A set of six retrofit “kits” designed to slash energy consumption in existing office and residential buildings by up to 80% have gone on trial in three European cities.
The kits comprise facade and roof systems, integrated heating, cooling, ventilation, lighting and energy-collecting devices and are now being fitted on three “model” buildings in Ludwigsburg, Germany, Madrid in Spain, and Verona, Italy.
They are the product of iNSPiRe, a four-year project funded by the European Commission, designed to produce systemic renovation packages for Europe’s most common existing building typologies. The aim is to reduce each building’s primary energy consumption to under 50kWh/m2/year, some 80% below the current average.
INSPiRe is a partnership of 24 businesses, not-for-profit organisations and R&D organisations from the built environment sector across Europe. Members include the UK’s BSRIA, Germany’s Frauenhofer Institute, boiler manufacturer Vaillant and precision timber-panel manufacturer Gumpp & Maier.
A spokesman for iNSPiRe told CM: “The three buildings were monitored prior to installation to check energy consumption and monitoring will continue over the next year to determine the impact of the kits on performance and costs. Our results will be published intermittently throughout the year with a final report due in about 12 months.”
If the systems are proven, the spokesman said that the partnership hoped to set up a commercial arm. “We expect initially to sell the kits to construction companies, or social housing companies taking on large multi-dwelling/multi-occupancy projects, but eventually they will be adapted to tackle individual office buildings and homes.”
The Ludwigsburg property is an example of 1970s social housing, comprising four flats on four storeys. A new wooden facade and roof kit have been installed, as well as an energy efficient heating system.
In Madrid, a four-storey multiple occupancy residential building has had “energy hubs” fitted (units combining all controls for heating and cooling), plus envelope treatments and solar collectors.
The kits comprise facade and roof systems, integrated heating, cooling, ventilation, lighting and energy-collecting devices
And an office building in Verona is being renovated with metal-glass facade modules, combining solar collectors and sorption chillers, and ceiling panels able to deliver heating, cooling and ventilation.
The kits were developed to tackle six key types of residential and office buildings, chosen based on a major survey of Europe’s building stock, carried out by BSRIA. They are designed to be cost effective, and easy to install, while tenants or owners remain inside. They also address the different climatic conditions found in Europe.
“Most time is required during building assessment and the design phase, installation is much faster than conventional renovation, for example and entire facade can be fitted in weeks, and an energy hub in days,” said iNSPiRe’s spokesman.
A web-based tool is also being developed, to enable building owners to specify a building’s features, such as the wall type, whether windows are single or double glazed, if solar PV is installed etc, then calculate energy use and suggest and compare different kit solutions.
“We’re trialling some innovative technologies, including radiant ceiling panels that give off light and heat, and solar collectors that transmit heat through the windows,” the spokesman added.
In a recent report, the Joint Research Centre, the EC’s scientific advice and technical knowledge service, underlined the importance of developing and implementing energy-efficient renovation kits, citing it as the only feasible way to reach and then surpass the EC’s 20-20-20 energy targets – for 20% renewable energy and a 20 % improvement in energy efficiency by the year 2020.
