Articles

This article summarises the REPLACE project’s efforts to transition from fossil fuel-based residential heating and cooling systems to clean alternatives. It includes a brief overview of the implemented project activities and refers to further sources for more detailed information. It covers topics such as boiler and stove replacement campaigns, including supporting end consumers locally, as well as the developed REPLACE toolbox, which enables better informed decisions to be made in practice.

The ARISE project is aimed at providing a training and qualification scheme for the skills required to support the implementation of BIM and energy efficiency across the construction supply chain. ARISE is presenting six articles dedicated to the different stages of digitalisation and takes the reader through the entire process.

The HOUSEFUL project proposes an innovative paradigm shift towards a circular economy for housing through an innovative methodology, to assess the degree of circularity in building renovations projects. Building Circularity Methodology (BCM) assesses circularity according to six Circular Economy (CE) pillars: energy, water, materials; and environmental, social, and economic impacts.

The project proposes a simplified, parametric method using Artificial Intelligence to support decision-making in sustainable building renovation looking at the energy efficiency, life cycle greenhouse gas emissions and life cycle costs.

Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) can contribute to accelerate the global energy transition, producing electricity from renewable energy sources directly in the buildings. Eurac Research developed a tool to support architects and other designers in this task.

This article summarises the fundamental concepts of the human-building interaction, highlights the added value of integrating advanced occupant behaviour models, and points out the most important aspects required to guide practitioners towards proper integration.

Monitoring the energy performance of buildings is crucial to determine the effect and magnitude of the efforts to decrease the environmental impact of the built environment.

An energy labelling methodology for old appliances has been developed to rate appliances that were installed before the introduction of the EU energy label. The developed methodologies followed the requirements of EU regulations 811/2013 for space heating appliances and 812/2013 for water heaters, allowing for a more transparent message for consumers.

How can the renovation rate be improved? Brussels Leopold neighbourhood is used as case study to present the definition and analysis of the existing building typologies and their components as a valuable option while also improving the impact and efficiency of early design stage retrofitting decisions.

Digitalisation and digital technologies present a great opportunity for Heritage Conservation, particularly regarding our Built Heritage and its sustainable use. Professionals are needed who can understand and quantify the complex physical processes required with the help of digital tools and will collaborate with their analysis to interdisciplinary dialogue before any conservation-related decision is made.