Integrated approach to retrofitting of residential buildings

Specific challenge:Europe is facing the challenge of deep rehabilitation of residential buildings (including buildings of historic value) while lowering the costs of refurbishment. Nowadays at the scale of Europe, fossil energy is mainly used in residential buildings for two usages which are space heating and Domestic Hot Water production. Such a large building stock needs innovative, efficient and cost-effective retrofitting solutions to meet the planned net-zero energy standards. Moreover, due to the current economic crisis investment capability in building retrofitting is limited and public incentives tend to decrease. Breakthrough solutions are, therefore, needed which combine affordability along the whole life cycle, reduced maintenance and higher performance reliability with reduced energy use.

Scope: Systemic approaches need to be developed which integrate the most promising cost-effective technologies and materials. The solutions could include, for example, energy use through in