PLURAL aims to design, validate, and demonstrate a palette of versatile, adaptable, scalable, off-site prefabricated Plug-and-Use (PnU) kits. The key challenge of the project is to understand how to select and integrate various renewable energy technologies, incorporate them in prefabricated façade components and optimize their performance for different building types, climates, and socio-economic conditions. PLURAL demonstrates the integration of hybrid, passive and active, systems into one kit and their ability to work together in synergy for façade retrofitting, reaching NZEB.
High expectations of net zero-energy state through deep renovation schemes require efficiently integrated HVAC systems and RES, as well as full exploitation of heat recovery and passive systems. Smart windows, nano-enabled coatings and adaptive control systems also play a crucial role in the energy balance and optimization of the multifunctional kits. The PLURAL hybrid prefabricated Plug and Play envelop components are called Plug-and-Use (PnU) kits since they additionally account for user requirements. PLURAL developed three types of prefabricated façade systems for deep renovation of residential buildings without the need of major alternation in the existing façade. The core PnU kits and the demonstration sites are:
- SmartWall demonstrated at the Greek demonstration building, which is a social shelter for homeless/low waged families, self-standing and located in Voula-Vari-Vouliagmeni (VVV) municipality, Athens, Greece
- Denvelops Comfort© with the eAHC (external Advanced Heat and Cool recovery) unit demonstrated at the Spanish demonstration building in Terrassa, which is a multifamily residential block forming part of a dense urban structure in Terrassa-Barcelona
- ConExWall with the eWHC (external Wall Heating and Cooling) unit demonstrated at the Czech demonstration building in Kasava, which is a double residential house located in a natural environment in Kasava, Czech Republic.
PLURAL also includes three “virtual” building demos in Switzerland, Germany and Sweden for further validation of the performance and operation of the PnU kits.
In order to enhance the level of occupant satisfaction PLURAL demonstrates a user-centric approach that implements learning based control methods and strategies.
The project aims to create best practice renovation examples for the residential sector based on innovation and competitiveness, with benefits for the citizens and the environment; to develop training tools for main stakeholders (planners, installers, building owners and end users); improve the life cycle based (LCA, LCC) performance standards applied in the building sector.
