EASEE

Project Summary

The EASEE project was launched to promote buildings’ energy efficiency in Europe, to achieve the EU’s 20-20-20 climate and energy targets. At the core of EASEE was the development of a toolkit for energy efficient envelope retrofitting of existing multi-storey and multi-owner buildings. EASEE proposed both innovations on the technological side (developing different types of advanced insulating components and materials for vertical opaque façade elements) and innovations on the software side (a new consulting service tool for building retrofitting). These new technologies, processes and software combine in a new holistic approach to building retrofitting aimed at reducing time and costs, while guaranteeing higher energy efficiency, lower burden to building occupants and preserving the façade’s original aesthetic.

The EASEE retrofitting approach was implemented at real scale, in three residential buildings in three different countries. The ensuing monitoring campaign showed relevant environmental impacts (energy savings, CO2 emissions reduction, increased indoor comfort); societal impacts (new jobs generation, regeneration of urban areas, safety in installation); as well as economic impacts, namely financial savings and accessible payback periods.

IES' Role

IES developed a planning tool (Retrofitting Planner) defined by its interoperability, ease of use and capacity to handle various input file formats. The Retrofitting Planner is able to evaluate the energy performance of the building and to simulate its behaviour after retrofitting with different combined solutions developed within the project, providing an estimation of costs, service life, return on investments, and savings on energy bills.

The Retrofitting Planner is part of a larger system, called the Retrofitting Planner & Design Tool. The overall tool development was managed by IES, and its composing parts are:

• Building envelope assessment using 3D laser scanning techniques which can produce a data point cloud used in the VE;
• Modelling and simulation via the VE, with batch simulations of retrofitting options compared and displayed through value choice;
• Export of chosen solution to Design Tool, which provides to the manufacturers of the prefabricated elements the technical specifications for the customized component fabrication.

Test Sites

• Poland
• Spain
• Italy