Periodic Reporting for period 1 - IncorporatEE (INCORPORATE sustainable structures for Energy Efficiency projects in Austrian Smart Cities)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2022-03-01 al 2023-08-31
The cities of Salzburg and Villach are pioneers in the field of smart cities in Austria. These municipalities own many buildings and are responsible for the construction and operation, and thus for the energy supply of these buildings. To reduce the energy use in municipal buildings both cities developed strategies for their investment programs. In the investment programs, mainly educational buildings will undergo a comprehensive renovation, exchange of building technology, and will be supplied with renewable energy. Despite high standards, the current implementation of renovations is only partially successful. With IncorporatEE, both cities want to put the renovation process on a completely new fundament. The basic idea is to rely on a performance-based renovation process that extends from the start of the planning process to the operation of the building. This process comprises of the following elements:
• Development of innovative, performance-related contracts and remuneration models for planners.
• Development of a catalogue for sustainable refurbishment of public buildings specifically for the requirements and specifications of the participating cities.
• Development and adaptation of a quality assurance process from planning to commissioning of buildings.
• Development of business models for energy communities for photovoltaic during roof renovation.
• Development of financing models for the cities.
• Establishment and training of a separate organisational unit in the cities responsible for implementing energy performance quality assurance.
• Realisation of investments with the new Performance-Based Renovation Package
• After the “test-bed”, the experience gained will be evaluated and the parts and the whole process will be revised. Hereafter, the cities of Salzburg and Villach will roll-out the new performance-based process for all renovation projects of their own buildings.
• Development of innovative, performance-related contracts and remuneration models for planners.
• Development of a catalogue for sustainable refurbishment of public buildings specifically for the requirements and specifications of the participating cities.
• Development and adaptation of a quality assurance process from planning to commissioning of buildings.
• Development of business models for energy communities for photovoltaic during roof renovation.
• Development of financing models for the cities.
• Establishment and training of a separate organisational unit in the cities responsible for implementing energy performance quality assurance.
• Realisation of investments with the new Performance-Based Renovation Package
• After the “test-bed”, the experience gained will be evaluated and the parts and the whole process will be revised. Hereafter, the cities of Salzburg and Villach will roll-out the new performance-based process for all renovation projects of their own buildings.
The project started with analysing the existing structures and tools in the cities of Salzburg and Villach and – based on these analyses - developing the necessary elements of the Performance-Based-Renovation-Package. This included:
• The draft for the adapted Financial Models contains, on the one hand, a guideline and possible solutions to solve barriers for sustainable refurbishment or investments in the decentralised usage of renewable energy sources, on the other hand, financing possibilities for cities and municipalities, portfolio analysis and calculation of renovation budgets, the flexible use of budgets by considering life cycle costs to further sources of financing and outsourcing models. Additionally, framework conditions such as legal requirements for award procedures, service law, and political issues are described.
• The Performance-Based Remuneration Models and Adapted Design Contracts for Tailored Building Technology were addressed by describing the existing fee models as well as their problems and weak point. Important elements of planning contracts to contractually secure energy efficiency and sustainability were presented. Common service specifications in the fields of architecture, building physics and HVAC design are supplemented to take energy efficiency and sustainability into account. A recommendation for demand-oriented dimensioning of heating and cooling systems was also provided.
• We developed a standard Criteria Catalogue for Sustainable Refurbishment. It serves as a quality assurance tool for project participants during the entire planning and construction phase but also lists roles and responsibilities of the parties involved. A comprehensive manual explains how to use the criteria catalogue. The evaluation of the criteria has shown that an integrated planning approach, which includes both a very good building envelope and the energy or supply system, is just as important as the consideration of investment AND operating costs, i.e. a life cycle cost approach.
• Regarding the Quality Assurance Process from Design to Operation we analysed and discussed quality assurance instruments which secure the high quality of the building shell but also the quality of the mechanical and HVAC systems. As a good performance of HVAC systems is a crucial point for a well operating building, we additionally focused on technical monitoring (enhanced commissioning) to ensure that both energy consumption and comfort are met as promised, and that the facilities operate gently to achieve their planned lifespan.
Along these elements of the Performance-Based-Renovation-Package, we set up a Unit for Implementation in the cities of Salzburg and Villach. The focus is on expanding know-how within the existing building construction departments in both cities and within new staff in Salzburg (Villach also hired new staff due to the importance of the topic and the project). We started with the development of tools that provide support in the planning process as well as the development of knowledge through training and implementation of projects. Recommendations were formulated as to which additional tasks, aspects and services can further be implemented so that the project will with certainty include more aspects of sustainability. We also provided an overview of various accompanying studies and engineering services which focus on energy efficiency and sustainability and facilitate decisions in favour of sustainable measures.
The above Performance-Based-Renovation-Package and set up of the Unit for Implementation are currently being tested in real implementation test-bed projects. This trains the staff of the unit in the application of the new process, integrates the new elements into the existing processes, and shows were the process and tools need to be adapted for further implementing projects. Both cities are taken by the hand and guided through the test-bed projects and already started some implementing projects on their own.
The project stated to dissemination by presenting the project to various stakeholders, but more dissemination will follow now as the Performance-Based-Renovation-Package is set up.
• The draft for the adapted Financial Models contains, on the one hand, a guideline and possible solutions to solve barriers for sustainable refurbishment or investments in the decentralised usage of renewable energy sources, on the other hand, financing possibilities for cities and municipalities, portfolio analysis and calculation of renovation budgets, the flexible use of budgets by considering life cycle costs to further sources of financing and outsourcing models. Additionally, framework conditions such as legal requirements for award procedures, service law, and political issues are described.
• The Performance-Based Remuneration Models and Adapted Design Contracts for Tailored Building Technology were addressed by describing the existing fee models as well as their problems and weak point. Important elements of planning contracts to contractually secure energy efficiency and sustainability were presented. Common service specifications in the fields of architecture, building physics and HVAC design are supplemented to take energy efficiency and sustainability into account. A recommendation for demand-oriented dimensioning of heating and cooling systems was also provided.
• We developed a standard Criteria Catalogue for Sustainable Refurbishment. It serves as a quality assurance tool for project participants during the entire planning and construction phase but also lists roles and responsibilities of the parties involved. A comprehensive manual explains how to use the criteria catalogue. The evaluation of the criteria has shown that an integrated planning approach, which includes both a very good building envelope and the energy or supply system, is just as important as the consideration of investment AND operating costs, i.e. a life cycle cost approach.
• Regarding the Quality Assurance Process from Design to Operation we analysed and discussed quality assurance instruments which secure the high quality of the building shell but also the quality of the mechanical and HVAC systems. As a good performance of HVAC systems is a crucial point for a well operating building, we additionally focused on technical monitoring (enhanced commissioning) to ensure that both energy consumption and comfort are met as promised, and that the facilities operate gently to achieve their planned lifespan.
Along these elements of the Performance-Based-Renovation-Package, we set up a Unit for Implementation in the cities of Salzburg and Villach. The focus is on expanding know-how within the existing building construction departments in both cities and within new staff in Salzburg (Villach also hired new staff due to the importance of the topic and the project). We started with the development of tools that provide support in the planning process as well as the development of knowledge through training and implementation of projects. Recommendations were formulated as to which additional tasks, aspects and services can further be implemented so that the project will with certainty include more aspects of sustainability. We also provided an overview of various accompanying studies and engineering services which focus on energy efficiency and sustainability and facilitate decisions in favour of sustainable measures.
The above Performance-Based-Renovation-Package and set up of the Unit for Implementation are currently being tested in real implementation test-bed projects. This trains the staff of the unit in the application of the new process, integrates the new elements into the existing processes, and shows were the process and tools need to be adapted for further implementing projects. Both cities are taken by the hand and guided through the test-bed projects and already started some implementing projects on their own.
The project stated to dissemination by presenting the project to various stakeholders, but more dissemination will follow now as the Performance-Based-Renovation-Package is set up.
With the performance-based renovation package not only the energy consumption in the refurbished buildings is being considerably reduced, but it also openes opportunities to deploy renewable energy generation, and consequently reduces CO2 emissions and contributes to the sustainability goals of the EU.
IncorporatEE not only positively affects the municipal building renovation program, but also the designs and concepts of new buildings. Latest innovative ee-consulting studies and engineering services are used earlier in the design process than in standard renovation projects to maximise the impact of the performance-based renovation package. Therefore, the cities take over a role model function not only for other cites but also for the citizens who use these buildings. IncorporatEE changes the mindset in city government but also in the public.
The goal of IncorporatEE is an investment program with a total of around € 60 million, € 50 million of which will be implemented or at least contracted for implementation during IncorporatEE. Of this amount, around € 32 million is the share for energy-related measures (leverage factor of 20.5 for every million of Horizon2020 invested into IncorporatEE).
IncorporatEE not only positively affects the municipal building renovation program, but also the designs and concepts of new buildings. Latest innovative ee-consulting studies and engineering services are used earlier in the design process than in standard renovation projects to maximise the impact of the performance-based renovation package. Therefore, the cities take over a role model function not only for other cites but also for the citizens who use these buildings. IncorporatEE changes the mindset in city government but also in the public.
The goal of IncorporatEE is an investment program with a total of around € 60 million, € 50 million of which will be implemented or at least contracted for implementation during IncorporatEE. Of this amount, around € 32 million is the share for energy-related measures (leverage factor of 20.5 for every million of Horizon2020 invested into IncorporatEE).