Renewable ENergy-based Positive Homes
Buildings account for approximately 40% of energy consumption and 36% of CO2 emissions in the EU, with 84% of their energy demand still being generated by fossil fuels. With the Green Deal, the EU has committed to becoming the first continent to achieve climate neutrality by 2050.
Given the high relevance of the building sector on emissions reduction, the concept of Positive Energy Buildings (PEB) is gaining increasing attention. Additionally, the construction and demolition waste contributes to 35% of the total waste in the EU.
REN+HOMES addresses the sustainable transition not only by reducing carbon emissions but also by tackling resource scarcity, energy poverty, and focusing on the education and participation of stakeholders. The project aims to develop a comprehensive set of 23 solutions, including hardware, software, and Circular Plus Energy Homes (CPEH) methodologies.
These solutions will be tested and implemented in four large-scale demonstrators, spanning a total area of 19,843 m2, including two renovation sites and two new construction sites located in Austria, Spain, Estonia, and Romania.
REN+HOMES will also incorporate other sustainable practices, such as supplying excess energy to the grid or neighbouring buildings, developing and installing building technologies using over 50% recycled materials, employing products with recyclability rates exceeding 60%, and adopting co-design principles to increase awareness and satisfaction.
