Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - Fit-to-nZEB (Innovative training schemes for retrofitting to nZEB-levels)

Teaser

Reaching of the 2020 and 2030 energy and climate change objectives represents a major challenge to the construction sector, which needs to be ready to deliver high energy performing renovations and, in particular, nearly zero energy buildings. This goal requires a major effort...

Summary

Reaching of the 2020 and 2030 energy and climate change objectives represents a major challenge to the construction sector, which needs to be ready to deliver high energy performing renovations and, in particular, nearly zero energy buildings. This goal requires a major effort to increase the number of qualified construction specialists at all levels, which is directly related to the accessibility and quality of the educational programmes and the inclusion of training on intelligent EE and RE solutions in building renovation. To address this need, the Fit-to-NZEB project aims to increase the competence and skills of the building professionals in all participating countries - Czech Republic, Romania, Bulgaria, Italy, Croatia, Ireland, Austria and Greece - through unique educational programmes and pilot training courses, which will contribute to both the quality and the scale of the deep energy building renovations. The project has produced all necessary requisites for the introduction of educational content on deep energy retrofit in the curricula at all levels of the vocational training and education system, including:
1) module-based training programmes, available for use by any interested vocational training and education provider.
2) Innovative training facilities: being strongly focused on practical training, the project has not only developed a set of practical exercises, but has designed and produced dedicated retrofit practical training and demonstration models
In order to meet its overarching goal to increase the number of qualified construction specialists at all levels, the project has set as its specific objectives:
1. To develop a compendium of the knowledge, skills and competences required for deep energy information
Based on the compendium, to develop:
2. A design-focused training programmes on deep energy building renovation for higher education establishments (EQF level 6-7)
3. A training programme on deep energy building renovation, to be included in the training plans and programmes for the tradesperson professions in “Construction” professional direction
4. Training content, to be included in the training plans and programmes for the professions in “Mechanical engineering” professional direction
5. Two training programmes for acquiring qualification on part of profession (specialization, or similar qualification according to each national qualification framework), to be used in the training plans of the VTCs (EQF level 3-4)
6. A comprehensive scheme for validating of knowledge, skills and competences acquired at the workplace (EQF level 3-4).
7. To disseminate the educational content on deep energy building renovation at nation-scale level
8. To develop the design of demonstration and practical training models, to actually build one such model for the use of the training centers providing the trainings, and to specify the equipment and building materials necessary for practical training and demonstrations
9. To conduct a train-the-trainer course for selected trainers from the supporting educational and training institutions and to organize
10. To conduct a systematic large-scale communication campaign promoting the new training courses.

Work performed

In order to maximise its impact, the project has prudently used the training and communication infrastructure of its predecessor Train-to-NZEB (www.train-to-nzeb.com), which already operates 5 training centers (Building Knowledge Hubs) in Eastern and Southern Europe. To this, added the capacity of 4 universities, 1 professional college and 4 VET training centers, participating as direct project partners, and attracted a number of new VET institutions in the BKH network. This has enabled Fit-to-nZEB to achieve the following results:
- A full review of deep renovation training programmes and materials;
- A set of learning outcomes on 17 topics related to deep energy retrofit, distributed according to the relevant EQF levels;
- 7 model training programmes, ranging from Master programmes’ classes to short-term upskilling courses;
- Training materials on each of the 17 topics, including annotated presentations, exercises, examination questions and references;
- Fully equipped training facilities in 7 European countries;
- 180 newly trained trainers, capable to deliver the new training content using the practical training facilities;
- 26 pilot courses conducted in universities, professional high schools and vocational training centers, involving 570 trainees;
- 8 Memoranda of Understanding with education and training providers willing to use the new training programmes and materials;
- A large and constantly growing network of dedicated professionals.

Final results

One of the Irish Fit-to-nZEB case studies (St. Bricin’s park by Dublin City Council) was fully modelled in the Passive House Planning Package, PHPP. With a space heating demand of just 21 kWh/m2.year, this project exceeded the stringent Passive House EnerPHit standard of 25 kWh/m2.year by almost 20%. As worth noting, the EnerPHit level of airtightness required is 1.0 h-1, whereas the project achieved an impressive result of 0.6 h-1. An adjacent apartment block, identical to the Fit-to-nZEB pilot, was refurbished a year previously. Primarily due to lack of training, they did not achieve a good level of airtightness on that earlier project, with an average between upstairs and downstairs of 4 air changes per hour @ 50 Pa. The implications for the space heating demand of this lesser level of airtightness are the staggering 50%: from 21 kWh/m2.year to 31 kWh/m2.year. And the improvements are visible – here’s want some of the stakeholders’ had to say:

Dublin’s Lord Mayor, Nial Ring:
“what they’ve achieved here in St. Bricin’s is the gold standard in Passive Housing, but to do it in retrofit is even more extraordinary… it’s an indication of what we should be doing”

Dublin City Council Clerk of Works, Karl Payne:
The training “took a little bit of the mystery out of the idea of Passive House… each trade could see how it would be influencing another trade in terms of workmanship... the training was invaluable in meeting the quality goals of the project”

Dublin City Council Executive Architect, Cecilia Naughton:
The training centred on “trying to solve the problems together… it became a team effort… we know you can do it, maybe we can help… it was very useful…I’m pleased that everyone is back living in their home again…that’s what the project is about really… “

With a network of Building Knowledge Hubs currently active in 9 European countries – Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Romania, Turkey and Ukraine – the project team is willing and capable to replicate this success and to position itself as one of the most recognized NZEB training establishments, offering world-class upskilling courses sourced customized to the local needs and in collaboration with the construction industry. This, in no doubt, is a complex task requiring common efforts by policy makers, industrial and market actors, and the civil society, but in all cases, the BKH network will be an active part of the process, as our mission remains intact: to constantly increase the competence and skills of the building professional to deliver high quality nearly zero-energy buildings.

Website & more info

More info: http://www.fit-to-nzeb.com.