Technologies

Europe’s path to rapid decarbonisation depends on transforming its aging, energy-inefficient buildings. New findings from the RINNO Replicability Analysis reveal how advanced, bio-based renovation technologies can be scaled across thousands of similar buildings in France, Denmark, Greece, and Poland. Using a GIS-enabled tool to identify 9,620 suitable buildings, the study shows that deep renovation can deliver exceptional primary energy and emissions savings surpassing EU targets under the Optimistic Scenario, while under the Conservative Scenario, only Greece and Poland exceed these targets. These insights give policymakers and local authorities a practical, data-driven roadmap for accelerating large-scale renovation with real impact.

The RINNO project’s optimised renovation roadmap has now been demonstrated across four large-scale pilot sites (3,386 m² each) in diverse European climatic zones. The solutions show that the majority of RINNO technologies function as intended in real buildings, that several IT tools exhibit clear usability and potential benefits, and that the combined renovation framework delivers tangible improvements in energy performance, indoor environmental quality, and user satisfaction. Although full end-to-end deployment of the RINNO Suite was limited by tool development timelines and individual pilot progress, the work completed provides a robust, evidence-based foundation for future deployment and scaling.

As construction projects become more complex, traditional planning methods struggle to prevent delays and cost overruns. New research comparing manual and automated 4D BIM scheduling shows how automation dramatically improves speed, accuracy, and consistency by turning static 3D models into reliable time-based plans. The findings present a strong case for automated 4D BIM as a vital tool for efficiency and risk reduction in modern construction.

A new rule-based approach to 4D BIM scheduling shows that construction planning can be completed up to 90% faster by embedding predefined logic directly into 3D model elements, eliminating the need for thousands of manual links. Tested on the large-scale Nanterre 2 CESI project in France, the semi-automated method cut the traditional two- to three-day linking process down to just a few hours while producing far more consistent, error-resistant schedules. By shifting repetitive tasks to intelligent model rules, project teams can now focus on strategic decision-making, resulting in more reliable bids, reduced on-site risks, and smoother project delivery. These findings provide a strong foundation for industry-wide digital transformation, demonstrating how smarter BIM workflows can accelerate planning, improve resource coordination, and support more sustainable construction practices.

Europe’s mid-century apartment blocks are often seen as obstacles to decarbonisation, yet new dynamic simulation research on a 1970s building in Moschato, Athens shows they can become net energy producers. Using the INTEMA.building platform, the study modelled a full suite of passive and active upgrades: advanced insulation, triple glazing, heat pumps, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, and extensive solar technologies. The researchers found dramatic performance gains: heating demand fell by 93%, cooling by 78%, solar thermal covered nearly 87% of hot water needs, and photovoltaics generated enough electricity to meet all annual loads while exporting surplus energy. With an 88% reduction in primary energy use and projected life cycle cost savings of €622,000, the findings demonstrate that holistic deep renovation is not only technically feasible but financially compelling, offering policymakers and investors a concrete pathway for transforming inefficient buildings into climate-positive assets.

Imagine a home that knows exactly when to dim the lights, adjust the heating, or even pre-emptively manage solar power. This isn't just a vision for the future; it’s the goal of a "smart building." This transformation relies heavily on the Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI), an EU framework designed to measure a building's capacity to adapt to its occupants' needs, support maintenance, and operate energy-efficiently.

Imagine needing to completely refit your home or apartment building while still living in it. This stressful scenario is a daily reality for millions across Europe as older, inefficient buildings require deep renovation. Buildings are responsible for the largest environmental impacts in Europe, consuming almost 40% of energy. 75% of the existing built environment is energy-intensive. Up to 80% of these buildings will still be in use by 2050. The single biggest barrier to achieving this necessary change towards sustainable construction is often the disruption caused to occupants, which frequently generates high cost and schedule overruns. New digital tools are urgently needed to solve this problem.

Europe’s aging buildings are leaking energy - and money - at an unsustainable scale. With three-quarters of the EU’s building stock operating far below modern efficiency standards, the stakes couldn’t be higher. But new research from Athens shows that deep renovation isn’t just a necessity for the climate, but also presents significant financial benefits. By applying the VERIFY dynamic life cycle analysis tool to a multi-family block in Moschato-Tavros, researchers demonstrated how a full Passive House-level retrofit can slash emissions by 95%, cut energy demand by more than 90%, and pay for itself in just over three years. Over a 25-year horizon, the renovation racks up more than half a million Euros in savings, all while transforming living conditions for low-income residents and tackling energy poverty head-on.

The study “Towards an Interoperable Approach for Modelling and Managing Smart Building Data: The Case of the CESI Smart Building Demonstrator”, conducted at Northumbria University, dives into this core challenge, exploring how a standardised, unified approach can make all that valuable data work together for a more efficient and sustainable built environment.