Envelope mAterial System with low Impact for Zero Energy buildings and Renovation

Project Information

EASI ZERo

Grant agreement ID: 101091531

DOI

10.3030/101091531

Project closed

EC signature date 18 November 2022

Start date 1 December 2022

End date 31 May 2026

Funded under

• Digital, Industry and Space

Total cost

€ 8 086 602,25

EU contribution

€ 6 972 698,13

Coordinated by

COMMISSARIAT A L ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
France

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - EASI ZERo (Envelope mAterial System with low Impact for Zero Energy buildings and Renovation)

Reporting period: 2024-06-01 to 2025-05-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Buildings are responsible for 40% of energy consumption and 36% of greenhouse gas emissions in Europe. The European Commission recommends a reduction factor above 60% for building consumption to get a valuable gain in energy efficiency. But the rate of deep renovation of buildings is only 1% (0.4% - 1.2% over EU countries). Deep renovation is defined as a one-step process to realize the full potential of a building to reduce its energy demand. This rate is too low to reach the 2050 climate neutrality. This is why the EU has initiated the Renovation Wave, and set the objective to double the renovation rate by 2030 and integrate more renewable energy sources to cover remaining energy need.

There is a strong need for global and replicable solutions that would accelerate deep renovation of buildings. Efficient renovation usually combines several technical operations:
1) The building's envelope is upgraded by raising thermal insulation with new materials for opaque walls, openings and windows (Insulating Glass Unit). Existing material may be removed and likely re-used in a circular economy circuit.
2) The energy systems for heating, cooling, ventilation and air quality are upgraded towards higher energy efficiency. There might be additional opportunities to install on-site renewable energy generators, storage systems and smart management tools to optimise usage.

EASI ZERo proposal focuses on a unique and adaptable package of easy to install envelope components towards building’s renovation for near zero energy balance and CO2 emission.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

EASI ZERo is a 42-month project organized in 8 work packages (WP), including 4 technical WPs. The structure of the work plan has been devised to ensure advanced material development for insulation products for deep renovation and construction that will be validated through digital model and simulated environment prior been modeled in real use cases.
- WP3 encompasses activities dedicated to the development of insulation materials.
- WP4 is dedicated to scale-up of materials and integration in usable products (insulation panels, foams, bricks, VOC removal paint and efficient windows). These components will be integrated all together or partially in a building renovation process, with full data available.
- In WP5, assembly of materials and components are optimized. The products are tested against standards and numerical modelling to demonstrate performance.
- In WP6, combined solutions will be simulated for 3 real use cases where global performance and impacts will be validated.

EASI ZERo system consists of components based on bio-sourced, recycled or re-used materials. It covers external and internal insulation on façade and roofs. Low carbon renders and plasters protect the insulation layer for a long durability. Windows and doors are included in the renovation system, especially with new lightweight and zero-emission frames. Indoor paint provides a safe and healthy finish. Thermal storage materials integrated into façade components provide thermal control to smooth the demand of heating and cooling. Finally, affordable and well-integrated PV tiles are proposed. Then the EASI ZERo system provides a holistic solution for the whole envelope.

Bio-sourcing and recycling bring a great environmental value to our system. Material sources are wood, used wood pieces, grown mycelium or recycled construction waste. The construction industry can produce locally any EASI ZERo components with simple manufacturing. Panels and mortars can be directly applied on wall’s surfaces with well-known practices. Panels can be assembled thanks to a new reversible bonding process, allowing unmounting without any damage to allow re-use after a simple requalification control.

A complete information package on the new material system will be delivered, including adequate information for decision-making and operation (digital tools and datasets). As requested by the Renovation Wave, enabled energy performance, sustainability, affordability, and health and well-being impact will be assessed and published. A general life cycle assessment will provide environmental, social and economic impact information. All information will feed in tracking record of materials and building’s history through associated passport implementation.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

An adequate and optimized methodology will identify and determine the most efficient solution of our inclusive system in different climates over long-term. We will consider real use-cases to demonstrate the capacity of EASI ZERo system to reach the EU targets in terms of greenhouse gas emission, energy efficiency, sustainability and affordability. Based on this, the project will provide a fruitful forum for discussions, debates, scientific efforts to address and close knowledge gaps in the deep renovation area all over Europe.

It will provide specific new data and technical insights into novel insulation components. Several materials such as waterglass foam or render, bio-PU frames, mycelium panels, VOC paint... will be introduced to specific economic target players as materials manufacturers, deep renovation contractors, architects and construction companies, material recyclers or energy savings consultants. Innovative approaches to circular economy and design-for-recycling toolbox will be presented. Within 1 year after the project, we will propose at least 3 insulation products to the market.
- The waterglass foam will be upscaled and will form the basis for novel insulation plasters and renders as well as highly insulating bricks.
- Bio-PU components as window frames and wood-fibre insulation (including mycelium bonding panels) will be available by the project's end.
- In terms of process, first SMEs are expected to start using the bonding-debonding technology in construction/ renovation business.

In the economical world, it is estimated that poor performance of the office buildings results in €500 billions of annual productivity loss. The project targets 0.1% of energy efficiency increase each year due to deep renovation rate increase in EU, thus reducing global costs and productivity losses. Concerning societal aspects, EASI ZERo results will contribute to a wider renovation deployment to bring increased well-being to European ctizens. About 50 million EU citizens are currently living in leaky houses with poor thermal comfort, that they cannot afford to properly heat or cool. This has an impact on health with over 38,000 excess deaths in winter and 15% of new childhood asthma for example. Additionally, summer discomfort is an increasing concern and we will increase resilience of building stock towards climate change.

Material and components system for house renovation