Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - CoNZEBs (Solution sets for the Cost reduction of new Nearly Zero-Energy Buildings - CoNZEBs)

Teaser

CoNZEBs detects and assesses technology solution sets that lead to significant cost reductions of new Nearly Zero-Energy Buildings. The focus of the project is on multi-family houses. Close cooperation with housing associations allows for an intensive interaction with...

Summary

CoNZEBs detects and assesses technology solution sets that lead to significant cost reductions of new Nearly Zero-Energy Buildings. The focus of the project is on multi-family houses. Close cooperation with housing associations allows for an intensive interaction with stakeholders and tenants. The project started by setting baseline costs for conventional new buildings, currently available NZEBs and buildings that go beyond the NZEB level based on the experience of the consortium. It analysed planning and construction processes and has identified possible cost reductions. An investigation of end-users experiences and expectations together with a guide on co-benefits of NZEBs promotes living in these buildings and enhances the energy performance by conducive user behaviour.

The technology solution sets includes approaches that can reduce costs for installations or generation systems, pre-fabrication and construction acceleration, RES integration, and many more. Examples are pure electrical heating in combination with PV, ventilation supply through the walls to reduce the costs for ducts, larger bricks including insulation, decentral domestic hot water generation (fresh-water stations), etc. All solution sets are assessed regarding cost savings, energy performance and applicability in multi-family houses. A life cycle assessment of different building levels and NZEBs using the solution sets provides a longer term perspective. Communication to stakeholders and dissemination of the project results includes events and discussions with the national housing associations.

The project consortium is comprised of the leading national research organisations in the field of high performance buildings in 4 countries incl. the core theme leaders of the Concerted Action EPBD working areas “Nearly Zero-Energy Buildings” and “Cost-optimal levels”.

Work performed

By the end of the first project period (30/11/18) the following deliverables of CoNZEBs are available:
⌂ First periodic report (at hand)
⌂ D1.1: 1st progress report (no template received, instead we sent the minutes of the project meeting shortly before the report deadline)
⌂ D2.1: Report: Overview of cost baselines for three building levels
⌂ D3.1: Report: Assessment and exemplary solutions for cost reduction in the design and construction process
⌂ D4.1: Common report on interviews with end‐users in NZEBs – CoNZEBs
⌂ D8.3: CoNZEBs project website (to be continuously updated)

Additionally the following dissemination deliverables consisting of several components are partly available:
⌂ D8.2: Contributions to newsletters of the national or regional housing organisations
⌂ D8.5: Presentations of project results at conferences
⌂ D8.6: Submission of contributions on project results to EU BUILD UP
⌂ D8.7: Articles in technical journals
⌂ D8.8: Use of social media to disseminate the project results
⌂ D8.9: Establishment of and communication with the project advisory boards

Final results

As with most coordination and support actions the impact of the project can’t be as easily measured as with demonstration projects, for which energy savings can be directly monitored and costs summed up. Besides, the impact of coordination and support action can only set in after the first project results are available and the communication and dissemination begins. CoNZEBs plans for a project duration of 30 months. First results will be available and can be discussed with the stakeholders after month 15 (except the launch of the project website and the baseline calculation).

The aim of the CoNZEBs project is to support the NZEB implementation in the EU countries by demonstrating that this building level can be realised at costs that are lower than the resulting costs incurred by most of the current pilot projects. The technical solution sets identified and the possible changes determined in the design and construction processes will be communicated and discussed with the main stakeholders for building multi-family houses, i.e. the housing companies. Due to the project and the communication and dissemination efforts, more builders will be willing to build NZEBs prior to the general deadline defined in the EPBD (start in 2021 for all new buildings). The main impact of the project will most probably unfold after the project’s end.

A first calculation of the impact factors for investment triggered, primary energy savings triggered, renewable energy production triggered and investment costs saved is included in the Grant Agreement description of work. It will be reviewed in a specific work package at the beginning of the project and then again towards the end of the project.

Website & more info

More info: http://www.conzebs.eu.