PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
The building sector is responsible for more than 40% of the energy consumption and more than 36% of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of European Union (EU) Member States. Efforts are currently being made to renovate existing buildings to improve their energy efficiency, and to build new energy-efficient buildings. It is particularly important to take into account the carbon footprint of new buildings, as new construction will represent a third of the housing stock in the EU by 2050. One of the main issues is that low-carbon solutions currently lead to extra costs, which are not easily understandable or affordable.
OBJECTIVES
The LIFE-SBE4LCHCB project’s objective was to develop a universal and affordable low-carbon solution that can be implemented on every new building constructed in the EU.
To achieve this, project beneficiary ecoXia aimed to further develop and demonstrate its integrated solution, based on a Smart Building Envelope (SBE), on new buildings in France. The SBE is designed as a complete system that incorporates, among other things, natural materials (e.g. timber frame), very effective insulation and air-tightness. Solar panels and a smart panel that controls all the necessary components involved in energy efficiency can also be integrated. The SBE can be installed on any type of foundation, be integrated into any type of architecture, and receive any type of finishing.
The project team would demonstrate an innovative low-carbon building concept that includes delivery and construction through to maintenance, which could be adopted by any professional in the building industry.
The project aimed to contribute to EU strategies and targets related to climate change mitigation, such as the 2030 climate & energy framework, and the long-term strategy for a climate-neutral Europe by 2050. It also offers a practical demonstration of nearly Zero-Energy and Carbon Homes (nZECH), in line with the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. Indirectly, the project would contribute to climate change adaptation policy, as new low-carbon buildings tackle urban heat island effects.
RESULTS
The project successfully achieved most of its objectives, demonstrating the improved performance in terms of both energy demand and reduced carbon footprint of the SBE technology developed. The SBE technology, based on low-carbon and high-insulation materials, has been demonstrated to be both technically and commercially viable. It provides a solid foundation for broader replication of passive buildings in line with EU and national energy performance standards, thereby contributing to a significant reduction in both direct and life cycle climate impacts.
The specific results achieved are described below.
- Implementation of 9 pilot demonstrators equipped with the SBE technology: a total of
97 pilot demonstrators were implemented across France (5 completed and 2 still under construction at the end of the project), corresponding to 26 residential house equivalents and a total surface area of 2 459 m². - Demonstration of environmental performance: the project provided real energy performance data for 3 of the 7 demonstrators, while theoretical calculations were carried out for the remaining 4. Carbon footprint impacts over a 50-year life cycle were calculated for all pilots. The results show an average reduction in energy demand of 32% compared to current French regulatory limits, and life cycle emissions of 719 kg CO₂/m² – representing reductions of 46% and 60% compared to passive houses (1 326 kg CO₂/m²) and conventional buildings (1 774 kg CO₂/m²), respectively.
- Market readiness and alignment with the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD): the results confirmed that the SBE technology is a viable and cost-effective solution for different building types, effectively supporting the implementation of the EPBD and relevant French regulations.
- Economic and social impacts: surveys among building users confirmed the improved quality and thermal comfort of buildings equipped with the smart envelope technology. However, difficulties during the early implementation phase prevented the project from meeting its turnover and job creation targets. The business plan developed in the final stage nevertheless indicates that these objectives can be achieved in the medium term.
