assistant buildings’ addition to retrofit, adopt, cure and ... · the communication reflects only...

Assistant Buildings’ addition to Retrofit, Adopt, Cure And Develop the Actual Buildings up to zeRo energy, Activating a market for deep renovation ABRACADABRA

The communication reflects only the author’s view and the Research Executive Agency for SMEs is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 696126 The EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation

DELIVERABLE 2.1

REPORT

Past and running projects on Add-ons. Challenges & opportunities

LEAD BENEFICIARY:

University of Bologna

Annarita Ferrante (coordinator)

Elena Cattani

Anastasia Fotopoulou

Giovanni Semprini

Elettra Agliardi

OTHER BENEFICIARIES

D’APPOLONIA (DAPP)

National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (UOA)

Foundation for Development, Innovation and Technology (KIM)

Cecodhas Housing Europe (CECODHAS)

Architects’ Council of Europe (ACE)

ICLEI European Secretariat (ICLEI)

Ecuba S.r.l. (ECUBA)

International Union of Property Owners (UIPI)

SIA RENESCO PARVALDNIEKS (RENESCO)

Banca Monte Paschi Belgio (MPB)

EnergyPro Ltd (ENERGYPRO)

Municipality of Brasov (BRASOV)

TU Delft Onderzoek voor de gebouwde omgeving (OTB)

Norwegian Institute of Wood Technology (TRETEKNISK)

Partenaires Europeens puor l'enviroment (EPE)

Sociedad Aragonesa de Gestión Medioambiental (SARGA)

Black Sea Regional Agency for Energy Management (BRAESM)

25th July 2016

Ref. Ares(2016)3890786 - 25/07/2016




Introduction

Europe’s energy efficiency challenge in buildings mainly concerns the energy efficient refurbishment and investments in its existing buildings. Yet, today, only 1,2% of Europe’s existing buildings is renovated every year.

The actual investment gap in the deep renovation sector is due to the fact that high investments are required up-front and they are generally characterized by an excessively high degree of risk, by long payback times and by the general “invisibility of the energy benefit”. It is therefore necessary to develop harmonized, concerted and innovative solutions to unlock the needed public and private funds, fill the energy efficiency investment gap and ultimately contribute to boost the construction market and create new jobs.

ABRACADABRA is based on the prior assumption that substantial increase in the real estate value of the existing buildings can play a key role in the deep renovation. The project’s ambition aims at:

- reducing the pay back time of the energy retrofit interventions;

- strengthening of the key investors’ confidence;

- increasing quality and attractiveness of the existing buildings’ stock and,

- boosting market acceleration towards the Nearly Zero Energy Buildings target.

Therefore, ABRACADABRA ambition is to demonstrate to the key stakeholders and financial investors the attractiveness of a new renovation strategy based on volumetric Add-ons and Renewables Energy Sources (AdoRES) intended as one (or a set of) Assistant Building unit(s) - like aside or façade addictions, rooftop extensions or even an entire new building construction - that “adopt” the existing buildings (the Assisted Buildings) to achieve nearly zero energy.

The creation of AdoRES aims at reducing the initial investment allocated for the deep renovation of the existing building creating an up-grading synergy between old and new. The ABRA strategy may result in the implementation of a punctual densification policy within the built yet transformable parts and areas of the cities. In this context, ABRA’s objective is to provoke a legislative and market change accelerating the revolution towards nearly Zero Energy in existing buildings.

The first round of National Meetings was held in the different target regions (Italy - IT, Norway - NO, Latvia - LV, Bulgaria - BG, Romania - RO, Greece - GR, The Netherlands - NL) and followed by the first International Workshop in Bologna, aimed at defining the existing barriers together with the challenges and opportunities of the proposed volumetric addition strategy by involving directly the main stakeholders (research bodies, public administrations, private owners, coop, professionals, construction companies, ESCOs, banks and financial institutions).

Moreover, a list of best practice has been studied and several examples of the strategy as instruments to foster the deep renovation in buildings have been presented and shared amongst the partners to build a substantial ground for the implementation of the ABRACADABRA project.




Occurring obstacles and potential for Deep Renovation.

Results of the National Meetings

The first round of National Meetings engaged in total 262 stakeholders, of which 152 took part in the events organised in the above-mentioned regions.

The meetings grouped representatives from the four thematic areas involved in defining the challenges and opportunities of the ABRACADABRA strategy: 1. Technical 2. Regulatory 3. Financial 4. Social.

The core challenges that emerged from the round of meetings could be summarised in the following points - in brackets the code of the region that has contributed to the discussion on the specific topic.

Technical challenges regarding implementation:

Lack of skills and skilled workers (RO,BG, LV)

Cost of the technologies (IT)

Shortcomings in technical solutions (LV)

Need for R&D (NL)

Limitations for cultural heritage preservation (NO)

Technical challenges process-related:

Extension -> more heating and more materials (IT, NL)

Risk of depreciation due to loss of aesthetic value (IT)

Risk of add-ons not including energy efficiency (EL)

Need for case studies (IT)

Segmented/regional approaches (IT, EL)

Holistic approaches, integrating solutions sustainably (IT)

Regulatory challenges regarding the current framework:

Building and land use regulation too restrictive or lacking (NL, BG)

Planning obligation (e.g. no. of car parking) (NL)

Lack of inclusion in directives of ADD-ONs

Fragmented contexts (IT)

Lengthy and complex procedures & bureaucracy (BG)

Technical conditions of National programs not supporting deep renovation measures (RO)

Fiscal policy (taxes vs incentives) (IT)

Procurement rules and specifications (IT)

Financial challenges related to funds and investments:




Costs are the main challenge (IT)

Strengthening confidence of key investors to accelerate the market (IT)

Create demand in the market to facilitate investments (IT)

Scheme without governmental support and European funds are difficult to access (RO)

Eligibility for loans (e.g. home owners associations) and mortgages, but with conditions (e.g. +5 years only for 20 years investment) (RO)

Difficult to access financing from banks - most of interventions realized in Class A are funded by the construction company that will be paid back once those dwellings are selling (IT)

Intervention on public building should be excluded from rules defined within “Stability and Growth Pact”. (IT)

Financial challenges related to the trade-offs:

Economic interest / Environmental benefit (IT)

Cost-benefit analysis (IT)

Maintenance costs of (additional) installations (IT)

Increase of number of small households justifies smaller homes rather than bigger ones. I.e. extensions can be contrary to macro developments in housing demand (NL)

Fiscal policy: taxes on consumption vs. incentives (IT)

Social challenges related to the trade-offs:

Long term savings and comfort vs. Costs (IT)

Disturbance and relocation (IT)

Cost of heating vs. Costs of retrofit (LV)

Affordability for tenants and conflicting budget priorities (IT)

Social challenges related to inhabitants behaviour:

Multi-family buildings – complex decision-making process (IT, LV)

Mistrust between residents (IT)

Low awareness about energy efficiency and non-energy benefits of renovation (IT)

Engagement of all stakeholders (IT)

Engagement of building owner – scepticism/value proposition (NO)

The guided discussion carried out in the National Meetings has thus led to the definition of the core opportunities that are embedded in the ABRACADABRA strategy, as follows:

Technical opportunities regarding implementation:

Very high potential for action (IT)

Use alternative energy sources (IT)

Use of existing resources (solar mapping, evaluate inclusion of volumetric additions, etc.)

Use local energy agency and research institutions (e.g. Develop ad hoc curriculum) (IT)

Similar initiatives are in place – explore synergies (IT)

Increase scale of intervention - consider carefully type of building, and the scale of intervention (IT)

For heritage buildings, changes possible, if presented as „green building“, e.g. building with wood, which is favoured by local politicians (NO)

Technical innovation opportunities:

Aesthetic value increase

Change of use

Also think of extensions underground




Joining building design and urban design

Industrialisation of new products

Use of local producers of materials

Regulatory opportunities in facilitating the process:

Building regulation and land use. Build capacity of local government

Linking energy performance to fiscal policy (e.g. lower property tax if energy performance is good)

More active role for regional agencies in support to national government and to fasten procedures

Change of technical specification in national program for building renovation (RO)

Using construction permits to boost nearly zero conventional energy consumption buildings

Tender specifications

Implementation of Regional Operational Plans – legal framework needed, potentially a National Plan (e.g. Municipality co-financing) (RO)

Funding and financing opportunities:

European funds & private finance

Energy certification for buildings to build confidence

Planning for a complex instead of single building/bundling (economy of scale

Equalize VAT rates (e.g. 21% on constructions, 12% on heat in LV)

Fiscal incentives

Applying the ‘Total Cost of Ownership’ approach (life-cycle) savings on the long term

Social opportunities, engaging the process:

Connect retrofit with social benefits / energy poverty

Holistic approach of the retrofit both in savings and comfort

Education on energy efficiency (e.g. Long-term benefits of investment)

Engagement of citizens and stakeholders in decision-making

Inclusion of social and cultural indicators

Capacity building and awareness raising from municipality




Challenges and opportunities detailed for each region has been summarised in the following table.

Romania

Challenges Opportunities

• High costs technological solutions & Procurement rules • Economic interest / Environmental benefit • Cost-benefit analysis - cost of consolidation works &

disturbance • European funds are difficult to access • Home owners associations are not eligible for loans

(only natural person eligible for loans) • Mortgages but with conditions (+5 years only for 20

years investment) • Residents´ behaviour

• Use local energy agency and research institutions • Similar initiatives are in place – explore synergies • Construction permits to nearly zero conventional energy

consumption buildings by 2018 for public, and by 2020 for private) • European funds & private finance • Banks supporting PPPs and creation of ad hoc credit plans • Implementation of Regional Operational Plans – legal framework

needed, potentially a National Plan (e.g. Municipality co-financing) • Education on energy efficiency (e.g. Long-term benefits of

investment)

Latvia


• Seasonality of technical solution/work (with wet plastering and insulation) stimulating workers ‘migration

• Lack of skilled labour • Connection with district heating vs. Heating companies

interest • Mistrust between residents and low awareness about

energy efficiency and non-energy benefits of renovation • Lack of sustainability strategies for retrofits • Equity capital • No scheme without governmental support • Minimal profit from RES

• Holistic approach of the retrofit both in savings and comfort • Energy certification for buildings to build trust in financial

institutions • 10 million EUR are planned to divert for ESCO companies from EU

provided funds for multi-family building refurbishment in 2014-2020 • Planning for a complex instead of single building • Equalize VAT rates (21% on constructions, 12% on heat) • Fiscal incentives (e.g. Riga’ s tax credit) • Capacity building and awareness raising from municipality • Improved national regulation

Netherlands


• Extension needs more heating and more materials • Risk of depreciation due to loss of aesthetic value • Lack of R&D in building sector • Building and land use regulation too restrictive • Planning obligation (e.g. N. of car parking spots) • Affordability for tenants and conflicting budget

priorities • Maintenance costs of (additional) installations • Increase of number of small households justifies

smaller homes rather than bigger ones extensions can be contrary to macro developments in housing demand

• Aesthetic value increase • Change of use • Possibilities of joint building design and urban design • Industrialisation of new products • Also think of extensions underground • Anticipating on new environmental law • Linking energy performance to fiscal policy (e.g. lower property tax

if energy performance is good) • Rent & sale back as incentive for long term • Economy of scale • Applying the ‘Total Cost of Ownership’ approach (including

maintenance costs) savings on the long term

Greece


• Risk of add-ons not including energy efficiency • Find appropriate case studies • Regional approaches • Building and land use regulation too restrictive • Planning obligation (e.g. N. of car parking spots) • Strengthening confidence of key investors to

accelerate the market

• Assessment of the reduction of payback time. Justify how a new integrated structure with higher initial construction costs may result as cost effective solution compare to a single intervention in the existing building

• Integrated approaches • Regional approaches • Connect retrofit of social housing with social benefits / energy

poverty • Consider carefully type of building and the scale of intervention • Disseminate results to wider public




Italy


• Sustainability assessment. • Balance among new building producers of energy and

renovated building. • Create demand in the market to facilitate investments. • Difficult to access financing from banks - most of

interventions realized in Class A are funded by the construction company that will be paid back once those dwellings are selling.

• Additions not addressed in directives. • Fiscal and cultural barriers: energy efficiency reduces

consumptions and consequently the percentages of taxes. • The scenario in Italy is segmented • Creation of awareness within all stakeholders involved. • Condominium unanimity for the Add-ons choices

• Intervention on public building should be excluded from rules defined within “Stability and Growth Pact”.

• Green finance. • Fiscal incentives (e.g. Tax reduction) • ESCO are not included with the “Stability and Growth Pact”. • Liberalization of changes of use of construction for existing

buildings and energy supplier within small districts. • Increase scale of intervention • Use of the already existing maps to evaluate inclusion of

volumetric additions. • The possibility for a stakeholder to be at the same time constructor

and ESCO allow increasing the feasibility level of meaningful interventions.

• Engagement of citizens in decision-making • Social and cultural indicators should be taken into account.

Norway


• Main challenge is costs • "Yellow list“ for cultural heritage preservation • Poor market for office space in Oslo at the time being,

so renovation is hard to justify financially • Engagement of building owner – scepticism/value

proposition.

• For heritage buildings, changes are possible if presented as "green building“, e.g. building with wood, which is favoured by local politicians

• Utilize empty building • Social responsibility well perceived

Bulgaria


• High investment needed • Financial and cultural barriers related to taxes on

consumption • Human resources and transfer of knowledge • Lengthy and complex procedures • Need for urban planning regulations • The technical conditions of the National program for

building stock renovation do not allow and do not support deep renovation measures

• Creation of awareness within all stakeholders involved

• Develop a long term financial scheme for RES • Low interest rate for bank loans • Creating of Guarantee Fund for energy efficiency and RES

measures • More active role for regional agencies in support to national

government to fasten procedures • Change of technical specification in national program for building

renovation • Very high potential of solar energy • Very high potential for implementation of efficient energy

measures • Use of local producers of materials • Participation of the citizen and house owners in the analysis of

suggested possible interventions. • Snow ball effect of implementation of deep renovation




Policy Recommendations for the different actors. Results of the first National Meetings

Policy Recommendations as by National meetings

PR shared by

Nr. Addressed to Policy recommendation proposal IT RO LV NL GR NR BG

1 National Parliament

Convergence of the national and regional level legislation for Urban and Energy Planning is recommended, to obtain a synergistic impact. It is recommended to improve an integration of the regional energy/climate plans and environmental laws with the urban policy

IT RO NL GR BG

2 National tax agencies

It is recommended to facilitate the building renovation policy by fiscal incentives and tax reductions, for example allowing a deduction from income tax of the contributions in cash for the necessary urban services, in case of densification.

IT NL GR

3 State and Municipalities

In the frame of the nZEB national strategy, it is recommended to insert a chapter indicating that the transition towards the nZEB shall consider an evaluation of the energy performance level for the entire district concerned by the intervention, instead of the single buildings. This will allow a more flexible approach in case of renovation developments, differentiating the final level of energy performance to be achieved according to the results of a cost optimal analysis. Analogously in Municipal building regulations: building refurbishment shall be approved by districts (4-6 buildings), to include common courtyard and urban services, rather than individually for each building.

IT, LV

4 Regions and Municipalities

A reform of the legislation concerning urban planning is in progress in many Regions. This reform addresses the following objectives:

To increase the urban densification, in order to reduce the urban sprawl;

To promote the building renovation instead of new constructions (towards zero land consumption);

To ease a liberalization of the change of function for existing buildings, allowing value creation by change of use/facilitating change of use;

To reduce the municipal charges burden on urban renovation at nZEB level, reduce taxation on efficient buildings.

It is recommended to further develop these policies in the regional regulations.

IT, NL GR BG

5 Regions/ Municipalities

It is recommended to plan the network facilities (e.g. district heating, smart/mini grid...) in order to favour the nZEB target in buildings. The amount of necessary urban services (parking lots, green areas), to be adopted as a consequence of the unavoidable densification that add-ons realization entails, has to be considered at district level and allowing compensations. This requires adding more flexible measures in urban planning regulations and a careful assessment of urban sustainability.

IT




6 Regions and Municipalities

Important precondition to favour the rehabilitation of building by Add-ons solutions is the “creation of demand” in the district potentially involved by the rehabilitation of buildings towards the nZEB level. Along with energy/cost saving, dwellers have to find an improvement of the quality of their life: this may include better comfort, additional neighbourhood facilities and new public spaces for social integration, better green areas, improved and better integrated waste management solutions. Urban policies have to consider these aspects, to help nZEB solutions to meet the market.

IT

7

ESCOs The ESCos represented in the SC have expressed doubts on the cost effectiveness of proposing renovation to the nZEB level to their clients. The new version of the national incentive for urban renovation at the nZEB level is very generous (570 €/m2), and may make the same measure quite attractive to the clients. Clear and convincing information on these opportunities has to be communicated. It is recommended to the ESCos to develop joint information campaigns and to evaluate within the SC new financial schemes.

IT

8

Construction Companies

The construction companies start to engage in building renovation fixing a target of getting class C for buildings originally in class G. This is coherent with the efforts of many EU countries trying to reconvert large multifamily buildings of the 50ies and 60ies in more comfortable homes. The conversion to the nZEB level appears out of range for the time being. It is recommended to study the incentives developed in advanced countries (for ex. In Germany by KfW) to provide a gradually increased incentive for higher levels of energy performance.

IT

9

Dwelling cooperatives

There are very positive examples of dwelling cooperative companies realizing now class A+ buildings at market prices, driven by a significant demand for high (energy) quality flats. The renovation of existing buildings is the new area of intervention, facing large problems with costs. It is recommended to establish a shared database of real prices for converting multifamily buildings to the nZEB level.

IT

10 State

It is recommended to extend the method of 50% + 1 for the approval of retrofitting works by condominium assemblies also in case of significant reconstruction (add-ons).

IT LV

11 State VAT inequality: it is recommended to harmonise the VAT rate for heating, renovation and NZEB materials, labour and design. IT LV

12

State and banks

It is recommended the definition of agreements concerning the bank’s products, which would address the deep renovation, implementing a loan similar to the “First House Loan”. It is recommended the creation of Guarantee Funds (also involving EIB or other IFIs) for energy efficiency and RES measures, to favour ESCOs involvement in Add-ons solutions.

RO LV BG

13 State and Municipalities

It is recommended the creation of a better link between energy performances of buildings and fiscal policy (e.g. to lower property tax according to the levels of energy performance)

IT NL

14

State and Regions

It is recommended to support the retrofitting/add-ons solutions in historical buildings, also by promoting the creation, at Regional level, of an accurate inventory of cultural heritage, to identify previously the building suitable for retrofitting, related types of works and possible uses, in line with "green building“ concepts.

N




Report of the International Workshop on Challenges and opportunities. Bologna 23-24th June 2016

Background

The report that follows has been composed taking into consideration the different interventions and contributions brought by the key note speakers and the audience during the International Workshop held in Bologna on 23 and 24 of June, on the topic: Challenges and opportunities of the ABRACADABRA strategy.

During the workshop, speakers from the Partners’ consortium, invited speakers and stakeholders have provided a background overview in deep renovation of existing buildings.

The coordinator Annarita Ferrante (UNIBO) has briefly described the current situation and highlighted the main challenges in energy retrofitting:

- High upfront costs - Long payback time - High degree of financial risk - Invisibility of energy renovation (behavioural occupiers’ importance;

performance gap).

The problem asks for social, legislative and market solutions. The ABRACADABRA strategy aims at developing a multi-benefit approach intervening not only in the energy aspects but also in the real estate value creating an upgrading synergy between the old and the new elements of the buildings. The aim and ambition is a punctual densification strategy that could regenerate the urban peripheries while contrasting the continuous urban sprawl and soil consumptions.

In this context, “legislative revolution” is what ABRACADABRA is searching for to overcome the existing normative barriers. To do so, the project will involve the main stakeholders and convince them of the strength and power of the strategy proposed in the ABRACADABRA project.

The coordinator also showed the scheme included in the project, highlighting how energy efficiency savings together with the economic profit and the added value from the addition could bring the breakeven point preserving the environmental and social value of the project.

Technical, legislative and financial Toolkits are the main outcome of our project, to do so the core stakeholders have to be engaged:

1. Technical and construction companies

2. Condominium cooperative and private owners groups

3. Public and territorial bodies

Different type of additions are shown as examples to give the audience an idea of the typology.

To enlarge the stakeholder group currently part of the ABRACADABRA community, a series of national and international meetings, as well as a strong communication and dissemination strategy will overcome the lack of dialogue that still exists among the different target groups. The ABRACADABRA project will explain and make visible the increase of the asset value given by AdoRes and emphasise the potential of the strategy showing its benefits through the application in case studies.

To conclude: the ABRACADABRA strategy can reduce the payback time of deep renovation investments offering the occasion for higher transformations, not only from and energy point of view, but also including functional and programmatic aspects to the projects. The buildings will




benefit of an extended life-time together with the inclusion of non-energy related factors that thus contribute consistently in the overall quality of the building. The projects will result from core synergies that will be established among the old and the new: the renovation of buildings will lead to a shift in perspective up to conceive buildings as generators and up-scale the balance from a consume-production point of view (Annarita Ferrante, University of Bologna, Project Coordinator).

Successively, Alise Corovessi, from the Institute of Zero Energy Buildings, has described several collateral aspects related to energy renovation that need to be taken into account when approaching the energy elevation in buildings: Energy security - Public finances (1 euro invested by government can return up to 5 euros in one year) - Health of occupants - Jobs and growth (Deep renovation can create up to 2 million local, direct jobs) - Contribute to EU competitiveness - CO2 emission - Lower energy bills for citizens.

The benefits of energy renovation could result in significant benefits and improved percentage in the following crucial aspects:

Increased rental rates;

Higher sale prices;

Higher occupancy rate;

Lower operating cost;

Faster marketing times;

Higher net operating income;

Increased workers productivity.

When talking about multi-family buildings, the property regime is the main problem and causes the complexity in decision-making and consensus. In 2016, the European Union will revise the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive and the Energy Efficiency Directive. By April 2017, National Renovation Roadmaps will be reviewed. These are important occasions to make end users aware of the potential of deep renovation and promote a more effective legislative framework (Alise Corovessi, Institute of Zero Energy Buildings).

Next, Steven Fawkes, Energy Pro, has pointed out the numerous financial principles that are not understood by the technical stakeholders involved in the energy renovation process, who don’t know how to speak ‘finance’. Energy efficiency and architecture professionals are diverse and often they do have problems in communicating and understanding each other’s necessities and languages. Energy professionals and finance professionals have been separated and need to build a bridge between each other. The basic project development process is characterised by the following steps:

1. Base line. 2. Save line. 3. Design. 4. Construction. 5. Commission. 6. Operations, maintenance. 7. Measures and verification.

Data shall be taken from the energy audit or technical modelling to build the financial model, develop risk analysis and then refine the model used to justify investment. Once terms are agreed there is the financial close then you can move to detailed design and implementation. This is the bridge between the technical and financial process. Standardise processes are key to foster investments in the renovation sector: yet, there is a consistent lack of standardisation in energy renovation processes. This lack results in greater performance risk because each project is calculated in a different way, which also results in high transaction costs. It is also difficult to build capacity within financial institutions.

The Investor Confidence Project is a response to this lack of standardisation: it does not bring new technical standards but rather it standardises best practice in project development and documentation. It has developed different protocols: Targeted, Standard, and Large, which are relevant to projects of different size and complexity. There are 6 European protocols developed by more than 150 professionals from the financial sector and the energy efficiency industry, which are




increasingly been applied across Europe. The ICP also has an accreditation process which results in a project being awarded the “Investor Ready Energy EfficencyTM” label.

Energy efficiency is rarely – if ever – strategic. The non-energy benefits such as added asset value, job creation, improved productivity etc. are usually far more strategic and interesting to decision makers. It is important to value and sell the non-energy benefits. The lack of strategic planning means that it is not surprising that energy efficiency is not invested in even if the payback is good. We should always ask how does a project create added asset value rather than just focus on the payback created by energy savings. Work carried by the IEA, the WGBC and others is focused on methodologies for valuing of health and well being.

Moreover the key suggestions for planners and process developer are 1. To involve finance at the beginning of project development; 2. To learn the language of finance; 3. To stress the non-energy benefits and value; 4. To honestly evaluate the risk (energy price risk, for example).

Financial institutions are interested in investing but there is a shortage of well-developed, bankable projects and a need for further standardisation (Steven Fawkes, Energy Pro).

Dzintars Jaunzems, Renesco, has confirmed what previous speakers reported (Ferrante, Corovessi): the main existing technical problem to energy renovation consists in the invisibility of the energy efficiency. It is thus important to define which is the most feasible and cost-effective investment? In other words where is the optimum between the cost of investment and the saved energy? Only energy related retrofits will not be feasible unless there are significant changes in the market regarding:

Standardisation

Energy price

Soft condition for money loans

In this context, a good opportunity can be found in the concept of Re finance – sell future cash flows: ESCOs do the project and once they are at the breakeven point, they do not have to wait till the end on the process, but can immediately get the revenues and reinvest in other projects (Dzintars Jaunzems, Renesco).

Laura Vanhuè, a financial Expert and consultant in Energy Efficiency, discussed about financial engineering that should act as intermediation between financial markets and projects developers; this is essential to switch from grant financing to more sustainable financing. In fact, direct and indirect subsidies are limited resources, more adapted to support demonstration projects than massive market uptake programmes, which require large and constant flows of investment. Third party financing scheme acting as «facilitator» between home owners and banks, as applied in Franche-Comté. This is an example of alternative and innovative financial scheme as well as a integrated model scheme for Energies Posit’IF in Ile de France, Pass Renovation in Picardie (Laura Vanhuè, Financial Expert and consultant in Energy Efficiency).

Marco Corradi, from Housing Europe and stakeholder in ABRACADABRA, has illustrated the Social Housing sector; in the EU social housing presence and structure is different from one country to the other, yet encountered problems are very similar throughout Europe. There is a raise of awareness in Europe for fuel poverty, mortgage, and rent crisis is hitting the people.

There are, all around Europe, obsolete buildings - over 50% built before 1970 - but at the same time in Italy exist 5,4 million of empty houses, a common situation for many European countries. Social Housing companies manage dwelling at the municipality level and give social service for social housing. There is the need for a change towards a more sustainable model, as the construction models of the past are no longer valuable and viable. The key messages to encourage investment are: energy efficiency, increase value of buildings, positive social development and reduced cost of managing.




It is essential that people can remain in their apartments during the renovation process. (see iNSPiRe project) Financial support for the energy investment is needed.

Abracadabra is an important project, because there is the need of different actions, new questions and problems, new resources for investment. The possibility of including additional volume as a solution, also within a frame of a demolition and reconstruction process, represents an important component of the revision of the regulatory framework of the national programs for redevelopment of buildings and urban systems. There should be an active inter-dependence between the urban planning and the energy regulation strategies to develop concerted and integrated actions. This will lead to a promotion of social and economic growth of families, develop cohesive community and solidarity and promote as well social mixture (Marco Corradi, Housing Europe).

Attilio Raimondi, from the Emilia Romagna Region, discussed about incentives, actions and measures to be included in the policies with energy agencies, research bodies, and financial institutions in order to find together the most efficient solutions for the legislation. Recently, the Region of Emilia Romagna approved the regulations, created requirements for new parks and an energy plan was developed at a regional level. This energy plan became a model also for other regions to help reduce energy consumptions, also supported business and local government.

Energy savings and efficiency is the crucial source. It is possible to implement energy savings and efficiency in several building sectors such as residential, urban and public sector.

After having achieved the savings, the second step is to integrate RES in order to cover the consumptions both from electric side and from the heating side. It is fundamental and crucial to improve and implement the grid. The current grid is not efficient. Smart grids should work in parallel with the urban planning. Rationalisation in the transport systems is essential.

There was the DGR 28 April 2016 call for public bodies in order to support local bodies and promote energy efficiency in buildings. It was hand out maximum 30% up to 300.000 euros. It regards public facilities, social housing, and refurbishment of one building or a complex.

There is another call scheme for SME with a financial share of 100% for private 30% of the total financing with market interest rate while for 70% of the total interest rate. It is fundamental to have an energy audit (according to the ISO measures) in order to be able to access the funds.

Contribution of 50% for acceptable costs for: Energy audits up to 10 thousand, EMS up to 20 thousand. As a conclusion, integration between energy policy and urban planning is fundamental (Attilio Raimondi, Emilia Romagna Region).

Looking at other European funded projects helps to define the current state of the art and the excellence in energy renovation projects and processes such as the Cohereno project. Ad Straub, OTB, TU Delft, illustrated interesting outcomes from Cohereno. The objective of the project is to strengthen collaboration between enterprises from the supply side for the realisation of Nearly Zero-Energy Building renovations of single-family owner-occupied houses, thus eliminating barriers for collaboration, providing opportunities for business collaboration, promoting the uptake of new business models and increasing customer confidence by quality assurance mechanisms.

In this way ad-hoc demonstration projects will be replaced by NZEB renovations in a volume market. By following numerous research methods and actions such as desk research, different surveys, interviews and workshops and by addressing to specific target groups such as contractors, banks, real estate agents, energy agencies and policy makers etc. the project reached to important results:

• ‘NZEB radars’: tracking tools to identify NZEB single-family house renovations projects and (experienced) actors

• Guidelines with opportunities for business collaboration in the NZEB single-family house renovation market




• Hands-on recommendations on quality assurance practice

• Lists of frontrunners in NZEB renovation

• Business Collaboration Events that informed and encouraged enterprises for NZEB renovations of owner-occupied single-family homes

• Innovative business schemes of collaborative enterprises

As a conclusion, could be mentioned that Add-ons, customized and/or prefabricated, for specific dwelling types and customer segments could be drivers for renovation and for installing renewable energy sources. For single-family dwellings rooftop extensions are proposed, built-on kitchens and living rooms, sun lounges, etc. All models should pay attention to value propositions including Add-on Renewables, stepwise renovations, lifelong living, etc. (Ad Straub, OTB).

Previous experiences

A specific session of the first International Workshop has been focussed on existing best practises in deep renovation. To provide the best experiences, Architects and design planners working on the subject of deep renovation with a particular attention to building quality and architecture regeneration have been invited. Among them, Florian Lichtblau- Lichtblau Architekten, has illustrated an exemplary model in another significant EU funded project, E2ReBuild project, co-financed in the 7th FP.

In fact, E2Rebuild aims to promote and demonstrate advanced, cost-effective, energy-efficient retrofit strategies by creating added value for existing apartment buildings and encouraging a dynamic society. Moreover, it intends to establish and investigate sustainable renovation solutions that will reduce energy use and also promote an holistic industrialized process that will minimize technical and social disturbance for tenants, will facilitate energy-efficient operation and will encourage energy-efficient behaviour. The partners of this project are from universities providing research activities, demonstration owners providing demonstration projects, architects and consultants, providing practical experience and manufacturers providing practical experience and knowledge and producing demonstration projects.

All the interventions such as building envelopes, life cycle, urbanism and architecture were part of a holistic industrialized retrofitting approach.

In a building block of 1958 a holistic renovation for an ideal life cycle was performed. A prefabricated wood envelope was designed. In order to build in a sustainable way, first there is the need to adopt a sustainable attitude. Working simple and flexible is what sustainability means. The necessity in order to achieve the best result is to combine all these aspects. Furthermore, the only way to reach the best economic result is to learn the language of ‘finance’.

In a house unit in Munich where the heating demand of the existing building was four times more than the proposed scenario, a new design was proposed with the construction of an energy façade, the TES EnergyFacade, a prefabricated timber construction system for remediation methods that achieve an energetically highly efficient standard. The result is an important basis for a further development and a smooth workflow and cost-effective, ecological, energy efficient method for optimizing the building envelope. During the whole process of the project, the team had to deal with numerous obstacles and risks, but it is crucial and very important to have the occupier’s involvement (Florian Lichtblau- Lichtblau Architekten).

Frédéric Druot has illustrated a fascinating yet concrete narrative in the framework of Architecture regeneration. He has started his presentation saying that:

“The question of energy is within the question of building, which is within the pleasure of leaving”.




Hereby, some interesting case studies from the practice of Druot Architecture are described as exemplary experiences where volumetric addition has been included in the renovation of existing building process:

1) Plus.

In France, there is a need of 1.000.000 extra dwellings so policy that recommends demolishing many existing buildings is pointless. The only answer to this question of housing needs, is large-scale housing block? As they are the only spaces that could provide in an economic and generous way to provide the required space. The main aspects of this proposal were focused on: Increasing from inside to outside, increasing the benefit of existing situations, facilitating usage and simplifying life. This pilot study was not a very expensive proposition and included urban planning as well.

2) Tour Boid le Pretre, Paris.

A renovation of a building in a suburb of Paris, constructed on 1962 with a simple lightweight façade. The 1999 new law enforced insulation to all the whole building. As a result, due to the insulation placed on the outside, there was a lack of space on the inside, no sufficient living space and lack of life. With in mind the will to propose the best bid possible to the proposal, the applicants occupied the apartments in order to observe the actual situation. They realized how many different user oriented interior design existed.

They proposed a benefit in terms of increasing the space. As the façade was a very light construction, there was the possibility to replace it and add an extension. A pre-fabricated extension was realized in order not to force the inhabitants to leave their houses and gain construction time as well. The result of the addiction was two meters of living space extension, plus one meter of balcony and a light façade. 3D representations gave to the habitants all the possible solutions so that they could freely make their choice according to their needs and tastes.

Within one month they constructed the façade, gain extra tenants, gain more space and the building was energetically renovated according to their needs.

3) Grand Parc, Bordeaux.

This project presents similarities with the previous one, but also with the addition of new apartments on the roof as a solution. The result was the transformation of more than 500 houses and as a result with the addition of extra balconies and winter gardens, increasing the existing living space.

In general the main objectives and main principals of Druot architecture is to generate inside its existing organizations, dismantle without disturbing, give air, fluidity, space and luminosity, grant the management of public areas to private initiative, open the view from the inside of the living areas, with delicacy and offer a variety of ways to live, rent and acquire property

Other best practice examples have been displayed and illustrated by Julian Weyer, C.F. Møller Architects (partner of C.F. Møller Architects), whose work is focussed in architecture and aesthetics, as a challenge and added value and as the driver for renovation. According to Julian Weyer, energy should work as an initiator of renovation. Create living value and social value of the building is essential. One of the main drivers of renovation should be the added value. It is essential that during the process of the renovation tenants could stay in their houses.

At a typical social housing building block constructed during the 70’s- 80’s with a typical landscape around it, an idea with more social character of the whole area was proposed. It was part of the social process to have more access to the area than the existing situation. All blocks were designed according to different scenarios. Different types of volumetric solutions were analysed. (Adding balconies, roof top extension etc.). Also cutting the blocks and creating more stand-alone buildings, providing 360° view area for each apartment, was one of the strategy. For each new




proposal, technological issues are created that have to be considered, such as the thickness of the windows etc.

In another 70’s concrete structure, the recreation of the open space and the reorganization of their private gardens have been emphasized. Ownership and identity feeling was essential to be increased among the residents. The gardens were bordered by alternative fencing, creating space in the semi-public zone.

According to Moller architecture practice, other examples of typical building blocks can be found where the strategy is based to the extension of the living space by additions on the top floor and the transformation of the entrance on the ground floor by providing continuity to the private and the public open space.

The last architectural examples considered as references where AdoRes have been used as leverage in the deep renovation project are from Burkhalter Sumi Architekten. Arch. Yves Schihin (partner at Burkhalter Sumi Architekten) has illustrated how the best way to do urban densification is with addition to the building stock, which eventually produces added values to the already built tissue. In this way the added values are: economical value, ecological value and social value.

According to Arch. Yves Schihin, by adding one extra floor to all Zurich’s rooftops over 30,000 people could be hosted.

The first illustrated case study is a 12 level apartment tower, built at the 60’s; to this building the so-called “Backpack” strategy was applied (addition to apartment tower, Winterthur). Here there was a need for energy refurbishment and typological renovation. To this specific structure, there was no possibility of a pile up strategy as it is a brick structure with no earthquake safety. The main aim of this project was the increase of the rentable surface. The architect mainly focused on maintaining the existing footprint, preserving the green areas and reusing the existing infrastructure.

From the different typologies two big family apartments were created out of four small studios. Extra balconies were added where it was possible and the façade was renovated. For the additional apartments a layer was added to the north façade. This backpack addition also guarantees earthquake safety. The ‘back pack’ addition strategy with the new layer on the north, the overhanging balconies and the new texture on the façade creates a new identity to the building.

The second case study presented by Yves Schihin, is the railway operational building close to Zurich city centre. Here the “pile up” strategy has been used (addition on industrial building Giesshübel, Zürich), reusing the building stock. The flexible room without pillars and with the double height gave the opportunity to create the offices of the railway company by introducing new openings and windows.

The lift shafts and the existing staircases guarantee that the building complies with earthquake safety and is wind resistant. For this reason, the pile up strategy was proposed.

The pile up addition offers apartments with view and double sided balconies, which could also be used as extra living area. With this strategy, there was an increase of 300% of the rentable surface. One of the most important and interesting aspects of Yves Schihin and Sumi Architekten is the selection of the materials used for each project The use of wood for this kind of addictions has many advantages in comparison to other materials according to the architect. For example, the production of wood stocks carbon, it is much lighter, it is reusable and with the integration of insulation, there is a gain of surface. Firstly, wood is an easy workable material. One of its most important characteristics is prefabrication, used and applied to reduce the construction time and costs. In fact, with the use of CNC and BIM, precise prefabricated connections are possible, the technological elements are lighter and easier to be transferred and assembled.




Good practices

A broad number of best practices in the field of energy renovation on existing buildings have been selected showing the potential of volumetric addition when dealing with existing buildings.

In the following pages, each sheet illustrates the main characteristics of the existing original building, the typology of addition that has been applied, the overall extension surface and the materials/construction technology used. The overview intends to provide a series of completed examples and case studies where the old densification ‘strategy’ has been used as tool to intervene on renovation projects in the recent years.




NORRLADSGATAN, 20

LOCATION

Stockholm, Sweden

BUILDING TYPE

Retail and housing building

YEAR OF CONSTRUCTION

1880

FAÇADE

Masonry (1880)

ADDITION TYPE

ARCHITECT Koncept AB

DURATION 2008-2009

ADDITION SURFACE

500

CONSTRUCTION SYSTEM Steel and glass

MATERIAL Steel

TYPOLOGY Rooftop

SOURCES

www.koncept.se

www.worldarchitecturenews.com/project-imag-es/2012/21068/koncept-stockholm-ab/vildmannen-in-

stock-holm.htmlv

http://www.koncept.se/




ALBY ETAGE ROOFTOP EXTENSION

LOCATION

Stockholm, Sweden

BUILDING TYPE

Apartament building


1935

FAÇADE

ADDITION TYPE

ARCHITECT

Sandell Sandberg

DURATION

2010-12 months

ADDITION SURFACE

23 each module

CONSTRUCTION SYSTEM

Prefabricated modules

MATERIAL

Container

TYPOLOGY

Rooftop

SOURCES

http://www.sandellsandberg.se/project/Alby+etage

http://www.fotolog.comitukholma/248000000




0000015301

GWG FERNPASTASSSTRASSE

LOCATION

Munich, Germany

BUILDING TYPE

Apartament Building


1958

FAÇADE

Prefabricated Panels

ADDITION TYPE

ARCHITECT

Hermann Kaufmann

Lichtblau Architekten

DURATION

2012-2013

ADDITION SURFACE

1311

CONSTRUCTION SYSTEM

TES Façade System

MATERIAL

Timber

TYPOLOGY

Blaconies/ Loggia




SOURCES

http://www.hermann-kaufmann.affindex.

ph p?pid=2&ki d=38prjnr=07_51&lren

http://www.mkp-ing.com/projektelwohnen-buro-hotel/

wohnanlage-gwg-muenchen-sendling-d

GRUENTENSTRASSE RENOVATION

LOCATION

Augsburg,Germany

BUILDING TYPE

Apartament Building


1966

FAÇADE

ADDITION TYPE

ARCHITECT

Lattkearchitekten

DURATION

2012-9 months

ADDITION SURFACE

180

CONSTRUCTION SYSTEM

TES Façade

MATERIAL

Timber/ Croncrete

TYPOLOGY

Façade Renovation




SOURCES

Lattke, F. 2013. TES Energy Facade — proven practice in

Implementing Sustainability, Barriers and Chances. Book of

Abstracts. Fraunhofer IRB Verlag (2013). ISBN 978-3-8167-

_8965-9, ISBN_928.3.8167-8966-6

TREEHOUSES

LOCATION

Hamburg, Germany

BUILDING TYPE

Maisonette Type


1959

FAÇADE

ADDITION TYPE

ARCHITECT

Blauraum architects

DURATION

2012-2014

ADDITION SURFACE

2200




CONSTRUCTION SYSTEM

Prefab. Wooden panels

MATERIAL

Wood

TYPOLOGY

Rooftop/ Aside

SOURCES

http://www.blauraum.eu/architelctur/project/5/

TREEHOUSES

LOCATION

Hamburg, Germany

BUILDING TYPE

Maisonette Type


1959

FAÇADE




ADDITION TYPE

ARCHITECT

Blauraum architects

DURATION

2012-2014

ADDITION SURFACE

2200

CONSTRUCTION SYSTEM

Prefab. Wooden panels

MATERIAL

Wood

TYPOLOGY

Rooftop/ Aside

SOURCES

http://www.blauraum.eu/architelctur/project/5/




WOHNHEIM MANDALAHOF

LOCATION

Wien, Austria

BUILDING TYPE

Apartment Building


1968

FAÇADE

Concrete scheleton

ADDITION TYPE

ARCHITECT

Adolf Krischanitz

DURATION

2003-2008

ADDITION SURFACE

22 apartments from 22-59 each

CONSTRUCTION SYSTEM


MATERIAL

Wood

TYPOLOGY

Rooftop

SOURCES

wiinv.nextroom.at

wvnv.krischanitz.at

www.proholz.at/architektuddetail/mandalahof-in-uvien/




MANESSESTRASSE

LOCATION

Zürich,Switzerland




BUILDING TYPE

Apartment building


1960

FAÇADE

Wooden panels

ADDITION TYPE

ARCHITECT

Burkhalter Sumi

DURATION

2008-2011

ADDITION SURFACE

2.800

CONSTRUCTION SYSTEM

Prefabricated wooden

Panels with insulation

MATERIAL

Wood

TYPOLOGY

Aside

SOURCES

http://www.promolegno.com/materialegno/05/pile-it-up/

http://www.burl<halter-sumi.ch

TOUR BOIS LE PRETRE

LOCATION




Paris, France

BUILDING TYPE

Apartment building, Tower


1962

FAÇADE

Prefab. Concrete panels

ADDITION TYPE

ARCHITECT

LAcaton and Vassal

Frédéric Druot

DURATION

2011-2012

ADDITION SURFACE

600 (35,6 each unit)

CONSTRUCTION SYSTEM


MATERIAL

Prefabricated façade panels

TYPOLOGY Façade renovation

Balconies/Loggia

SOURCES

http://www.lacatonvassal.comnidp=56

https://docomomoiscetnewsletteriv.wordpress.com/artide-2/0 http://www.architectural-review.conVbuildingsAacaton-and-

vassals-revit-

afisation-of-a-parisian-tower-block/8624097.adicle

TORENFLAT BINNENGANGEN

LOCATION




Zeist, The Netherlands

BUILDING TYPE

Apartment building


1973

FAÇADE

Concrete Structure

ADDITION TYPE

ARCHITECT

Frowijn de Rood architecten

DURATION

2007-2010

ADDITION SURFACE

2000

CONSTRUCTION SYSTEM Aside

Balconies/ Loggia

MATERIAL

Aluminium

TYPOLOGY

Façade renovation

Balconies/Loggia

SOURCES

www.frowijnderoos.n1

httplAvww.dearchitect.nl/projecten

http://www.aluplanet.com/documenti/InfoAl-

luminio/Premio_Aluminium_in_Renovation_

edizione_2009.pdf

DE VALK




LOCATION

Apeldoorn, The Netherlands

BUILDING TYPE

Apartment building


1962

FAÇADE

Prafebricated façade modules

ADDITION TYPE

ARCHITECT

Groosman Parthners

DURATION

2005-2008

ADDITION SURFACE

1200

CONSTRUCTION SYSTEM


Solaiux and Normtaq

MATERIAL

Concrete

TYPOLOGY

Façade renovation

Balconies/Loggia

SOURCES

http://www.archello.com/en/project/de-valk/35693

http://www.groosman.com/project/de-valW




EUCALYPTUSHOF

LOCATION

Rotterdam, The Nethrlands

BUILDING TYPE

Apartment/ office building


1976

FAÇADE


ADDITION TYPE

ARCHITECT

THE ROOM INDUSTRY

DURATION

2007-2009

ADDITION SURFACE

300

CONSTRUCTION SYSTEM

Prefabricated façade panels

BRS-Artdeck system

MATERIAL

Steel construction

TYPOLOGY

Balconies/Loggia

SOURCES

http://www.bis.nl/experlise-project.php?-exp=3&proj=1989818&img=2

http://www.aaarchitects.nl/nededands/

projecten/eh/




HAB VARBERGPARKEN BLOCK 15

LOCATION

Haderslev, Denmark

BUILDING TYPE

Apartment building


1974

FAÇADE


ADDITION TYPE

ARCHITECT

Møller Architects

DURATION

2008-2013

ADDITION SURFACE

800

CONSTRUCTION SYSTEM

Prefabricated façade

MATERIAL

Steel construction

TYPOLOGY

Balconies/Loggia

SOURCES

http://www.cfmollercom/p/-en/varberg-

parken-block-15-low-energy-hous-

ing-i2466.html




GOETHESTRASSE/ EINSTEINSTRASSE

LOCATION

Leinfeld, Germany

BUILDING TYPE

Apartment building


1957

FAÇADE

Prefab. Concrete panels

ADDITION TYPE

ARCHITECT

Stefan Foster

DURATION

2003-2007

ADDITION SURFACE

Reduction of 1/3

CONSTRUCTION SYSTEM

Original Construction

MATERIAL

Prefabricated concrete panels

TYPOLOGY Façade renovation

Rooftop

SOURCES

phttp://ww.stefan-forster-architekten.de/de/stadtumbau/

haus-4-goethestrasse/

.1710108: Stela n Forster Architekten /Jean -Luc Valentin




BOGENALLEE 10

LOCATION

Hamburg, Germany

BUILDING TYPE

Apartment building


1974

FAÇADE

Concrete

ADDITION TYPE

ARCHITECT

Blauraum Architects

DURATION

2004- 13 months

ADDITION SURFACE

850

CONSTRUCTION SYSTEM

Prefabricated façade

MATERIAL

Wood

TYPOLOGY

Façade renovation

SOURCES

http://www.detail.de/research/forschung-en-

twicklung/wohnen-statt-arbeiten-umnutzung-in-

nerstaedtischer-buerohaeuser-023933.html

http://www.blauraum.eu/architektur/project/2/




http://www.convertiblecity.de

RAY 1

LOCATION

Vienna, Austria

BUILDING TYPE

Office building


1960

FAÇADE

Prefab. Panels, Concrete structure

ADDITION TYPE

ARCHITECT

Delugan Meissl

DURATION

2003-2004

ADDITION SURFACE

340

CONSTRUCTION SYSTEM

Steel

MATERIAL

Alucobond

TYPOLOGY

Rooftop

SOURCES

http://www.dmaa.at/projekte/detail-page/house-ray1.html




Proposals for improvements

The first series of National Meetings led to the preparation of a first set of guidelines to be used in the following policy recommendations based upon the major challenges and opportunities that emerged during the discussions with the different stakeholders in the national meetings.

As common challenge, the ABRACADABRA strategy based upon AdoRes for deep renovation requires consistent up-front costs therefore risk analysis and assessment should guarantee to investors a low level of risk compared to standard renovation. Financial and energy aspects connected to the renovation through AdoRes shall be interwoven from the beginning of the process in order to ensure correspondence between the economic and energetic side. Standardised model shall be applied to the ABRACADABRA financial models in order to offer the market a replicable and safe scheme for further interventions.

Currently, the fragmentation of the regulative and legislative frameworks around Europe is acting as a major barrier to implement innovative incentives and processes that could support the energy turnaround in renovation of existing buildings. Thus, from a legislative perspective, the major challenge consists in fostering the inclusion of volumetric bonuses within the regional and national regulations, in those renovation cases that assure to reach high-energy reduction standards. This challenge has often lead the discussion between public and private bodies to suggest an inter-disciplinary approach to the planning and regulatory phase that could results in the development of concerted energy and urban plans for the punctual densification and re-development of the cities.

It also emerged from the discussion with the different stakeholders at all regional levels that an innovative approach to urban planning shall include special measures to promote deep energy renovation at all the scales, but especially considering the district scale. This approach would empower the current policies towards smart grid and smart cities.

In fact, the ABRACADABRA strategy has been welcomed by the stakeholders with a great interest especially considering the opportunities and results that could have been achieved when applied not only at the building yet at the district scale. Suitable urban areas should be identified according to their residual capability to bear an increase in urban load and provide the necessary services (integration of the existing services) such as parking lots and infrastructure nets. Therefore, the greater challenge is to provoke a legislative and market change accelerating the revolution towards nearly Zero Energy in existing buildings.

From a social perspective, the proposed approach has to face a major challenge: the collection of the consensus from the inhabitants in case of deep renovation. The overall approval from the dwellers is, in fact, a prerequisite that shall not be underestimated. Moreover, the general scepticism of the stakeholders involved from the users, owners and housing management side has to be included in the risk assessment keeping into account that often the buildings to renovate are characterised by mixed ownership regime. Procedural schemes, participatory planning, discussion tables and negotiation groups shall be established during the project lifetime to include the social aspects related to the renovation within the ABRACADABRA strategy.

As described in the previous paragraphs, the first International Workshop of the Abracadabra Project has been implemented in the form of an International Conference to collect best practice examples, which could have the power to motivate stakeholders and empower partners as well. It has been a very important occasion to discuss and critically analyse the state of the art of the proposed approach and to evaluate its potential in economical, architectural and final users’ terms by directly looking at real projects built through this method. It also set the basis for a further evolution of the Addition strategy as a systematic and programmatic approach to renovation.




The majority of the architectural offices that have been already engaged in renovation intervention through additions, showed that the opportunities and potential of the strategy could lead to significant benefits, in all the ambits (technical, financial and social). This is especially true considering the possibility of including the needs, the requirements and wishes of the inhabitants; These users’ needs can be met by offering them a broad range of solutions from the ‘inside’ perspective, from the dwellers’ point of view, as the project illustrated by Arch. F. Druot has excellently shown. The strategy has a great potential in offering negotiation leverages that could help gaining the support of the dwellers for the energy renovation. Moreover, previous experiences showed how the strategy has been able to overcome the general scepticism of the stakeholders and the reluctance from the property owners by including non-energy benefits in the renovation interventions.

The project foresees the application of the strategy to several pilot cases in order to directly test the proposed measures and analyse the predicted challenges. The goal is to gain the necessary knowledge to develop countermeasures able to reduce the evaluated risks and the considered challenges. The involvement of a large community of stakeholders will ensure constant feedbacks from all the parties involved and will also provide support in the communication and dissemination phase of the projects to transfer the results and achievements. In order to reach the goals set and exploit the opportunities that the strategy has shown in this preliminary phase, the ABRACADABRA Toolkits aim at resulting in a standardised and proved set of instruments available for the entire stakeholders community.

Next steps

The upcoming project phase consists in developing the Technical, Regulative and Financial (TRF) as common framework among partners to be shared, discussed and revised in the national stakeholders’ community to exchange knowledge and obtain feedback from stakeholders representing the diversity of interested parties dealing with deep renovation. The Toolkits will be tested and revised upon the selected case studies (pilots) distributed in the target regions (Italy, Greece, The Netherlands, Latvia, Romania, Bulgaria and Spain). Furthermore, as a next step, partners and stakeholders in each target region will be in charge of indicating and selecting other promising candidates (40 further case studies).

Three basic Toolkits (TK) and Policy Recommendation (PR) documents shall be delivered to National Stakeholders’ Community as well as to other experts of the sectors. The three different delivered Toolkits addressed to specific target groups, will be: (i) technical, (ii) legislative and (iii) financial.

The Toolkits and PRs will address the following target groups: EU, national and local policy makers in the target countries as well as housing associations and property owners’ associations at EU level.

RENESCO will be in charge of the analysis of the running and past projects on add-ons. Therefore the PR will propose this analysis in a more structured way, and will have the function of homogenising the starting point of all participants and SC members, independently from their background. It will be a collaborative effort for compiling a suitable review of existing projects. Furthermore, in this Task, each partner will provide good practices of concrete interventions; based on a standard format (Excel file to collect case studies data and sent them to Renesco). These data will be implemented in the Toolkit. The tools will be completed by the user-oriented module. For now, it will be used as a simple excel file in order to collect data. It is still a work in progress as the project has just started. The first part is indeed focusing on information gathering. The second part concentrate on developing a vision to give direction to stakeholders on how to have the best




solution. Technical, market and financial aspects will be inserted in the format. It is expected to collect at least three good practices per partner, in the six countries or elsewhere.

All technical parts will be developed from Renesco, UOA, UNIBO and TU Delft and will be shared and possibly amended by all partners.

The most appropriate solutions for EU buildings of different types will be selected (based on the output of sub-task 2.1.1). All the different solutions will be presented in a standard way, to allow technical experts to easily understand the technologies, details and advantages.

The solutions identified will be firstly applied in the feasibility scenarios for 11 case studies in the target regions. Here, at least 5 architectural and energy retrofitting options (5 different types of AdoREs; i.e., roof top additions, aside, assistant new building, or a combination of them) will be applied in each case study for a total of 55 different scenarios. It is particularly important, at this stage, to provide the appropriate articulation of all possible real conditions in order to obtain (in the following tasks) the wider range of possible options.

The type and the level of energy simulation should be clarified. It is not in the scope of the proposal to have very accurate and detailed simulations. Nonetheless, it is important to define a simplified unified methodology. A module or a scenario analysis has to be introduced, taken into account such things as different times of the year by considering different values, etc. A solution could be a report and an appendix to organize the methodology. Partners in charge of the technical Toolkits will be actively working in the next months to define a common and effective strategy in order to produce a flexible and user-friendly Toolkit for the determination of the energy and economical potential in deep renovation through AdoRES. TRF feasibility of the deep renovations through Assistant buildings and AdoRes will be tested and implemented in the selected pilot cases within the target regions.

A preliminary assessment will calculate the over-costs of the different interventions, for obtaining a preliminary cost-benefit assessment. UNIBO will select or develop the most suitable feasibility study tool for the rapid evaluation of add-ons options, using different calculation approaches: usual financial parameters, life cycle cost (LCC) and taking into account also using previously developed partners’ Toolkits. The website is in constant update and will be used as starting point for the enlargement of the stakeholder community.

The web site will host also the ABRACADABRA stakeholder community platform where, once registered, stakeholders may have the possibility to reach documents and discussion outcomes from national meetings and International workshops, to visualize summary of results achieved within case studies and to connect to the user oriented modules.

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