in everyday living conditions.
Additional systems in the house, such as a water and air heat pump, also support lower emissions and help reduce energy-related operating costs. A-hus stated that these combined features represent a new way of building that balances environmental goals with modern home functionality.
Derome says Villa Nolvik is part of its long-term plan to build climate-neutral small houses by 2030. Several techniques from the Klivet project are already being integrated into other homes built across A-hus’s operations, as the builder scales proven innovations from pilot testing into full production.
