PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
The need to guarantee access to clean air has been clearly recognised, both at the national and the EU level. Among the existing techniques to mitigate the problem of contamination in the indoor environment, photocatalysis, as an alternative technology, is considered to be the most innovative, effective, economic and promising solution. A new methodology based on an innovative photocatalytic nano-material (developed through the FP7-2007 IP project CLEAR UP) is able to degrade air pollutants using visible light, as opposed to the existing products on the market which operate usingUV radiation. In lab-scale experiments, the degradation of air pollutants reached up to 95%; though this will not be the case for more complicated real-world environments. Providing clean air is not always a viable solution, because of energy and carbon costs. Therefore, there is scope for developing tools and methodologies that encourage local authorities to adopt a more integrated approach to urban management, to improve both indoor air quality (IAQ) and energy saving. This is in line with the perspective of the signatories of the Covenant of the Mayors for Climate and Energy.
OBJECTIVES
The core objectives of the VISIONS project are to develop a holistic solution to achieve healthy indoor environments, and to induce energy savings in the building sector, by using new environmentally-friendly technologies. The project team bring together scientific and practical knowledge, to set realistic targets for the resolution of indoor air quality (IAQ) and energy consumption issues. They will employ an innovative photocatalytic nano-material (TCM-1) developed at lab scale in a previous project (CLEAR UP) that degrades air pollutants using visible light. The ultimate aim is to produce a new tool for the effective reduction of indoor air polluting agents, improving citizens day-to-day life, while contributing to national and EU coordinated efforts to promote green technologies that reduce energy consumption.
Specifically, the project aims at the:
Development of a multi-criteria Decision Support System (DSS), as a tool for studying the efficiency of the proposed solutions, processes and methods in future applications; Establishment of a start-up company that will undertake the production, exploitation and commercialisation of photocatalytic paint products for various building surfaces; Optimisation and upscaling of a novel photocatalytic material (TCM-1), already developed at lab-scale for effective air de-pollution and energy efficiency; Semi-industrial production of photocatalytic paints (Photo-Paints) by incorporating the TCM-1 in various types of paints for real-scale applications; Real-scale application of three innovative Photo-Paints in demonstration houses, and the selection of the most promising to be applied in two public buildings; Assessment of the effectiveness of the Photo-Paint for large-scale applications through the application of state-of-the-art numerical modelling (CFD) for different scenarios; Development of performance indicators for the evaluation of photocatalytic efficiency, in terms of reduced concentrations of specific pollutants in indoor environments, improved thermal comfort, and improved energy efficiency of the building sector; and Development of a Communication and Dissemination strategy for demonstrating the efficiency of the Photo-Paints products. The project contributes to the implementation of the EU National Emissions Ceilings Directive (2016/2284/EU) and the Clean Air Policy Package. In terms of energy savings, the project contributes to EU Directives on the Energy Performance of Buildings (91/2002/EC and 2018/844/EU). The highly innovative solution for de-polluting air using visible light (with no need for UV light) without producing harmful by-products is also relevant to the REACH regulation (2006/121/EC), General Product Safety Directive (2001/95/EC), and Construction Products Directive (89/106/EC).
RESULTS
Expected results:
Succesful upscaling of an innovative photocatalytic paint (Photo-Paint), with the semi-industrial production of 1 000 kg of Photo-Paint enabling the demonstration of its effectiveness as the basis for a wider application in indoor environments; Improved indoor air quality (IAQ) under real-scale applications in public buildings, due to degradation of at least 40% of specific air pollutants, particularly nitrogen oxides (NOx), and 25% of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), as a result of the application of Photo-Paint; Significant energy savings (air conditioning and other mechnical ventilation), of up to 10% in commercial buildings of around 5 000 m2 area, as a result of expected IAQ improvement and improved thermal comfort for building users, to provide a cost-efficient technological solution for reducing the environmental and socio-economic impacts of energy consumption in the building sector; In economic terms, the Photo-Paint is expected to cover up to 2% of the paint market during the first 3 years of operation, while replication by other producers in the EU is expected to create an added-value chain showing environmental and commercial benefits that is expected to boost penetration to around 40% of the ecological interior paint market; and An effective dissemination campaign, via leaflets, posters, noticeboards, media spots, targeted social media feeds, conferences, trainings, and public events.
