EUROPEAN
COMMISSION
European
Research Area
Energy-efficient
Buildings (EeB) PPP
ENERGY-EFFICIENT
BUILDINGS PPP
MULTI-ANNUAL
ROADMAP
AND LONGER
TERM STRATEGY
Prepared by the Ad-hoc Industrial
Advisory Group
Policy Research
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EUROPEAN COMMISSION
ENERGY-EFFICIENT BUILDINGS PPP
MULTI-ANNUAL ROADMAP
AND LONGER TERM STRATEGY
Prepared by the Ad-hoc Industrial Advisory Group
2010
Directorate-General for Research, Industrial Technologies
Unit G2 'New generation of products'
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Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2010
ISBN 978-92-79-15228-3
ISSN 1018-5593
doi:10.2777/10074
© European Union, 2010
Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
2.1.3 Key pillars of the Roadmap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2.2 The methodology and large involvement of stakeholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3.0 RESEARCH CHALLENGES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3.1 Key challenges for a long term strategy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3.2 Research challenges at the basis of a multi-annual Roadmap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3.2.1 Refurbishment to transform existing buildings into energy-efficient buildings . . . . . . . . .
3.2.2 Neutral/energy-positive new buildings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3.2.3 Energy-efficient districts/communities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3.2.4 Horizontal technological aspects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3.2.5 Horizontal organisational aspects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4.0 ASSOCIATED INVESTMENTS AND QUANTIFIED EXPECTED IMPACT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5.0 DEFINITION OF A MULTI-ANNUAL ROADMAP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6.0 INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5
7
7
7
7
11
13
17
17
18
21
22
23
25
29
33
37
41
Energy-efficient Buildings PPP
1.0 INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2.0 THE ROADMAPPING PROCESS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2.1 Strategic objectives, drivers and pillars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2.1.1 Strategic objectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2.1.2 Trends and elements of future scenarios . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3
Appendix 1: First calls for proposals published in the Work Programme 2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Appendix 2: Expected socio-economic impacts and relevance to policy objectives . . . . . . . . . . . 43
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1: Proposed Roadmap for 2011-2013
.............................................................
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1– Energy use in residential (left) and commercial buildings (right) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Figure 2 – Wave action along the multi-annual Roadmap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Figure 3 – Key research areas targeting the challenges at the basis of the long term strategy . . .
Figure 4 – Overview of the methodology to identify future research priorities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Figure 5 – VENN diagram showing inter-relationship among research challenges . . . . . . . . . . . .
Figure 6 – The multi-annual Roadmap (2011-13)
within the longer term “wave action” strategy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
39
10
12
14
15
20
38
CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS DOCUMENT
In the following list the members of the Ad-hoc Industrial Advisory Group
who have contributed to the preparation and editing of the document are reported,
but many other contributors have provided their views during an open consultation process.
Acciona (ES): Javier Grávalos, José Javier de las Heras
ACE/CAE (BE): Adrian Joyce
Apintech (GR): Nikos Sakkas
Energy-efficient Buildings PPP
Arup (UK): Rupert Blackstone, Marta Fernández, Jeremy Watson
4
Atos Origin (ES): Ignacio Soler Jubert
BIC (SE): Ake Skarendahl
Bouygues Construction (FR): Paul Cartuyvels, Frédéric Gal, Alain Vassal
BSRIA (UK): Andrew Eastwell
Centro Ceramico Bologna (IT): Arturo Salomoni
ClimateWell (SE): Mats Fällman
CSTB (FR): Luc Bourdeau, Alain Zarli
D’Appolonia (IT): Stefano Carosio (Coordinator), Guido Chiappa, Raimondo De Laurentiis,
Mattia Fabbri, Nicolò Olivieri, Sergio Segreto
ECN (NL): Ivo Opstelten
EDF (FR): Alain Marti
Fraunhofer – IBP (DE): Roland Göttig, Gerd Hauser
Labein/Tecnalia (ES): Jose Maria Campos
Mostostal (PL): Juliusz Zach
OHL (ES): Miguel Arenas Cuevas
Philips (NL): Bruno Smets
Saint-Gobain (FR): Roger De Block, Jean-Marie Thouvenin
SAP (DE): Silvio Semprini
Schneider Electric (GR): Polydefkis Loukopoulos
Solintel (ES): J. Antonio Barona
Stiebel Eltron (DE): Holger Thamm
Telefonica (ES): Enrique Fernando Menduiña
TNO Built Environment and Geosciences (NL): Olaf Adan
VTT (FI): Matti Hannus, Markku Virtanen
ZRMK (SI): Marjana Sijanec
Züblin AG (DE): Rainer Bareiß, Norbert Pralle
1.0 INTRODUCTION
The Energy-efficient Buildings (EeB) PPP, launched under the
European Economic Recovery Plan1, will devote approximately € 1 billion in the period 2010-2013 to address the challenges that the European construction sector and its extended
value chain are facing in their ambitious goal of researching
new methods and technologies to reduce the energy footprint
and CO2 emissions related to new and renovated buildings.
This represents the initial and highly strategic step of a longer
term set by the industry to create more efficient districts and
The preparation of this multi-annual Roadmap has been
In Chapter 3 the research challenges in the long term are pre-
driven by industry in the framework of an Ad-hoc Industrial
sented, including all those horizontal non-technological as-
Advisory Group. The private sector was represented by the
pects which are instrumental to generate the expected impact
European “Energy-efficient Buildings Association”2 (E2BA),
in an enlarged Europe. Chapter 4 provides an overview of the
as industrial interlocutor of the European Commission in the
investments associated with the broader implementation of
EeB PPP. The dialogue with European Commission officials
the Roadmap and its research priorities as well as a quan-
from DG RTD (for Themes NMP and ENV), DG TREN and
tification of the expected impact both from the economic,
DG INFSO already allowed to provide industrial input for the
environmental, social and policy point of view, highlighting for
preparation of the Coordinated Call included in the Work Pro-
instance contributions to job creation and the implementation
gramme 2010, which is mentioned in Appendix 1. In 2010
of the SET Plan.
these activities will already mobilise around € 65 million of
EC funding within the overall financial envelope of € 1 billion,
Chapter 5 provides Research Priorities within the framework
to be contributed in equal shares by the private sector and
of the EeB PPP initiative. The definition of the priorities was
the European Commission under the Seventh Framework
based on the relevance of each challenge towards the reduc-
Programme for Research (FP7).
tion of energy consumption in the built environment and the
associated decrease in greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) as
The scope of this document is to present the list of research
well as the expected impact when addressing the challenge
priorities for the definition of a long term strategy and a Multi-
itself, fully in line with the provisions of the European Economy
Annual Roadmap, as identified by industry in the framework of
Recovery Plan. The elements of the Roadmap till year 2013
the European “Energy-efficient Buildings Association ” (E2BA)
are provided, as initial research priorities to be considered
and beyond, through its multiplier effect within the broader
within FP7, in line with the longer term industry strategy.
stakeholder community. In Chapter 2 the main drivers, pillars
and strategic objectives at the basis of the Roadmap are presented jointly with the methodology designed for the definition
of the research priorities capable of mobilising innovative and
high impact projects.
1. European Economic Recovery Plan COM(2008) 800
2. www.e2b-ei.eu
Energy-efficient Buildings PPP
cities while improving the quality of life of European citizens.
5
2.0 THE ROADMAPPING PROCESS
2.1 Strategic objectives, drivers and pillars
2.1.1 Strategic objectives
The construction sector accounts for 30% of industrial employment in the European Union, contributing about 10.4% of
the Gross Domestic Product, with 3 million enterprises, 95%
of which being SMEs3. Overall 48.9 million workers in the
EU depend, directly or indirectly, on the construction sector4
Within the construction market, the buildings industrial secsector, as their construction and refurbishment account for
> the White book on Renewable Energy Sources (RES);
80% (€ 1,200 billion) of the total construction sector output
> the Action Plan on Energy Efficiency – “Doing More
(€ 1,519 billion)5 of EU27 in 2007. Every day, the construc-
with Less”;
tion sector in the EU builds or renovates thousands of plac-
> the Directive on electricity from renewable energy sources;
es where people work, live, spend their leisure time or rest.
> the Directive on eco-design of end-use energy
Today, the construction sector is fully aware of a huge re-
consuming equipment;
sponsibility, being the highest energy consumer in the EU
> the Directive on appliances energy labeling;
(about 40%)6 and main contributor to GHG emissions
> the Directive on heat demand based high efficient
(about 36% of the EU’s total CO2 emissions and about
cogeneration;
half of the CO2 emissions which are not covered by the
> the European Strategic Energy Technology Plan;
Emission Trading System).7 In March 2007, the European
> the Environmental Technology Action Plan;
Council set clear goals for 2020:
> the EU Sustainable development strategy;
> Increase energy efficiency to achieve a reduction
of 20% of total energy use (below 2005 levels);
> 20% contribution of Renewable Energies to total
energy use (11.5% above 2005 contribution);
> the Green paper towards a European strategy for the
security of energy supply;
> the Kyoto Protocol and related international agreements;
> the i2010 Strategy and Communication.
> 20% reduction of Greenhouse Gases (GHG) below
1990 emissions (14% below 2005 emissions)8.
2.1.2 Trends and elements of future scenarios
In line with the European Economic Recovery Plan, further stra-
This document, identifying research priorities for the next
tegic targets impacting on Energy Efficiency in Buildings and
future, is part of a longer term road-mapping exercise. The
its innovation potential are associated to the following policies:
vision for this Roadmap is built on the E2B Scope and Vi-
> the EU Lisbon Strategy for Growth and Jobs;
sion document9, where the following statement is formulated:
> the Barcelona 3% RTD intensity objective;
“By 2050, most buildings and districts could become energy
> the Recast of the Energy Performance of Buildings
neutral, and have a zero CO2 emission. A significant number
Directive;
> the Action Plan on Energy Efficiency in Europe –
saving 20% by 2020;
> the Directive on end-use energy efficiency
of buildings would then be energy positive, thus becoming
real power plants, integrating renewable energy sources,
clean distributed generation technologies and smart grids at
district level.”
and energy services;
3. FIEC – European Construction Industry Federation. http:\\www.fiec.org\
4. Communication from the Commission “ The Competitiveness of the Construction Industry”,
COM(97) 539 of 4/11/1997, chapter 2
5. Euroconstruct 2007
6. EU Energy and transport in figures, statistical pocket book 2007/2008.
7. Proposal for a recast of the EPBD, Impact Assessment. COM(2008)755, SEC(2008)2821
8. Targets elaborated within the document E2B Impact Assessment, Version 2, February 2009
9. European Initiative on Energy-efficient Buildings, Scope and Vision, Version 1, January 2009
Energy-efficient Buildings PPP
tor (residential and non-residential) is the largest economic
7
Looking at energy use, the following example scenarios
for building schemes in 2050 could be identified:
> Solar energy is an integral part of architecture (buildings
and infrastructure).
> Energy management and buffering (thermal and electri-
Areas of high residential and work density with the following characteristics:
> Electricity generated elsewhere by means of renewable
cal) are commonplace.
> Gas (methane and/or hydrogen) is used almost exclusively by energy routers.
and/or CO2-free sources is used with high efficiency.
> Sustainable electricity, heat and cold are generated on
the spot at building level and district level.
Energy-efficient Buildings PPP
> Gas (methane10 and/or hydrogen) is an option where
8
Thinly populated areas with the following characteristics:
> Function as park cities, except that there are no energy
routers.
the combined demand for heat and electricity makes
> A large amount of generation, e.g. various types of so-
this “exergetically”11 attractive, using advanced burners
lar power stations and wind farms linked to the built
and fuel cells.
environment. Major exporters of electricity.
> Active gas connections are few and far between,
relatively expensive and in practice only found at ma-
Historic areas with the following characteristics:
jor users and ‘energy routers’ (energy hubs at ‘district’
> Can function as any other type of areas, except that
level); they are connected to large storage systems,
the visible parts of the built environment are protected
and in most places the hub also functions as a ‘filling
implying that energy measures should not alter the ap-
station’, for instance for local transport.
pearance of those parts and the needs of conservation
> Local energy management is taken for granted and
small-scale energy buffering (thermal and electrical) is
used on a large scale to optimise cost.
> The word ‘cost’ now relates to both internal and ex-
of materials and objects have to be respected.
> The buildings often have a very specific energy signature (churches, museums, etc.), distinctly different from
the main part of the building stock.
ternal factors, making optimisation simple and socially
worthwhile. Energy prices and revenues are highly dif-
These future scenarios are duly considering both com-
ferentiated (by time and type) to enable the now com-
mercial buildings and residential housing which, based
plex energy system to be run economically.
on today’s data, represents the 63%12 of the energy con-
> Indoor thermal comfort is guaranteed, coping with heat
sumption of the European building stock.
islanding and dense population.
> Energy usage will be measured in terms of user comfort, performance and added value to the involved
stakeholders through advanced performance-based
business models.
Park city areas with the following characteristics:
> Sustainable power generation on a large scale, at building level and district level, with some producers even
being net exporters of electricity.
> The demand for heating and cooling is met entirely
from solar and renewable energy generated, captured
and stored locally.
10. Methane can take the form of natural gas or be produced from biomass.
11. Exergy is useful when measuring the efficiency of an energy conversion process. The ratio of
exergy to energy in a substance can be considered a measure of energy quality. Forms of energy
such as kinetic energy, electrical energy, and chemical Gibbs free energy are 100% recoverable
as work, and therefore have an exergy equal to their energy. However, forms of energy such as
radiation and thermal energy can not be converted completely to work, and have exergy content
less than their energy content.
12. http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/48na1.pdf
Trends in the building stock: natural mutation moments
The rate of change of the built environment from an energy consumer towards an energy producer is directly linked to the intervention moments, often referred to
as natural mutation moments. These are: 1) Renovation of energy infrastructures; 2) New building additions;
3) Refurbishment; 4) Large maintenance; 5) Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system replacement;
6) Demolition.
Europe, the current housing stock can be roughly divided into
16 categories, ranging from terraced houses built in various
eras to flats and detached houses. The percentage of owneroccupied highly varies across Europe, from less than 50% in
Western European countries to more than 90% in some of the
new member states. As regards the built environment, scenario studies expect a migration towards the cities (densely
populated and park city areas), with the number of members
in each household declining. This implies a net growth of the
housing stock at least towards 2030. The annual growth rate
tory condition, and the medical expenses for these people
of new buildings added to the housing stock is currently es-
run to an estimated € 250 per household a year, for the EU
timated at around 1-1.5% of the housing stock. The number
amounting to approximately € 14 billion a year. The population
of buildings removed from the stock is about 0.2-0.5 % of the
is ageing, with the number of over-65s expected to rise from
housing stock a year. It is assumed that this trend will continue
the present 12% to over 25% during the 2030-50 period. This
in the period ahead. The number of refurbishments accounts
could affect the demand for energy. Flexible working is also on
for roughly 2% of the housing stock a year. Each year, heating
the rise, with an increasing share of the population working at
systems are replaced in about 5% of the building stock. The
home. The number of households is continuing to rise as they
same natural mutation applies to the non-residential buildings,
become smaller in size.
although at different rates per year, depending on the type of
building (school, office, hospital, store, etc.).
Trends in the demand for energy in the built
environment and supply
Consumer and demographic trends
Today, primary energy use in the built environment accounts
Consumers are becoming increasingly demanding, especially
for about 40% of total EU energy consumption. In residential
as regards level of comfort, as can be seen from the rising
buildings most of the energy used is required for domestic
numbers of domestic appliances and the quality of the indoor
hot water and space heating, ventilation, lighting and cooling.
environment that consumers expect (moisture, undesirable
Non-building-related appliances13 account for about one-third
substances, etc.). Another factor here is that around 1 in 5
of electricity consumption in housing, as shown in Figure 1
households includes an occupant with a diagnosed respira-
below.
13. Electricity is used for cleaning, audio/video/communication, cooking, kitchen appliances, indoor climate control, hobbies, personal care and a miscellaneous category.
Energy-efficient Buildings PPP
Within the 160 million residential and commercial buildings in
9
Figure 1: Energy use in residential (upper)
and commercial buildings (lower)14
The demand for electricity is expected to rise, owing to the
increasing use of appliances, demand for cooling and number
of households. The demand for space heating is expected
Residential Sector
to fall as a result of further demand-limiting measures and
increasing electricity consumption. This means that heat will
be supplied to homes mainly for hot water. All in all it becomes
16%
a necessity to strengthen the power grid.
39%
5%
1%
7%
Commercial buildings are an electricity-demand-based environment (accounting for over 33% of primary energy use).
Heat is a minor factor here; what is required mainly is cooling.
Energy-efficient Buildings PPP
12%
Lighting is another major energy user. The electricity demand
8%
is expected to continue to rise, in particular owing to increas-
12%
ing use of appliances and demand for cooling. As regards
supply (of energy-related technologies), the main finding is
that the number and variety of energy generation systems
Heating & cooling
Refrigeration
for use in the built environment is large and seems to be
Lighting
Computers
constantly increasing. It should be noted, however, that it is
Electronics
Cooking
not the case that all these technologies are sold in equally
Water heating
Others & adj.
large quantities. Because of security of supply reasons, in the
coming years the mix of primary energy sources will change,
which in some aspects will also influence the type of energy
10
generation systems in the built environment, specifically towards an increasing share of decentralised production.
Commercial Sector
Governmental trends
20%
32%
Governments are involved in the built environment in all sorts
of ways. Government policy on the built environment directly
2%
4%
4%
affects energy demand to some extent. So far policy has focused on reducing building-related consumption in the new
6%
building area (by means of Energy Performance Standards).
7%
For domestic appliances there are energy labels to encour-
25%
age consumers to buy energy-efficient appliances. We have
already recalled in Chapter 1 the main targets associated with
the recent European Council decisions, setting the scene up
HVAC
Refrigeration
Lighting
Computers
formance of Buildings Directive15, in particular as far as Public
Electronics
Cooking
Buildings are concerned, as well as in the Eco-design and
Wayter heating
Others & adj.
Energy services directives. Government policies on e.g. com-
to 2050. Targets are also set in the recast of the Energy Per-
fort, air quality, local mobility and noise also indirectly affect
14. DoE Building Book 2008
15. CEC, “Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Energy Performance of Buildings (recast)”, 13.11.2008
taken to design, build, occupy etc. buildings. The most im-
tional, and certainly international, trend is for standards to be
portant decisions are made early on in the building process.
raised constantly. As the built environment is required to meet
Therefore, after local authorities, it is mainly developers and
various types of standards, the regulations relating to it are
housing associations that are responsible for them. Most
accordingly complex (building regulations, directives on noise
suppliers of building units and subsystems are highly short-
and moisture levels, energy performance, etc.). Although gov-
term-oriented, not looking any further ahead than five years
ernments are looking at ways of deregulating, we shall still
at most, generally speaking. As the building contracting
have to contend with a whole host of standards, rules, pro-
industry itself is highly national, many commercial operators
cedures, etc. in the built environment. Local authorities also
also have a strong focus on the domestic market. Suppliers,
have an effect on trends in the built environment: by setting
however, are increasingly becoming international. Because of
out aspirations for estates/buildings that are to be developed
the way the building industry is organised, decision-makers/
they determine what happens to a large extent, and this takes
investors in e.g. energy saving or sustainable energy are not
place at a very early stage.
the ones who benefit from the gains that these can provide.
As a result of this imbalance, market forces do not provide
Scarcity of resources
any strong incentives towards Life-Cycle-Costing for buildings, and breakthroughs are only likely if regulations are also
Europe is facing an increasing scarcity of raw material supply
set in place. Because cost optimisation is to a large extent
in various fields. In order to reduce the energy and carbon
linked with optimisation of the required amount of man-power,
burden linked to building materials and components, Europe
more and more use will be made of prefabrication and ICT
will see an increasing pressure on their sustainable perform-
(e.g. Building Information Models) in the building process.
ance, i.e. longer service life, multi-functionality as a primary
step to create added-value of material use, more efficient use
2.1.3 Key pillars of the Roadmap
of primary raw materials, an increase in recycling as well as an
increasing use of renewables. In addition, the application of
The challenges the sector faces are too complex to be solved
lightweight materials and systems will be inevitable to reduce
by a single uniform action. Furthermore the EU's buildings sec-
the environmental impact of the construction process. Par-
tor is a true example of the EU's diverse nature. For example,
ticularly with respect to the last two issues, the scarcity of re-
looking just at the integration of renewable energies in the built
sources will be a restraining factor. As energy demand for the
environment will not in itself be sufficient to decrease Europe’s
operational phase of the building life cycle is decreasing and/
energy dependence. In a similar way, retrofitting buildings one
or for a larger part covered by renewable energy, the embod-
by one will never solve climate change problems. These are
ied energy of building materials and components will become
some of the reasons why we also need to adopt a holistic
an increasingly important aspect to take into account. The
approach, considering technological aspects, technology inte-
present ratio between embodied energy and energy during
gration (targeting both the buildings and the broader urban en-
the use phase of a building is about 20/80.
vironment) as well as the user as the key for successful impact.
Industrial/Commercial trends
Working at district level, or on large groups of buildings,
is certainly the true scale identified within the long term strat-
An enormous diversity of commercial operators is involved
egy by E2BA16 and it is fully reflected in the design of the
in the built environment. Housing associations, developers,
long term Roadmap. Only district scale intervention will permit
suppliers of components or subsystems, contractors/build-
the achievement of the much higher energy efficiency targets
ers, service providers, all of these play a role in the decisions
required by optimising the use of energy at different levels:
16. www.e2b-ei.eu
Energy-efficient Buildings PPP
energy performance in the built environment. The general na-
11
> whole district (networks and grids, street lighting and
signalisation, urban heat production..);
Fast implementation and performance feedback represent a major element in building up the long term strategy and
> groups of dwellings (sharing and managing energy pro-
the multi-annual Roadmap within the EeB PPP. Monitoring and
duction, social attitudes, involving public owners…);
proper reactive actions are then major components. Both are
> residential and non-residential building level (insulation,
included in what industry has called a “wave action”. In this
building energy management systems, high performan-
“wave action” plan, continuous, on-going research feeds suc-
ce energy systems, integration of renewables,…);
cessive waves of projects as stated here below. The knowl-
> other synergies at the regional or national level or in
areas with similar climatic characteristics.
edge gained in the first “wave” feeds into the second at the
design stage, realising a continuous implementation process.
Energy-efficient Buildings PPP
The Roadmap is based therefore on the following logic:
12
One of the fundamentals of the long term strategy is that
> continuous, on-going research feeding successive
energy efficiency will respond to climate change and energy
“waves” of projects (Design&Building followed by Ope-
issues, providing we are able to trigger large scale actions
ration) as stated here below;
concerning all Member States. Different climates, building
> knowledge gained in the first “wave” feeding also the
traditions and cultural, historic and economic factors have re-
second at the design stage, realising a continuous
sulted in significant variations between the EU Member States
implementation process (see Figure 2 below).
and even between their regions. We observe that 20 European Member States have specific policies and measures
Figure 2 - Wave action along the multi-annual Roadmap
addressing climate change for the Building Sector, 8 Member
States have launched RD&D actions in the building sector,
14 Member States have developed educational measures,
Years
01
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09
10
3 Member States propose public investment measures,
15 Member States propose financial instruments and incentives/subsidies while 16 Member States propose regulatory
Wave 1
D&B
O
instruments. In order to generate an impact, our Roadmap
addresses therefore the concept of “geo-clusters”, con-
Wave 2
D&B
O
ceived as virtual trans-national areas/markets where strong
similarities are found, for instance, in terms of climate, cul-
Wave 3
D&B
O
ture and behaviour, construction typologies, economy and
energy/resources price policies, Gross Domestic Product,
but also types of technological solutions (because of local
Continuous Research
demand-supply aspects) or building materials applied, etc.
Our Roadmap is therefore based on a holistic approach,
Within a ten year time perspective, three waves will have been
contributing to a proper integration of specific solutions
completed. A movement will have been started and other
developed in the various technical fields to form a coher-
waves of implementation will follow. Clearly in our vision and
ent, global solution. In this framework, the Roadmap has
ambition the work will not stop after ten years. As a result of
been built on pillars, such as: 1) systemic approach;
this “wave action” we expect to achieve an impact following a
2) exploitation of the potential at district level;
stepped approach, namely:
3) geo-clusters. As a result, the Roadmap will fully leverage
on the GOLD rule: Globally Optimised, Locally Designed.
> Step 1: Reducing the energy use of buildings and
its negative impacts on environment;
> Step 2: Buildings cover their own energy needs;
which globally maps the European R&D priorities landscape,
> Step 3: Transformation of buildings into energy
relevant to Energy-efficient Buildings.
providers, preferably at district level.
and have been very important in the identification of Research
Roadmap mainly on the first step of the longer term strategy,
Priorities. More than 1700 inputs from relevant European Ini-
namely “Reducing the energy use of buildings and its impacts
tiatives of potential interest for energy-efficient buildings have
on environment”. Nevertheless, the multi-annual Roadmap will
been identified. The inputs collected from the E2BA members
also tackle the development of the enabling knowledge and
have been compared with research priorities identified from
technologies (e.g. demand reduction, renewable energy pro-
the analysis of the Strategic Research Agendas, Implemen-
duction and energy storage through multidisciplinary research
tation Plans and relevant R&D Position Papers, as a cross-
efforts) which are instrumental for the more ambitious Step 2
check that relevant research challenges for the sector were
and Step 3 objectives, launching the required more fundamen-
not missed. Further major initiatives have been considered,
tal and applied research actions. This further justifies the logic
for instance the recent “Vision and Research Roadmap”
of a continuous research activity along the Roadmap itself.
from the International Energy Agency17 or the latest report
on “Energy Efficiency in Buildings” from the World Busi-
2.2 The methodology and large involvement
of stakeholders
but two. Previous work from DG INFSO's "Ad-Hoc Adviso-
This chapter provides an overview of the methodology which
the available results from the project REEB “Strategic
has been used for the identification of the research priorities
research Roadmap to ICT enabled energy-efficiency in
by the AIAG, in a broad consultation within E2BA and the
buildings and construction” has been duly taken into ac-
enlarged network of stakeholders. This constitutes the basis
count. An in-depth analysis and clustering exercise has been
of a long term strategy and the multi-annual Roadmap up to
performed on the research gaps and challenges gathered
2013, the focus of this document. Through the E2BA mem-
during this initial phase. Key criteria for selection were:
ness Council for Sustainable Development18, to name
ry Group Report on ICT for Energy Efficiency" as well as
bers and their multiplying effects, a large community of Local
> Impact, intended as the expected contribution to re-
Authorities, Capital Providers, Developers (Designers, Engi-
duce energy use and greenhouse gas Emissions in the
neers, Contractors), Supply chain (Materials and Equipment
built environment as well as the potential to increase
Suppliers), Investors and Owners as well as End Users have
competitiveness of the stakeholders in the value chain,
been reached, providing a broad overview of the research
including tangible social and economic benefits for the
needs for the future of the sector. Indeed, over 200 contribu-
end-users (e.g. reduction of the energy bill);
tions highlighting research challenges and opportunities have
> Innovation Potential, intended as the opportunity to
been gathered from more than 100 E2BA member organisa-
introduce new scientific and technological advance-
tions, organised in five Working Groups. An in-depth analysis
ments for the sector which may trigger the develop-
of Strategic Research Agendas, Implementation Plans and
ment of novel knowledge-based products, processes
relevant R&D Position Papers from running European Tech-
and services, including sustainable business models
nology Platforms (ETPs) and Joint Technology Initiatives (JTIs)
and policy instruments that can mobilise user accep-
was performed in parallel. This was duly confronted with other
tance;
relevant European Initiatives, such as the Roadmaps of the
> Time to market, intended as the time frame for the ta-
Industrial Initiatives or the SETIS Information System within
ke-up of results and the introduction of the technologi-
the SET Plan. This allowed the building up of a taxonomy
cal and non-technological innovations in the market;
17. “Vision and Research Roadmap for Future Sustainable Buildings and Communities”, IEA, Final version, 9.9.2007
18. “Transforming the market: Energy Efficiency in Buildings” WBCSD, 2009
Energy-efficient Buildings PPP
These two parallel exercises demonstrated a powerful synergy
It is the objective within the EeB PPP to focus the multi-annual
13
> Geo-clusters, intended as the added value to tackle
It is worth noting the relevance of non-technological challeng-
the challenges at EU level, clustering different climatic
es in the overall strategy, being user acceptance, build up of
areas, business cultures and value chain practices, to
a value chain, availability of new business models and proper
name a few, thus securing that globally optimised tech-
policy instruments, to name a few, highly important. These are
nical solutions and policy tools may be adaptable to
drivers that are crucial for successful implementation and a
local specificities, while securing EU technological and
paradigm shift, definitely benefiting from benchmarking both
economic competitiveness (including IPR leadership);
across enlarged Europe and the world.
Energy-efficient Buildings PPP
> Investments/Funding requirements, intended as the
14
resources needed to address the technological and
Indeed, in building up the Roadmap, special attention has
non-technological challenges, proportional to the am-
been given to horizontal aspects and not just technological
bition of the underlying scientific developments and the
barriers, in line with the document of the Lead Market Initia-
need to deploy large demonstration programmes to
tive for EU, “Accelerating the Development of the Sustainable
ensure replicability;
Construction Market in Europe”. On these topics, Europe has
> Inter-disciplinarity, intended as the need to combine
launched actions and programmes such as ECO-BUILDINGS
different scientific and non-technical disciplines to ad-
(more than 100 projects from FP5, FP6 and FP7 in many dif-
dress the specific challenges, in line with the overall
ferent European cities) CONCERTO (18 projects from FP6
goal of the EeB PPP initiative.
and FP7 covering 46 different CONCERTO communities),
SAVE projects, the ERA-NET initiative “ERACOBUILD” as well
Five major areas have been identified, each grouping several
as national programmes. By addressing the identified trans-
research challenges. The overall scenario is graphically pre-
versal aspects, the proposed approach has duly taken them
sented in Figure 3 below.
all into account either supporting the implementation of already obtained results or by developing coherent, comple-
Figure 3 – Key research areas targeting the challenges
at the basis of the long term strategy
mentary actions.
In this framework, the structured approach tackles all relevant
domains to increase cost effectiveness, improve performance
and remove technical and market barriers, developing a ho-
Neutral/energy
positive
new buildings
Refurbishment
to transform existing
buildings into
energy-efficient
buildings
listic strategy and generating appropriate business models to
Horizontal
organisational
aspects
address economic, social and environmental requirements at
building and district level.
A quali-quantitative ranking of the research challenges towards the objectives of the EeB PPP has been made at AIAG
level, giving priorities in terms of implementation. The overall
EeB
methodology at the basis of the identification of research challenges and priorities is presented in Figure 4.
Energy efficient
district/communities
Horizontal
technological
aspects
Figure 4 – Overview of the methodology to identify
future research priorities
LEVEL 1
Construction (ECTP)
Constr
LEVEL 2
Efficient use of
underground city space
Construction (ECTP)
Constr
Efficient use of
underground city space
Efficient use of
underground city space
Construction (ECTP)
Construction (ECTP)
Construction (ECTP)
Construction (ECTP)
Construction (ECTP)
Efficient use of
underground city space
Efficient use of
underground city space
Mobility and Supply
through Efficient Networks
Mobility and Supply
through Efficient Networks
LEVEL3
New materials for waterproof and self-caulking, insulation,
fire safety, all being strong enough to withstand ground pressures,
flexible enough to absorb ground movements and with high
durability in an underground environment
Construction processes for large underground spaces below
cities and interurban connections
Special devices for ground conditioning, ventilation, air regeneration
and conditioning, exhaust absorption, communications, transport
systems, ground water treatment
Air-conditioning
Artificial sun
Multimodal use against monomodal use
New system for exchanging information
ormation among infrastructures
and operators
CROSS-CHECK AND HARMONISATION
Refurbishment
of Existing Buildings
District/
Communities
INPUTS FROM STAKEHOLDERS
(CHANNELLED THROUGH E2BA)
> more than 200 contributions
Horizontal aspect
(organizational)
CLUSTERING OF INPUTS
Neutral/Energy-positive
New Buildings
EeB
Horizontal aspect
(technological)
4.2.2 Urban
4.2.1 Building
planning: urban
designing:
ning:
concepts,
design co
oncepts,
design concepts,
designing tools at
ning
designing
district level
ls 4.2 New ways
tools
of designing
44.2.3
2 3 Labelling
Labe
and assessment
methodologies
me
ethodologie
WG3.3.1
G3.3.1
Integration
Inte
gra
WG3.3.2
W
WG3.3.3
W
G3 of
o new
w efficient
e
Adapt
taati of heat
Integration
Int
teg Buildings
existing
Bui
uiildings
ildi3.3s in
i Adaptation
WG
grid
to
t demand
of RES
Districts
WG3.3.5
Interaction
and changesWG
B2 Grid
Integration
WG3.3.7
WG3.3
WG3.3.6
3.6
Interconection
Intercone
B 2 Building
lding
of PIHV
PIH
A more detailed presentation of the research challenges and
priorities, covering both technological and non-technological
aspects, is presented in the following Chapters.
Energy-efficient Buildings PPP
> SRAs and Implementation Plans
from 37 ETPs have been analysed
LIST OF RESEARCH PRIORITIES
SRAs ANALYSIS
COMMON TARGETS AND MULTI-DISCIPLINARY LINKS
HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED
15
3.0 RESEARCH CHALLENGES
3.1 Key challenges for a long term strategy
In a context of meeting ambitious targets for improving energy independence and for fighting against climate change,
the long term goals are surely towards low energy and energy
positive buildings/districts which require new knowledge and
technologies to overcome current limitations. Nevertheless,
several research challenges need to be addressed for a sustainable strategy for energy-efficient buildings, such as:
> Definition of energy-efficient solutions for renovanew buildings but only a few are optimised for the exis-
greatly in supporting the development of the energy
ting stock. Moreover, buildings, especially residential
efficiency market. Price being one of the major drivers
buildings, are never considered as a whole. Therefore,
for the customers, R&D together with deployment has
there are a lot of components (windows, insulation ma-
to reduce drastically the cost of certain technologies
terials, boilers, lighting, etc.) which are installed, ser-
(market of hundreds of thousand of units), such as
viced and maintained by different companies without
heat pumps, photovoltaics or emerging lighting solu-
a holistic approach to the overall building operation.
tions, to name a few. There is also a large potential
The result is a lack of energy efficiency and in some
for an increase of performance from the economic
cases functionality once the buildings are refurbished.
and CO2 point of view. Heat pumps have an opera-
R&D has to propose integrated solutions taking into
tional coefficient of performance of around 3 today,
account the various constraints of existing buildings.
and they could move to 4 and higher in the coming
It is assumed that the developments of many innova-
years. Furthermore, as example, an additional 30-40%
tive solutions (systems composed of insulation and
energy saving for lighting could be achieved by adding
thermal storage materials, renewables, etc.) are relevant for the countries all over Europe.
intelligence to modern systems.
> Market transformation shall indeed be researched
> There is also a need for acceptability by customers
and investigated. Low carbon technologies have to
which means that 1) each behavioural strategy must
move from a several-hundred-thousands to a multi-
be clear as to the associated technology (e.g. encou-
million-unit-per-year market. Financing issues also
raging people to avoid overheating in winter would be
need to be tackled, jointly implementing new business
supported by effective, intelligible heating controls) and
models and services with a life cycle perspective.
2) each technology must be thought through in terms
> Building industry transformation has to be achie-
of the behavioural correlates (e.g. whether energy-effi-
ved. The gaps are on systemic approaches for refurbis-
cient ventilation will actually be used) and opportunities
hment, building design and quality of installation. Due to
(to encourage behaviour change while delivering the
the complexity of the situation (different components to
technology). The outcome of research into unders-
be assembled in order to minimise the investment, the
tanding barriers and drivers for non-technical (e.g.
running cost and the CO2 emission), there is a real need
behaviour) and technical aspects, such as the develo-
to develop new codes, and to provide new tools and
pment of multifunctional solutions (e.g. eco-efficiency,
guidelines to the building industry. There is also a need
comfort, aesthetic value…), would speed up the trans-
to develop solutions suitable for use by the construction
formation of the market. Cost savings can also help
industry: affordable packaged solutions or kits which are
Energy-efficient Buildings PPP
tion. Many innovative solutions are directed towards
17
easy to install. Europe will thus develop a competitive in-
buildings, in order to increase their energy performance,
dustry, from component manufacturers to installers and a
reducing energy use and integrating RES. Today the ef-
broader range of knowledge-based service providers.
forts focus mainly on local energy generation (integrating
for example massive PV, micro generation, etc.) without
Obligations and incentives might be successful in producing re-
taking into account the global energy efficiency of integra-
sults, but, for a more effective strategy in Europe, the Regulators
tion in buildings. Technologies and methods exist to build
and the Companies should address R&D innovation in combi-
neutral or energy positive buildings, able to produce more
nation with marketing efforts and information campaigns: “From
energy that they use, although the efficient exploitation of
Obligations & Incentives to Information & Innovation”.
resources within a life cycle perspective or the concep-
Energy-efficient Buildings PPP
tion of adequate business models are often not addressed.
18
3.2 Research challenges at the basis
of a multi-annual Roadmap
Renewable energy production potential is going to be suf-
In order to address the challenges ahead and accomplish the
ever, require new breakthroughs. Combined with PV-effi-
strategic vision highlighted, a number of research areas have
ciency improvements, building-integrated PV could double
been identified, as detailed in Figure 3, namely:
the current contribution of energy positive houses. Better
ficient for new low-rise buildings to keep a neutral energy
balance. Implementation onto high rise buildings will, how-
knowledge of the spectral solar radiance (the radiation at
1. Refurbishment to transform existing buildings into
different incident and azimuth angle under different weather
energy-efficient buildings, where breakthroughs are
conditions) is required, as this may impact both energy
searched for in more efficient solutions for insulation or low
production as well as thermal energy absorption/reflection,
carbon integrated systems with low renovation cost (50%
enabling the development of new multifunctional concepts.
of a new building). Opportunities exist to improve the en-
Novel contracting models which take into account the pos-
ergy performance of most of the existing buildings, reduc-
itive balance in energy management are needed, including
ing the thermal energy demand and increasing the renew-
performance, duration of high level of performance, main-
able energy production. A wide improvement in energy
tenance, etc. (see continuous commissioning).
demand is possible, moving from more than 300 kWh/m²
to 50 kWh/m² per year. The impact in terms of decrease
3. Energy-efficient districts/communities, where inno-
of energy use and CO2 will be strong, considering that in
vation is required to enable new methods of addressing
Europe 80% of the 2030 building stock already exists and
the difference in dynamics of energy supply and demand,
today 30% of existing buildings are historical buildings.
in the diversity in energy demands (magnitude and type:
If we consider indeed the retrofitting of historical buildings,
heat, cold, electricity), in the energy losses in distribution
the technologies are today mainly devoted to monitoring
of thermal energy, in the difficulty to split the incentives,
the movable and fixed works of art instead of control of
in the difficulty to operate in existing buildings and dis-
the energy use or environmental pollution reduction. In this
tricts and in the current absence of exchange/sharing of
case the retrofit must respect the integrity, authenticity and
energy by different decentralised suppliers. The creation
compatibility between the old and the new materials and
of a system that can adjust to the needs of the user by
techniques.
analysing behaviour patterns will raise the overall performance of buildings and districts. For this to happen,
2. Neutral/Energy-positive new buildings, where break-
the design of systems should re-orient from centralised
throughs are required in new efficient, robust, cost effec-
control logic of the whole building to localised control of
tive and user friendly concepts to be integrated in new
individual rooms with communication between control-
of building construction practices and optimised building
districts. Coupling of centralised and decentralised solu-
system operation in a time/cost efficient manner through
tions for peak shaving, the renewable energy share and
simulations) and in the area of existing building renovation
the thermal and electrical energy storage can be devel-
(e.g. optimisation of the choice or renovation materials or
oped in order to increase the energy matching potential
specification of optimal operation improvements of exist-
across different energy demand inside the district (e.g.
ing HVAC systems). Opportunities also exist to develop
heat, cold, electric energy and energy needed for public
robust wireless sensors and actuators that can make en-
and private transport). Efforts to implement "low-exergy
ergy management systems cost-effective and widespread.
system approaches" are needed which try to minimise
The development of new standard protocols will make
the temperature differences in the system (e.g. solar col-
possible to analyse energy behaviour consistently all
lectors + heatpump + floor heating/cooling), in order to
over the EU countries. Dealing with electricity the balance
optimize the overall system efficiency. New markets and
between demand and supply has to be satisfied at any
services related to energy exchange/conversion within
time. Demand response solutions taking into account the
districts will be developed. New technical and commer-
user’s feedback regarding electricity will be a crucial is-
cial activities will be necessary.
sue for both energy efficiency and peak load management.
All these horizontal actions will ensure a drastic reduction
4. Horizontal technological aspects, where current bot-
of CO2 during the building's life.
tlenecks, irrespective of the application area (new, existing
buildings or districts), consist in the lack of cost-effective
5.Horizontal organisational aspects, where current bot-
technical solutions for demand reduction, optimal use
tlenecks exist in the individual behaviour and social and
of renewable energy, accurate simulation tools to evalu-
economic development that have a strong effect on energy
ate the expected impact of new systems and solutions
demand in buildings. Moreover, the introduction of new
in the energy use in buildings. We are aware of the lack
products and technologies in the construction sector is very
of reliable measurements from Energy Management Sys-
slow (technological inertia), due to lack of information un-
tems that cannot adapt to user behaviour, or are not in-
der real conditions of the performance of these products in
tuitive for the end-user. We anticipate underpinning R&D
buildings. Standardisation is strongly focusing on perform-
to support efficient labelling systems and standards with
ance. Nevertheless, opportunities exist to adapt products,
a sound scientific and technical basis, addressing current
systems and technologies to the final user’s need (comfort,
bottlenecks (i.e. when different standards or their different
quality of life, etc.) with the aim to achieve better energy
use leads to non-comparable results). Opportunities also
efficiency in buildings and to ensure the expected reduction
exist to activate and optimise the thermal mass of building
in energy use. Finally, new standardisation methodologies
materials and develop new materials with low embedded
as well as new models of buildings need to cope with the
energy, components and systems to maximise the usage
real performance of buildings.
of local renewable energy sources (e.g. through seasonal
storage). We will require simulation tools based on interop-
Each of the Research Areas has been further analysed and
erability principles and on new algorithms taking into ac-
broken down into specific challenges. As many challenges
count ancillary phenomena for a high accuracy in building
overlap across the three application areas (Existing Build-
physical predictions. They will increase the time-to-market
ings, New Buildings and Districts/Communities) and their
criteria, together with the fast implementation and perform-
presentation would have resulted in multiple similar de-
ance feedback. Simulation tools could find application in
scriptions, the following VENN diagram (Figure 5) has been
the area of new building construction (e.g. optimisation
prepared.
Energy-efficient Buildings PPP
lers. Opportunities exist for low-energy or energy-positive
19
Figure 5 - VENN diagram showing inter-relationship
among research challenges
Energy-efficient Buildings PPP
REFURBISHMENT
TO TRANSFORM
EXISTING
BUILDINGS INTO
ENERGY-EFFICIENT
BUILDINGS
Systems
and Equipment
for energy use
for existing buildings
Envelope
(for existing buildings)
Solutions for Cultural
Heritage (including
diagnostics)
Systemic Approach
for existing buildings
CROSS-CUTTING CHALLENGES
Relationship between
User and Energy
Geoclustering
Value Chain
and SMEs focus
Knowledge transfer
Business models,
organizational
and financial models
(including ESCOs)
HORIZONTAL
TECHNOLOGICAL
ASPECTS
HORIZONTAL
ORGANIZATIONAL
ASPECTS
Systems and Equipment
for energy use (horizontal)
Storage of energy
Quality indoor environment
Design – integration
of new solutions
Envelope and components
Industrialization and mass customization
Automation and control
Life cycle analysis (LCA)
Energy Management Systems
20
Labeling and standardization
Materials: embodied energy
and multi-functionality
Diagnosis and predictive maintenance
(continuous commissioning)
Systems and Equipment for energy
production (horizontal)
Diagnosis
ENERGY EFFICIENT
DISTRICT/COMMUNITIES
Interaction (integration) between
buildings, grid, heat network …
Systems and Equipment for
energy production (district)
District and urban design
Systems and Equipment
for energy use (district)
Storage of energy (district):
thermal, electrical or other
Retrofitting (district)
NEUTRAL/ENERGY
POSITIVE
NEW BUILDINGS
Systems
and equipment
for energy use
for new buildings
Systemic approach
for new buildings
The diagram highlights those “cross-cutting challeng-
today. Multifunctionality, including energy production,
es” which are relevant for more than one of the application
distribution and storage technologies, shall be inte-
areas, showing inter-relationships and common areas of
grated into the envelope system for building retrofit-
research. This is the case for instance of “Energy Storage”,
ting. Materials, products, components and building
which is identified as a “cross-cutting challenge” as well as
techniques used in new buildings need to be further
a specific challenge for Districts/Communities, or “Systems
developed and adapted to the constraints of existing
and Equipment for Energy Use”, which is identified as a
buildings. For instance, the use of bricks and roof tiles
“cross-cutting challenge” as well as a specific challenge for
must be taken into account in some countries when
New and Existing Buildings. Although it is clear that some of
targeting the development of novel solutions for exis-
the cross-cutting challenges build on different requirements
ting buildings. All this requires that energy efficiency is
and address different constraints, depending on the applica-
added to current retrofitting solutions.
expertise and knowledge, is quite similar. We have therefore
> Solutions for historic buildings and cultural he-
considered them in the following within the broader Horizontal
ritage (including diagnostics): there is a need for
Aspects, either Technological or Organisational (depending
novel sustainable strategies, concepts, methodolo-
on their nature). Those challenges which have a similar head-
gies and techniques to improve the energy efficiency
ing but require different research approaches and solutions
of cultural heritage buildings. This comes along with
have been kept in their original position within each applica-
the need for accurate evaluation of the prerequisites
tion area. Based on this logic, each research challenge at
and definition of different solutions for the control and
the basis of the multi-annual Roadmap is described
maintenance of historical buildings. Innovative metho-
in the following sections in terms of “breakthroughs
dologies need to be developed to improve the planned
searched for”.
maintenance and conservation policies at EU level,
considering the adaptability to new building-usages
3.2.1 Refurbishment to transform Existing Buildings
into energy-efficient buildings
and minimum intervention impact. Breakthroughs are
searched for in new simulation tools for an open and
dynamic geo-database accessible to all stakeholders
As far as “Refurbishment to transform existing buildings into
to allow the definition of common EU standards and
energy efficient buildings” is concerned, four research chal-
common approaches.
lenges are described below:
> Systems and equipment for energy use (for exis> Envelope19 (for existing buildings): breakthroughs
ting buildings): breakthroughs are needed in new
are needed in the area of new materials, products and
methodologies to integrate comfort systems, energy
components to address energy efficiency with fault
management systems and local energy generation.
tolerant procedures and building techniques. There
New flexible and efficient equipment to be operated in
is a need to develop insulation systems specifically
existing buildings is needed, fully exploiting the poten-
designed for the energy efficient retrofitting of existing
tial of renewable energy sources, including PV. Specific
and occupied buildings. "Long life" thin insulated pa-
efforts should be devoted to space heating and hot
nels with "High Performances" are missing; "adapted"
domestic water, representing the largest part of energy
products for external thermal insulation which keep the
use in the buildings today. Heat pump technology has
aesthetic aspect of the house and which are easy to
high potential but still needs further development to
install are not available at a low price on the market
target higher performances, having as goals low cost,
19. A building envelope is the separation between the interior and the exterior environments of a building. The physical components of the envelope include the foundation, roof, walls, doors and windows.
The dimensions, performance and compatibility of materials, fabrication process and details, their connections and interactions are the main factors that determine the energy efficiency and durability
of the building enclosure system.
Energy-efficient Buildings PPP
tion area considered, the type of research required, including
21
Energy-efficient Buildings PPP
22
small size and suitability for retrofitting buildings. The
zing the refurbishment of existing buildings should in-
residential sector is firstly concerned. There is a need
tegrate various technological solutions (envelope, sys-
to design reliable, scalable and cost-effective solu-
tems, renewable energy sources, thermal storage …)
tions for solar hot water and electricity production in
which will interact with each other and with the existing
buildings (e.g. multi housing or social housing stock).
building elements. This optimization process needs to
Energy efficiency enhancement is sought by applying
follow a systemic approach; otherwise unexpected ef-
new concepts of heating and/or cooling sources. This
fects may appear on the whole system (for example
refers to higher efficiency as well as connection to
degrading acoustic or ventilation performances when
existing thermal distribution systems. Passive systems
increasing envelope insulation). In this framework,
need to be developed that will enable replacement of
energy efficient “kits” may emerge as an opportunity
conventional ventilation and cooling systems, used
to retrofit buildings at affordable prices. Furthermore,
both in office and residential buildings. Solid State
research should address issues like how targets for
Lighting (SSL) requires large demonstration to bring its
improving the carbon performance of a building during
full potential for energy efficiency into practice.
a refurbishment are set and monitored, and how risk is
allocated between client and contractor, while ensuring
> Systemic approach (for existing buildings): integral
the quality of installation and commissioning.
concepts consisting of building and system technologies making up energy efficient refurbishment pac-
3.2.2 Neutral/Energy-positive new buildings
kages (e.g. 80% reduction in primary energy demand
in the long term) are searched for, with improved com-
As far as “Neutral/Energy-positive new buildings” is con-
fort and quality of the indoor environment, as well as
cerned, two research challenges are described below:
high reproduction potential, making optimal use of local
energy opportunities and boundary conditions. Optimi-
> Systems and equipment for energy use (for new
buildings): in line with the need in existing buildings,
energy efficient technologies need further development to target higher efficiency heating solutions for
new buildings. Energy efficiency enhancement by applying new concepts of heating and/or cooling sources
related, for instance, to renewables, heat pump and
thermal storage is sought. Development of passive
systems is needed that will enable replacement of
conventional ventilation and cooling systems, used
both in office and residential buildings. For new buildings these needs have to be combined with new design and technologies to provide higher heat transfer
efficiency. The application of new materials has to be
investigated as well as new designs able to provide
larger and more efficient heat transfer areas. Finally,
demand response solutions taking into account the
user’s feedback will be a crucial issue for both energy
efficiency and peak load management.
3.2.3 Energy-efficient districts/communities
As far as “districts/communities” are concerned, six research
challenges are described below:
> District and urban design: there is a need for the development of new decision support tools for eco-district
design choices in line with the GOLD paradigm (Globally Optimised Locally Designed), including relevant
aspects such as the integration with the transportation
infrastructure and smart grids, to name a few. In this
needed to study and to introduce climate adaptation
and mitigation. Breakthroughs are searched for in the
development of innovative methodologies, tools and
solutions for continuous district commissioning.
> Systems and equipment for energy production
> Systemic Approach (for new buildings): integral
at district level20 : solutions are needed for achieving
concepts, consisting of building and system techno-
20% coverage of built environment energy demand by
logies (e.g. roofing and facade systems for high enve-
renewable (thermal and electrical) energy production
lope/plants integration) making up neutral/energy-po-
at district level (10-15 GJ/capita of district population).
sitive buildings are needed, with good quality of the
This has to come along with new methods of predic-
indoor environment and high reproducibility, making
ting one day ahead the renewable energy production
optimal use of local energy opportunities and boun-
at a resolution of 15 minutes. As far as energy pro-
dary conditions. Simulation tools taking into account
duction at district level is concerned, new methodolo-
ancillary phenomena for a high accuracy in building
gies are also needed to link district systems and smart
physical predictions are also required. Within this sys-
(heat/cold and power) grids, exploiting for instance the
temic approach it is worthwhile considering also the
potential of low-temperature district heating systems
growing need to design and build for adaptability to
based on renewable energy.
climate change. Furthermore systemic approaches
are needed in terms of well-designed cooperating
> Systems and equipment for energy use at district
parts (system packages) of installation and systems,
level: energy-conversion hub/router concepts are
to be able to use Building Information Models (BIMs)
needed, enabling maximum renewable energy usage
successfully and in relation to standardisation as well
from decentralised (electrical, thermal) production by
as diagnosis of materials and systems in a coherent
combination of storage and energy-conversion tech-
way. Architectural aspects are essential in order to uti-
niques in one district demand-supply station which
lise thermal masses and still design buildings of high
is fully integrated with the smart grid. Such solutions
aesthetic quality that people like to live and work in.
should prevent a loss of energy efficiency of approxi-
Design best-in-class processes and construction
mately 15-20%, as is typically encountered at system
methods are also needed.
level (with respect to total potential at component level).
20. All values were related to energy produced by district systems, thus excluding energy produced by buildings or outside the district borders such as wind farms and off-shore wind
Energy-efficient Buildings PPP
framework, innovative approaches in district design are
23
At a system level, efficient management of boosted
water pumps for global energy reduction in water supply and distribution is extremely important at district level, including their possible reversible use for effective
energy harvesting. Integration of advanced efficient
urban lighting, including new preventive maintenance
procedures is needed. Breakthroughs are searched
for in the development of efficient transportation infrastructures at district and urban level to minimise energy
use and fuel consumption, addressing both hybrid and
fully electric vehicles as well as future hydrogen-based
Energy-efficient Buildings PPP
mobility systems;
24
> Storage of energy: thermal, electrical or other
(chemical, hydrogen, mechanical, others): specific
solutions are needed, enabling storage of renewable
thermal energy at district level (5-10 GJ/capita of district population), with respect to the current situation
where normally no thermal energy is stored in district
systems. Innovative solutions are needed as far as sto-
lection has potential to improve energy recovery. Inte-
rage of renewable electric energy is concerned at dis-
gral on-demand conversion of energy carriers between
trict level (2-4 GJ/capita), with respect to current ave-
different forms requires specific research actions. New
rage electric energy stored by district systems: 0 GJ/
methods for real-time energy demand-supply mana-
capita in the district. Seasonal storage of energy should
gement are required jointly with innovative approaches
be tackled considering also any effect on the sub-soil
for building-to-grid integration without power quality
(specifically in the case of thermal energy). This is es-
pollution. In this framework, new technologies and ap-
pecially relevant for densely populated areas where
proaches are needed to enable effective Building-to-
there is a lack of surface area. Novel approaches are
Building interaction as in an energy market. Energy ef-
needed for the development of innovative methodolo-
ficiency interoperability of buildings with other domains
gies for using bio-gas as storage medium and energy
(transportation, energy grids, etc.) has to be achieved.
carrier within districts, combined with effective waste
Methodologies and tools for CO2 as well as certifica-
management strategies at community level;
tion procedures at district level are required;
> Interaction (integration) between buildings, grid,
> Retrofitting: Identification of building groups by period
heat networks, etc.: innovative methodologies for the
and energy performance has to be performed. The use
bi-directional connection between storage systems,
of green areas in urban retrofitting planning requires
smart grids, buildings and vehicles/mobility systems
specific solutions to be developed; new research efforts
are needed jointly with methodologies for the bi-direc-
need to be deployed for the energy-efficient retrofitting
tional connection between grids and utilities networks,
of historical districts. Cost-effective integration of emer-
in line with the SET plan. The interconnection between
ging technologies to improve the return on investment
water and energy is a key challenge; wastewater col-
within an holistic life cycle perspective are needed.
3.2.4 Horizontal technological aspects
needs further development for its cost-effective integration in systems and equipment. Energy efficiency
As far as “Horizontal technological aspects” are concerned,
enhancement is sought by applying new concepts of
thirteen research challenges are described below:
heating and/or cooling sources, including sustainable
riers such as hydrogen. Innovations are also sought
buildings): Thermal insulation materials, and in gene-
to enhance performance of existing thermal distri-
ral the envelope of the buildings, are most important
bution systems, including new approaches which
contributors to the decrease of energy demand in the
go beyond the state of the art. Other energy users,
building. Improvements of thermal properties of mate-
such as lighting systems, need to be more intelligent
rials have a strong impact in the energy demand of the
in their interaction with the surroundings, in such a
buildings. This could be reached by adding coatings,
way that lighting will be applied only when needed,
nanotechnologies, raw materials, other additives, etc.
and in the most efficient and meaningful way (linked
Furthermore, new or adapted products and techniques
to health, comfort and productivity).
are needed to increase energy efficiency of transparent
envelope parts. New integrated approaches to fill the
> Systems and equipment for energy production
gap between theory and practice are needed in the trai-
(for new or existing buildings): improvements in
ning process of workmanship, including emerging tech-
the integration of PV in the external façade are nee-
nologies like virtual or augmented reality. New modelling
ded, for instance PV integrated on the surface of the
and simulation approaches are needed to take into ac-
building materials or building materials such as roofs
count the overall physics and behaviour of the envelope
replaced by PV modules. Efficient power electronics
when planning its refurbishment (e.g. air-tightness, ther-
and system integration methods are needed for leve-
mal bridges, insulation, thermal losses, shading).
raged efficiency improvements in renewable energy
systems. New concepts for ventilated façades are
> Systems and equipment for energy use (for new
sought with integrated systems for energy produc-
or existing buildings): new flexible and efficient
tion. Innovative integration of solar thermal systems is
equipment is needed along with advanced techno-
needed for building heating and cooling (e.g. absorp-
logies for heating, cooling, lighting, ventilation, etc.
tion technologies). Innovative Geothermal solutions
There is a need for hybrid, integrated systems for
are needed with heating and cooling integration for
heating and ventilation with improved price/perfor-
residential or commercial sectors. Breakthroughs are
mance ratio. Heat pump technology still needs fur-
required in efficient integration of hydrogen and RES
ther developments to target higher performances, low
technologies in buildings, in particular fuel cells. In-
cost and small size. Integration of advanced lighting
telligent power electronics need further development
like (O)LEDs with sensors and actuators as well as
for use within PV inverters or converters/generators
with suitable intelligent power electronics and control
for wind turbines as well as their overall integration in
systems is necessary, interfacing with energy mana-
complex energy production systems at building and
gement systems and local energy generation by re-
district scale. New solutions for waste heat recovery
newable sources. Development of passive systems is
need to be devised (e.g. heat recovery from com-
needed that will enable replacement of conventional
puting data centres in large office buildings). Overall
ventilation and cooling systems, often used on many
emphasis should be put on building integration and
office and residential buildings. Power electronics
minimal operation and service costs.
Energy-efficient Buildings PPP
and economically viable use of emerging energy car> Envelope and components (for new or existing
25
Energy-efficient Buildings PPP
26
> Storage of energy, thermal or electrical: new
> Design - Integration of new solutions: in order
flexible systems for energy storage are needed which
to facilitate the energy retrofitting of buildings and
take into account different working conditions (e.g. dif-
the design of new buildings considering energy
ferent climate, different seasons) and storage methods
performance criteria, a data repository with optimal
(e.g. ground storage). Innovative methods are needed
technical interventions should be defined, including
for the storage of energy, that enable a higher thermal
daylight and climate aspects, return of investments,
energy density of 1-2 GJ/m3, and respect of the current
HVAC, system configurations, retrofitting solutions.
thermal energy storage density, equal to 0.2 GJ/m3.
A European-wide data ware-house of possible inter-
In particular, new solutions enabling seasonal storage
ventions and their effect in real buildings (including
of renewable thermal energy integrated at building level
their occupants) can improve dramatically the quality
are needed, having as a target 15-30 kWh/m2 of buil-
and cost-effective retrofitting of buildings in Europe.
ding area per annum. Innovative solutions are needed,
Development of model based ICT applications is
decreasing energy loss during storage to less than
needed, enabling information sharing through neutral
10%, having in mind that current thermal losses during
platforms without re-entry. Theoretical engineering
storage are approximately 50%. Innovative solutions
models (for virtual simulation, and with standardised
are needed, enabling storage of renewable electric
set tests to compare virtual models) should be com-
energy produced locally at building level, e.g. in plug-
pared with rules and norms to achieve benchmarking
in hybrids at 1 GJ/household, and respect of current
of pilots so as to validate the models. Breakthroughs
average electric energy stored by district systems:
are needed concerning object oriented design with
0 GJ/household. There is a need to focus on (spatially)
embedded parametric engineering. Novel ICT tools
distributed storage for heat and electricity..
that ensure the integral use by all building / district
stakeholders of a unique evolving set of building data
> Quality indoor environment (including comfort and
from inception and design, to construction, ope-
health): energy efficient buildings require effective insu-
ration & maintenance, refurbishing and demolition
lation and air tightness of the envelope; mechanical ven-
need to be developed. Assessment, simulation and
tilation is therefore needed, combined with air cleaning
visualization techniques are needed to support deci-
and air quality control techniques. Exchange of indoor
sion making, removing gaps between prediction and
air with fresh air from outside, although limited, should
reality (e.g. thermal simulation of buildings). Usage of
be based on counter-current thermal exchangers to
model based horizontal platforms needs the integra-
reduce the heating power. New solutions are needed
tion of local existing platforms and simulation tools.
which consider energy efficiency, indoor air quality, com-
This integration for European-wide solutions needs
fort as well as the reproduction potential simultaneously:
the involvement of country-specific attributes regar-
breakthroughs are needed which address the potential
ding not only construction solutions but also to the
of energy efficiency to realise healthy and comfortable
construction process itself. Reliable life cycle cost
indoor environments, with high reproducibility while gua-
calculation methodologies and benchmarks are nee-
ranteeing full accessibility (i.e. novel concepts for door
ded, including investment, maintenance and energy
thresholds). This may involve also lighting as well as natu-
aspects. New methods and tools are required to
ral rooms’ illumination through light guides. The expected
have good communication through information-sha-
result is an increase in user performance (e.g. producti-
ring among different stakeholders on projects, using
vity or learning capabilities), which is a function of indoor
tools such as the Building Information Model (BIM).
quality, comfort and health, sound, to name a few.
Development of methodologies and support tools
allowing a simplified building monitoring and building
from a remote location with the use of portable devices
performance analysis are searched for. This would al-
(e.g. cell phones, laptops). Monitoring should be
low a drastic reduction of required data input and a
connected with data-mining modules to support trac-
simplified assessment. A standardised methodology
king and performance evaluation in interactive environ-
for European countries would mean a more compre-
ments. Interoperability standards, protocols and inter-
hensive approach to building assessment. Architec-
faces for wired and wireless communication need to
tural aspects and aesthetics should be considered
be addressed and developed. Integration of real-time
in their contribution towards optimal energy use.
with design/operation information (static information)
and interfaces with stakeholders are needed. The in-
cedures are needed to integrate ICT tools (e.g. low-
creasing complexity of buildings makes it necessary to
cost vision systems, building information models,
analyse the usability and efficiency of the new solutions
embedded wireless devices, new user interfaces,
jointly with reliability aspects, robustness and maintai-
new processing algorithms, etc) into construction pro-
nability. Mobile productivity tools that allow on-site ac-
cesses while maintenance operations are essential
cess and monitoring of the building performance data
for energy efficiency, productivity and security. Ser-
will be needed to maintain and diagnose a built envi-
vice oriented architectures are needed to introduce
ronment bearing an increased complexity in systems
building and district automation and control systems.
and their integration. These tools will help to support
Service platforms should be developed to host various
new models for performance-based service contracts.
software sub-systems for monitoring, control, automation. Further efforts should be spent in the develop-
> Industrialisation and mass customisation: the
ment of web based control platforms that will allow the
need for cost-effective solutions in the energy retro-
user to monitor and immediately act on the installation
fitting of buildings makes it necessary to have industrialised solutions and products, capable of being
adapted to the final conditions of the building (size,
finishing, etc). Configuration design, intelligent E-catalogues, Logistics, Templates need to be developed.
In building energy retrofitting, an industrialised solution
is characterised by a lower execution time needed.
This low actuation time implies that the activity (domestic, commercial, business) of the existing building will
be interrupted for a short period of time.
> Life Cycle Analysis (LCA): life-cycle methodologies
are needed and the LCA approach "from design to reconstruction" has to be accepted as the only approach
by evaluation of long term complex quality of buildings
and its urban neighbourhood, taking into account aspects such as the adaptation to future climate change.
Development of materials, products and processes requires the build up of environmental databases, as well
Energy-efficient Buildings PPP
as well as gateways to connect with external services
> Automation and control: new methods and pro-
27
as development and verification of EPDs (Environmen-
at most 5%. The BEMS will be able to support and
tal Product Declarations). There is a need to develop
give feedback to the building users on how the energy
solutions to provide verified environmental information
is being spent, providing advice for a more efficient
and tools for architects and engineers when designing
energy use. New strategies for monitoring, protocols,
new buildings and renovating existing ones. Reduc-
service platforms, standards as well as ambient intelli-
tion of embedded energy/Deconstruction is needed as
gence and intuitive user interfaces are needed, which
resource depletion, waste generation and emissions
are developed fully understanding/working with users.
Energy-efficient Buildings PPP
associated with extraction and production of building
28
materials are major issues that need to be addressed
> Labelling and Standardisation: a holistic approach
to make the construction sector more sustainable. Em-
for an efficient labelling system of sustainable buildings
bodied CO2 can account for between 10% and 30%
is needed, in order to give reliable measurement and
of building life-cycle carbon footprint. In addition, waste
comparable results. There is a need for integration and
generated in the construction sector is among the most
definition of standard protocols to make it possible to
significant waste streams in many European countries.
analyse energy behaviour on the same terms in all EU
Finally, natural resources are becoming scarce and
countries, better understanding energy aspects from
the current extraction rates need to be reduced. The
building experts to end-users. The standardisation is
need of a Europe-wide common standard has to be
strongly focusing on energy performance of buildings,
addressed, in order to ensure the development of a
but products and systems on physical characteri-
common basis of understanding for all architects and
sation. Between both there is a gap which must be
producers of new sustainable products in Europe that
covered with research activities, in order to develop
enables a successful implementation of sustainable
accurate standardisation methodologies that reflect
criteria in the erection/deconstruction of new buildings
what physically happens in buildings, both new and
as well as in the refurbishment of existing ones.
existing, including cultural heritage.
> Energy Management Systems: from the energy ma-
> Materials: Embodied energy and Multi-functio-
nagement point of view, one of the main weaknesses
nality: embodied energy in materials represent a re-
of the current Building Energy Management Systems
latively high percentage of energy throughout the life
(BEMS) is that they operate according to predefined
cycle of buildings, especially when increasing the level
energy control strategies. Current operation algorithms
of energy performance in operation. New approaches
are based on conventional control approaches, which
combining novel processes, sensors and material
are not able to learn from previous operations and to
science are needed to minimise the embodied en-
forecast the impact in the building behaviour of the
ergy of main construction materials such as cement,
control orders. This results in a loss of overall energy
concrete, glass, steel, ceramics, etc. Development of
efficiency of 10-15% at system level. Automation and
new multifunctional materials is needed, having a low
self-adaptation are needed to adapt to the changing
embedded energy and also higher thermal and acous-
operation conditions of the buildings, including buil-
tic properties (embodied energy is often proportional
ding/grid energy balancing. BEMS are needed which
to mass), overcoming scarcity of renewable materials.
implement holistic approaches, going beyond current
It is becoming more apparent that the next technolo-
technology which manages every energy related sys-
gical frontiers will be opened not through a better un-
tems (HVAC, lighting, local generation, etc.) as fully
derstanding and application of a particular material, but
decoupled systems, resulting in a loss of efficiency of
rather by understanding and optimising material com-
binations and their synergistic function, hence blurring
the distinction between a material and a functional device comprised of distinct materials. Future research
will be strongly focused on the final performance properties and less on the individual material performance.
New technology routes to integrate waste in the production cycle (recycling) of materials are needed.
> Diagnosis and predictive maintenance (continuous commissioning): in order to guarantee energy-efficient performance throughout the life cycle,
nuous commissioning including diagnosing faulty
economic operation, diagnosing uncalibrated or malfunctioning sensors, diagnosing uncalibrated or malfunctioning valves, dampers, or actuators, diagnosing
faulty or improper ventilation control strategies, diagnosing malfunctioning economizers and dampers as
well as identifying improper set-point settings. As far
as new buildings are concerned, these new solutions
should perform checkout and functional tests, col-
primarily due to user behaviour. A different meteorolo-
lect data used for performance verification and retain
gical, policy and cultural background leads to different
completed functional test sheets. As far as existing
solutions for buildings. However, some basic prin-
buildings are concerned, new solutions are sought to
ciples for better energy-efficiency can be adapted and
perform functional tests, collect monitored data and
disseminated to end users and policy makers alike.
retain functional test and monitoring data results to
The first consideration should be to understand how
confirm initial findings. These solutions should operate
people behave, and the reasons for their behaviour,
within districts for the maintenance of district energy
so that the technology can be designed to work with
infrastructure. In this framework, the design and de-
people’s normal behaviour. Reliable knowledge of the
velopment of integrated networks of sensors and ac-
relationship of energy efficiency versus wellbeing (e.g.
tuators, and their related embedded devices, is a key
comfort, ...) needs to be created (and possibly quanti-
challenge for energy efficient buildings and districts.
fied through specific indicators), taking into account the
behaviour of the users. There is a need to develop new
3.2.5 Horizontal organisational aspects
knowledge on how to effectively realise change of attitude and behaviours for the end-users, using intrinsic
As far as “Horizontal organisational aspects” are concerned,
user motivations, education and information exchange.
five research challenges are described below:
This new knowledge needs to be translated into smart
equipment and active systems for improving energy
> Relationship between user and energy: at pre-
efficiency according to evolutionary and self-adapting
sent the energy use in buildings with equal building
paradigms in Expert Systems. It is necessary to de-
and system characteristics can differ by a factor of 4,
velop a new framework for Knowledge Sharing able
Energy-efficient Buildings PPP
new solutions are needed for automated or conti-
29
of the construction process. More than 90% of these
players are SMEs. There is a need to build up a
seamless value chain which makes use of latest ICT
solutions and is “SME-friendly”. This requires an EU
wide approach to develop tools and methodologies
that will not be restricted by any particular workflow
and collaboration pattern. It is necessary to develop
concepts and tools for process integration along the
construction value chain, with a special consideration
of energy issues, by engaging actors in energy supply,
storage, and use, as well as to provide the SMEs with
Energy-efficient Buildings PPP
tools that would assist them in developing a clear view,
30
in differentiating and optimising the value they deliver
along the full value chain of their operations. The buildup of the value chain can be favoured by the launch of
Europe-wide Trade shows and business to business
events.
> Geoclustering: greatly varying meteorological, policy
and cultural variances across the EU, as well as traditional and long established practices, create a comto benefit from continuous advances in Technology
plex everyday operational framework that, by definition,
Enhanced Learning. Different dissemination levels for
needs to be understood, addressed and optimised
experts, students, end-users are required. Technolo-
at EU level. Modelling of largely differing regional pro-
gies (e.g. user-adaptive controls) to enable provision of
files across the EU is needed, as regards processes,
wellbeing rather than temperature or light, for instance,
materials and technologies in use to create a solid
are searched for. Demonstration houses for both new
horizontal data infrastructure, for the use of other EU
(plus-energy) and existing buildings (refurbishment)
wide services and tools in energy and construction,
needs to be deployed. Effective user awareness ge-
including national key performance indicators (KPI) and
neration for (district) energy systems is highly needed.
best practices/available technologies ready to use.
Systems and interfaces for user awareness are nee-
Structured information at the European level on typo-
ded to develop sensitivity of any stakeholder about im-
logy, volume energy status, etc of the existing building
pact of energy consumption (cost, CO2…). The overall
stock is lacking. Buildings vs. Districts data modelling
focus should be on enabling the user to live and ope-
is needed, including the development of multi Spatial
rate within the built environment in an energy efficient
Geographic Design tool. Implementation of a Seman-
way with minimised integral living expenses.
tic 4D model to support energy efficiency analysis of
traditional materials/techniques and sustainable analy-
> Value Chain and SMEs focus: construction pro-
sis of innovative ones is needed. New simulation and
cesses are carried out in the EU alongside largely
prediction tools for an open and remotely accessible
different patterns, involving a large number of players,
dynamic geo-database would allow common EU stan-
usually not interconnected along the different stages
dards and parameters to be defined.
> Business models, organisational and financial
the transfer of good practices, technologies and
models, including Energy Service Companies
methodologies, including cross-sectorial cooperation,
(ESCOs): development of innovative business models
the set up of a communication infrastructure and the
and organizational paradigms (dedicated particularly to
organization of a number of coaching events. New to-
SMEs) is needed, including the marketing of energy
ols which are cost effective, fast and easy to use have
positive buildings and their demonstration. For ins-
to be developed to overcome actual barriers (cultural,
tance, regional flagship projects like schools or resi-
linguistic,..). A number of activities needs to be deve-
dential homes could be addressed. Common energy
loped and applied, such as spreading the information,
tool sets at the EU level are needed, taking into account
training and providing an infrastructure of Experimental
country specific issues: energy, Best Available Techno-
Buildings that incorporate cutting-edge technologies
logies (BATs), structured information on typology, vo-
in the field of Energy in buildings to achieve coordina-
lume, energy status, etc. of the existing building stock.
tion between the EU and national/regional levels. The
Performance based contracts and the shift towards
integration of new solutions and existing networks at
life-cycle-performance based business is needed,
EU level is the key. Energy audits and clear improve-
including risk/value distribution across the value chain.
ment scenarios should be considered in the overall fra-
This requires an early involvement of stakeholders and
mework as key to the success of knowledge transfer.
the introduction of the role of system integrators. Alternative business models using life-cycle costing and/or
total cost of ownership at building or even district level
are needed. Synergies with on-going initiatives should
be established by mapping the relationship between
relevant programmes and actions at national and
regional level among European Member States. This
applies to innovative financing and business models
and private and public incentive schemes to encourage main-streaming of solutions at district scale or
greater, including policy approaches such as the use
of voluntary Codes as well as regulations.
Energy-efficient Buildings PPP
> Knowledge transfer: there is a need to encourage
31
4.0 ASSOCIATED INVESTMENTS AND
QUANTIFIED EXPECTED IMPACT
As better detailed in the “E2B Impact Assessment” document21,
industry considers that an average investment of around
€ 73 billion per year, during the period from now until 2020,
will be necessary in order to achieve the 165 Mtoe22 reduction and the 50 Mtoe contribution from renewable energies,
making a total accumulated investment from 2009 to 2020 of
about € 870 billion. The investment involved in much more
efficient and clean technologies would be about 17 – 25 %
of the associated investment; this means a yearly associated investment between € 12 and 18 billion. These figures
of the building sector that is about € 1,200 billion annually23.
The above mentioned breakdown of the investments/fund-
Additionally, the joint action of the construction industry would
ing can be further distinguished in research and demonstra-
lead to a relevant cost reduction of around 10-15% of the
tion activities, being the latter inclusive of both demonstration
above stated investment. This would mean (taking the av-
work at a reduced scale to validate research results as well as
erage) a reduction of around € 1.5-2.25 billion/year. There-
larger scale validation work to prove the applicability of tech-
fore, each Euro spent in the implementation of the
nologies closer to the market, once the fundamental and ap-
proposed long term programme will save costs of at
plied research activities demonstrated the technological and
least 8-9 Euros.
economical viability. In this framework the following can be
tentatively highlighted for the longer term strategy:
In this framework, investments for Research and Develop-
> within the research area “Refurbishment to trans-
ment associated to the implementation of the proposed long
form existing buildings into Energy-efficient
term strategy can be estimated in roughly 3 to 5% of the glo-
Buildings”, 40% of the investments and associated
bal investments, although a precise quantification is difficult
funding should be dedicated to Research activities,
to make. Focusing on the 5 key research areas highlighted in
Figure 3, we can estimate that:
the remaining 60% to demonstration work;
> within the research area “Neutral/Energy positive
> 40% of the investments and associated funding should
new buildings”, 40% of the investments and asso-
be dedicated to “Refurbishment to transform exis-
ciated funding should be dedicated to Research activi-
ting buildings into Energy-efficient Buildings”;
ties, the remaining 60% to demonstration work;
> 15% of the investments and associated funding
> within the research area “Energy-efficient district/
should be dedicated to “Neutral/Energy-positive
communities”, 40% of the investments and associa-
new buildings”;
ted funding should be dedicated to Research activi-
> 15% of the investments and associated funding
should be dedicated to “Energy-efficient districts/
communities”;
> 25% of the investments and associated funding
should be dedicated to “Horizontal technological
aspects”;
ties, the remaining 60% to demonstration work;
> within the research area “Horizontal technological
aspects”, 80% of the investments and associated
funding should be dedicated to Research activities,
the remaining 20% to demonstration work;
> within the research area “Horizontal organisational
> 5% of the investments and associated funding
aspects”, most of the investments and associated
should be dedicated to “Horizontal organisational
funding should be dedicated to Support and Coordi-
aspects”.
nation activities.
21. E2B Impact Assessment, Version 2, February 2009
22. The tonne of oil equivalent (toe) is a unit of energy: the amount of energy released by burning one tonne of crude oil, approximately 42 GJ.
23. Euroconstruct 2007
Energy-efficient Buildings PPP
would represent between 1 and 1.5% of the total outcome
33
This preliminary allocation of resources foresees that a higher
research share of investments and associated funding
needs to be devoted in the shorter term to develop the
enabling science and technology. As a result of these investments, impact is expected at different levels. From the analysis presented in Chapter 2, the overall goal for an energyneutral built environment in 2050 implies that the following
targets24 need to be reached:
> Integration of large scale renewable energy on district
level (excluding building integrated renewable energy)
to approximately 20 % of current total primary energy
Energy-efficient Buildings PPP
usage in the built environment;
34
> Uptake of net energy positive new buildings from 2015
with full market penetration in 2025 at the latest;
> Adoption of 80% primary energy-reduction refurbishment packages;
> Integration of HVAC systems which can reduce the primary energy usage for heating and cooling by a factor
2 from 2020 onwards;
> Reduction in energy usage by household appliances of
approximately 2% per year from 2015 onwards.
More details on the expected impact are provided
in Appendix 2 and 3.
24. In all cases when energy targets are mentioned, they refer to primary energy required for both building related measures (such as HVAC) and user related measures (such as domestic appliances).
5.0 DEFINITION OF A MULTI-ANNUAL
ROADMAP
Based on the research challenges described in Chapter 3,
the main research focus of the multi-annual Roadmap for the
years 2011-13 will be to speed-up research on key technologies and development of a competitive industry in the construction sector with a focus on energy-efficient processes,
products and services.
In order to achieve this impact, research until 2013 will mainly
focus on “Reducing the energy use in buildings and its negative
impacts on environment” (Step 1 as defined in Chapter 2), while
enabling technologies and knowledge needed for a long term im-
> Knowledge transfer;
pact associated with the further two Steps of the industry strategy.
> Relationship between User and Energy;
> Retrofitting (for districts/communities)
The “Strategy towards 2050” is indeed at the core of our Road-
> Envelope and components;
map and it is therefore implicitly embedded within the dynamic
> Design – Integration of new solutions;
nature of the multi-annual Roadmap, requiring a continuous up-
> Systemic Approach (for new buildings);
date based on feedback and results from the different waves of
> Energy Management Systems;
research and demonstration projects to be launched.
> Labelling and standardization.
A quali-quantitative assessment of the research challeng-
They will be referred to in the following of the document as
es has been made at AIAG level for the definition of research
Priorities. The order of these thirteen priorities does not re-
priorities for the period 2011-2013. The analysis has been
flect any specific ranking. The analysis also highlighted sev-
made considering the relevance of each challenge towards
eral other logical links between the overall set of Priorities and
the reduction of energy consumption in the built environment
other research challenges within the framework of the EeB
and the associated decrease in greenhouse gas emissions
PPP. These connections are highly relevant for the definition
as well as the expected impact when addressing the chal-
of future calls for proposals by the European Commission as
lenge itself, as better defined in Chapter 2.2.
they identify the multi-disciplinary aspects and allow the key
challenges to be tackled from a broader perspective, where
The analysis has been performed on all the challenges as
technological and non-technological issues are jointly ad-
described in Chapter 3.2. The folllowing set of thirteen chal-
dressed. These related research challenges include:
lenges has been considered of high priority within the
framework of the EeB PPP initiative:
> Envelope (for existing buildings);
> Systems and Equipments for energy use (for existing
buildings);
> Interaction (integration) between buildings, grid, heat
network, etc;
> Systems and Equipments for energy use (horizontal
research challenge);
> Systemic Approach (for existing buildings);
> “Materials: embodied energy and multi-functionality”,
logically linked to the priorities “Envelope (for existing
buildings)” and “Envelope and components”;
> “Storage of energy at district level: thermal, electrical
or other (chemical, hydrogen, mechanical, others)”,
logically linked to the priority “Interaction (integration)
between buildings, grid, heat network, etc.”;
> “District and urban design”, logically linked to the priority “Interaction (integration) between buildings, grid, heat
network, etc.”;
Energy-efficient Buildings PPP
at the same time launching in parallel the development of those
37
Energy-efficient Buildings PPP
38
> “Systems and Equipment for energy production”, lo-
Large-scale demonstration projects are also expected,
gically linked to the priorities “Interaction (integration)
where not only the components performance is a key to
between buildings, grid, heat network, etc.” and
success, but also the way the building industry will install,
“Systems and Equipment for energy use (horizontal
and people accept these components. The projects have
research challenge)”;
to be visible and made with public-private partnerships ap-
> “Storage of energy”, logically linked to the priorities
proaches as often as possible. These projects should be
“Interaction (integration) between buildings, grid, heat
understood as organised testing in the field of new concepts
network, etc.” and “Systems and Equipment for energy
and ideas in a specific domain, with a very accurate follow-
use (horizontal research challenge)”;
up. The demonstration actions will integrate and dem-
> “Value Chain and SMEs focus”, logically linked to the
onstrate innovative technologies (not yet commercial)
priorities “Knowledge transfer” and “Labelling and stan-
in their last phase of development that have not been imple-
dardisation”;
mented in an industrial scale demonstrator. Project findings
> “Energy Management Systems”, closely linked to the
priority “Relationship between User and Energy”;
> “Geo-clustering”, closely linked to the priorities
are expected to transfer to production within five years after
the conclusion of the project, thus leveraging the expected
impacts.
“Relationship between User and Energy” and “Systemic Approach (both for new and existing buildings)”;
Some of the research priorities associated with Horizontal or-
> “Solutions for Cultural Heritage (including diagnostics)”,
ganisational aspects would gain from a set of Coordina-
logically linked to the priority “Retrofitting (for districts/
tion and Support Actions to pave the way towards effective
communities)”;
and large-scale impact.
> “Quality indoor environment”, logically linked to the
priorities “Envelope and components” and “Systemic
The overall scenario until 2013 matches with the first wave
Approach (both for new and existing buildings)”;
of the long term strategy presented in Chapter 2, as shown
> “Automation & control”, logically linked to the priorities
in Figure 6 below.
“Design – Integration of new solutions” and “Energy
Management Systems”;
> “Diagnosis and predictive maintenance (continuous
Figure 6 - The positioning of the multi-annual Roadmap
(2011-13) within the longer term “wave action” strategy
commissioning)”, logically linked to the priorities “Design – Integration of new solutions” and “Energy Management Systems”;
Years
01
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09
10
> “Life Cycle Analysis (LCA)”, logically linked to the priority “Labelling and standardization”;
> “Business models, organisational and financial mo-
Wave 1
D&B
O
dels (including ESCOs)”, logically linked to the priority
“Labelling and standardization”.
Most of the Priorities support multidisciplinary collaborative
Wave 2
D&B
Wave 3
D&B
and integrated research projects on technologies, methods
and concepts that are clearly oriented towards industrial application, involving all the stakeholders in the value and innovation
chain, from basic research to technology demonstration.
O
2010-2013
Continuous Research
O
In this framework the research priorities for 2011-2013 have been plotted against time and activities proposed. The overall result
is shown in Table 1 below:
Table 1: Proposed Roadmap for 2011-2013
2012
2013
> Envelope (components)
for existing buildings,
with a link to materials
(multifunctionality and
embodied energy)
> Systems and Equipments
for energy use for existing
buildings (focus on space
heating and hot domestic
water)
> Envelope and retrofitting
> Design – Integration
of new solutions, fostering
ICT technologies
> Systemic approach
(link to Quality of the
Indoor Environment)
> Interaction (integration)
between buildings,
grid, heat network...
> Systems and Equipments for energy use
(including production
and storage)
> Relationship between
User and Energy,
leveraging on ICT tools
> Systemic Approach,
for existing buildings
(including integration
of Renewables)
> Energy Management
Systems
> Systems and Equipments for energy use
> Retrofitting (at district level) (including cost
effective integration of emerging technologies)
> Envelope and components, enabled by latest
advances in multifunctional materials and
nanotechnology
> Design – Integration of new solutions, focus
on assessment, simulation and visualization
techniques to support decision making,
removing gaps between prediction and reality.
> High efficiency retrofitting of buildings
(including systems and equipment, ICTs,....)
> Novel approaches in automation and control
> Envelope (components) for existing buildings,
with links to cultural heritage
> Labelling and standardisation
Demonstration
> Envelope and Systems
and Equipment
for energy use
> Cost effective zero
energy new buildings
in districts
> Envelope, Systems and
Equipments for energy
use for existing buildings
> Retrofitting (at district level)
> Interaction (integration) between buildings,
grid, heat network...
> Large scale demonstration including new technologies (Envelope components, Systems and
Equipments, ICTs…) and new business models
Coordination
and Support
Actions
> Coordinated actions
for systemic approaches
in Europe (Geo-clustering)
> Relationship between User
and Energy
> Labelling and standardization (focus on LCA)
> Labelling and standardization (including
business models,
impact assessment,...)
> Knowledge transfer
(including value chain
and SMEs)
Research
Energy-efficient Buildings PPP
2011
39
6.0 INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
of Energy-efficient Buildings. For a successful implementation
and take-up of future results it is highly important to establish
close links with those initiatives and benefit from benchmarking and mutual cooperation in areas which can lead to a winwin situation.
For instance in USA a globally visible and widely used standard, LEED, exists. They have valuable experience on standardisation issues, scientific approaches, related business
models, etc. Similar opportunities can be identified in Russia,
China, Japan and Canada, to name a few. An international
effort would require pilot projects and joint initiatives to be established, building on common challenges and specific case
studies.
Energy-efficient Buildings PPP
Several initiatives are being undertaken worldwide in the field
41
Appendix
Appendix 1
Coordinated Call on Energy-efficient Buildings
published in the Work Programme 2010
TOPICS COVERED BY THE NMP THEME
EeB.NMP.2010-1
New nanotechnology-based high
performance insulation systems
for energy efficiency
EeB.NMP.2010-2
New technologies for energy
efficiency at district level
EeB.ICT.2010.10-2
ICT for energy-efficient buildings
and spaces of public use
Expected socio-economic impacts and relevance
to policy objectives
In the following the main impacts expected are summarised; measurable targets and performance indicators are provided on the
TOPICS COVERED BY THE ENVIRONMENT THEME
E2BA website (www.e2b-ei.eu), including expected jobs creation.
EeB.ENV.2010.3.2.4-1 Compatible solutions for
improving the energy efficiency
The implementation of the Roadmap will help to reduce
the potential associated investment
of historic buildings in urban areas
As mentioned, the accomplishment of the long term objectives
set in the Roadmap will contribute to reducing the potential
TOPICS COVERED BY THE ENERGY THEME
associated investment (about € 70 billion/year) needed by the
construction sector to accomplish the 20/20/20 mandate:
EeB.ENERGY.2010.8.1-2
Demonstration of Energy
Efficiency through
Retrofitting of Buildings
> Reducing the timeframe to accomplish the 20/20/20
mandate;
> Because of technological advances promoted by the
Research programme;
> Because of a better use of the capital, reducing the
financial pressure.
The legislative instruments expect to mobilize about 50% of
necessary associated investment. The industry and E2BA
members consider that the implementation of the proposed
long term strategy on energy efficient buildings will have an
induced investment effect:
> directly: via the organisations involved in E2BA;
> and indirectly: via the promotion of green products and
practices associated to the entire supply and value
chain of the building sector.
Energy-efficient Buildings PPP
Appendix 2
TOPICS COVERED BY THE ICT THEME
43
Contribution to the objectives of the SET Plan:
The implementation of the multi-annual Roadmap will have a
direct impact on the Energy Technologies which have their
The implementation of the Roadmap will introduce important
application domain in buildings, as showed in the Technology
changes in the way of thinking, in the joint approaches and
Map of the SET-Plan (see Figure below).
methodologies for implementing research and development,
in the new approaches to face the market in full respect of
Technology Map of the SET-Plan, 2007
competition and in the joint way that many different industries
together are going to afford the policy challenges defined by
the spring 2007 European Council and reinforced in the European Council of 11th and 12th December 2008. In more
details the following impact at the level of the SET-Plan is ex-
44
> Overcome structural weaknesses of the energy innovation system:
- Correct European, National and Regional market failure,
- Networking of the dominant companies involved,
- Mobilise financial resources,
- Contribute to increase public funding for research
on energy,
- Concentrate sub-critical capacities in order to create
critical mass for producing results,
- Improve the international cooperation with the indus-
Challenge for Implementation
Energy-efficient Buildings PPP
pected from the implementation of the Roadmap:
Fusion
Carbon Capture
& Storage
Hydrogen cars
Fission
Concentrated
Solar Power
Wave
Energy Efficiency
in industry
Geothermal Power
Solar
(Without CHP in industry)
Photovoltaics
Biofuels
Hydropower
Geothermal Heating
Energy Efficiency
in Transport
Solar Heating
& Cooling
Wind
Cogeneration
Energy Efficiency
in Buildings
3rd WAVE
2nd WAVE
1st WAVE
trial and developing countries to jointly tackle climate
change and global challenges,
- Strength en the European institutional framework
Demand side technologies
Supply side technologies
Transport
BAU (lighter pie) vs.
additional SETP energy
potential (darker pie)
in order to help to change the innovation system on
energy,
Time Horizon
- Reinforce the European shared vision about innovation on energy,
- Build a strong coalition and partnership on energy
efficiency.
> Help Europe to lead the world in energy technologies:
The focused effort put in Energy Efficiency in Buildings (Lower
left corner of the figure) through the proposed Roadmap will
- Reinforcement of the international cooperation,
reduce the time horizon of other technologies involved also
- Fair application of the competition rules,
in buildings, such as Cogeneration, Solar Heating and Cool-
- Cooperation among Member States at all levels: mar-
ing, Solar Photovoltaic and Geothermal Heating, to name a
ket, research, etc., reinforcing the internal market for
few, due to a demand driven approach. The long term strat-
energy technologies and for the buildings construc-
egy would involve a collaboration with the industrial initiatives
tion sector.
(Smart grids, Solar, Wind,…) identified within the SET-Plan in
order to ensure collaboration and avoid overlapping of activities. This is particularly relevant considering the synergies and
coherence with the “Smart Cities” initiative.
The implementation of the strategy will accelerate
the process to accomplish with the 20/20/20 mandate
of the Council
The achievement of the targets will create
a new consciousness in the public sector about
the new routes to follow
The implementation of the proposed strategy will contribute
The Roadmap foresees actions towards a deeper involve-
to accelerate the process to accomplish the mandate of the
ment of the Public Sector through the participation of Pub-
Council by:
lic Agencies as Social Housing Promoters with the objective
will result in higher quality research;
> Leveraging the investment in EeB RTD activities from
the private and public sector;
of taking into account the requirements and concerns of the
public sector in the building sector. New links will be established among the public sector, the industry and the research
organisations through the participation in research and dem-
> Reducing the time to market by 5 years of innovative
onstration projects. Indeed, the Roadmap foresees the es-
and cost-effective solutions of energy efficient buil-
tablishment of new frameworks to strengthen best practices
dings and districts, and therefore providing the market
in green procurement and generating new and appropriate
with better and more appropriate solutions. Accelera-
business models on energy-efficient buildings.
ting and increasing the RTD effort for RES in buildings;
> Improving the competitiveness of the European industry by developing high quality products and processes;
> Introducing good and green practices into the corporate values of the industry. Starting from the industry
members of E2BA that represent the entire supply and
value chain of Europe, and to the rest of the building
sector through demonstration, training and dissemination actions;
> Creating a new consciousness on energy efficiency in
buildings in the Public Sector by integrating in the long
term strategy public agencies such as social housing
promoters;
> Helping to change the citizens’ behaviour and organisations close to them with dissemination actions
showing the social benefits and therefore boosting the
market.
Energy-efficient Buildings PPP
> Developing a long term and sustained programme that
45
European Commission
EUR 24283 – Energy-efficient Buildings PPP
Multi-annual Roadmap and longer term strategy
Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union
2010 — 48 + 4 pp. — 17.6 x 25 cm
ISBN 978-92-79-15228-3
doi: 10.2777/10074
Acknowledgements:
Special thanks are expressed for their contributions to all industry-related members of the Ad-hoc Industrial Advisory Group
of the “Energy-efficient Buildings” Public-Private Partnership, to all those who participated in the public consultation to
the wider community of stakeholders, and to the Commission officials (particularly from the FP7 Themes NMP, ICT, Energy
and Environment) who took part in the discussion sessions during the elaboration of this document. The collaboration of
Christophe Lesniak and Bingen Urquijo Garay in the preparation of this booklet is also acknowledged.
J.L. Vallés, Head of Unit RTD.G2 "New generation of products"
Photos: Cover © iStock photo - p. 5, 6, 9 © Messib project - p. 7, 8, 16, 17, 24, 32, 34, 35, 36, 37, 40, 42, 43, 45 © iStock photo
p. 22, 23, 27, 29 © Philips Lighting - p. 31 © Arup - p. 33 © Stiebel Eltrond - p. 41 © Graham Gaunt
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The European Economic Recovery Plan,
launched a year ago to address the current crisis,
includes a new Research Public-Private Partnership
(PPP) aimed at developing building and district
concepts having the potential to reduce energy use.
The "Energy-efficient Buildings" (EeB) initiative
is a € 1 billion programme in which the European
Commission and industry will support research
on sustainable technologies for the EU construction
sector. The aim is to develop energy-efficient
materials and systems for new and renovated
buildings which can help to radically reduce
their energy consumption and CO2 emissions.
In these Research Priorities for the Definition
of a multi-annual Roadmap and Longer Term
Strategy for the EeB PPP, besides the horizontal
aspects, three major challenges have been identified:
(i) Refurbishment to transform existing buildings
into energy-efficient buildings, (ii) Neutral or energypositive new buildings and (iii) Energy-efficient
districts and communities.
The public-private efforts to support research
in these areas will contribute to a successful
European strategy for industrial growth
in a greener economy.
KI-NA-24283-EN-C
The construction sector accounts nowadays
for around 30 million jobs in the EU.
Buildings also represent 40% of energy use
and 33% of greenhouse gas emissions in Europe.