The current EU building stock is responsible for over one third of the EU emissions. Over 75% of the EU building stock is energy-inefficient and the very low annual renovation rate of 1% depicts the urgency to address this problem. The EU Green Deal principles illustrate improving the efficiency of renovation projects is a top priority, emphasizing the need of deep renovations that achieve over 60% reduction in energy consumption.

The REHOUSE project (full name: Renovation packagEs for HOlistic improvement of EU's bUildingS Efficiency, maximizing RES generation and cost-effectiveness) is financed by European Commission's Research and Innovation Programme Horizon. The main result of REHOUSE is the increase in the scope and productivity of the renovation process, the improvement of comfort and satisfaction of the building inhabitants and users, and the increased use of integrated solutions for the decentralized generation of renewable energy.

Over the course of next 4 years the project will develop 8 innovative and holistic solutions for efficient, cost-effective and sustainable renovation processes. The solutions would be deployed across 4 selected buildings in Greece, Italy, France, and Hungary respectively. This will include detailed designs, pilot set-up and demonstrations to validate the solutions. If proven successful, the renovation solutions can be introduced to the market, implemented in large scale and eventually contribute to speeding up the current renovation rate.

In addition, REHOUSE will:

• Augment the uptake of industrialized technology solutions,
• support the digitisation of the construction industry,
• apply circular principles across the whole value chain,
• introduce the use of safe, sustainable, and secondary raw material in the industry,
• attain recycling, reuse, and efficient waste management in the field of renovation.

The CEA-Liten will participate in the co-development of an industrial renovation solution with the company Techniwood (Haute-Savoie, France). A prototype of such a solution will be implemented on FACT, a 2 floors experimental tool for testing active facades located on the INES site. The research and development axes cover the topics of air tightness and the digital twin chain continuity, from the initial measurements to the installation phase.

Later in the project, a 1,000 m² demonstrator façade will be renovated using this process. It will include photovoltaic modules Energy Management System, integrated into the façade and roof, which will reduce the building's impact on the electricity grid. The CEA will develop the EMS and monitor the overall energy performance of the demonstrator.

 "The up scaling of the EU's building stock renovation process won't be possible without addressing its technical, financial and most importantly social aspects. The REHOUSE project has a holistic approach to tackle the current challenges. The successful kick-off-meeting here in Valladolid laid a robust foundation for the upcoming 4 years.''

(Javier Antolín, Fundación CARTIF, Coordinator of REHOUSE)

25 European organisations meet in Valladolid to launch the project REHOUSE (© Fundación CARTIF)