IEA – ECBCS Annex 50 – Prefabricated Systems for Low Energy Renovation of Residential Buildings

A really conservation of energy is only in existing buildings possible. The fraction of the total energy consumption for new buildings is in most of the industrial countries only about 10-20%. 80% is allotted to the existing buildings. The topic “sustainable retrofit for residential buildings” is for this reason also of high importance in a lot of EU-countries (Austria: for example the “impuls program” Sustainable Economise from BMVIT or the climate protection initiative “klima:aktiv” from the federal ministry for agriculture, forestry, environment and water management) and plays an important role in the R&D programs of IEA with relations to buildings.

Experiences with national and international research work in the “new building sector” show that holistic approaches in combination with innovative construction technology lead to the aimed results and that a primary energy reduction of a factor 5-10, in comparison to existing construction standard, is possible.

For the building retrofit, it is crucial that future standard retrofits are carried out with high energetically measures and that renewable energy sources are integrated in the energy supply. A fundamental technical success factor appears to be the implementation of approved techniques of new constructions of passive and low-energy buildings in combination with necessary adjustments of the actual building requirements.

The objective of the Annex is development and demonstration of innovative whole building renovation concepts for typical apartment buildings.

The renovation concepts will be based on modular renovation solutions for prefabricated systems with integrated HVAC, hot water and solar systems, and highly insulated building envelopes with integrated new distribution systems for heating, cooling and ventilation.

The Annex is structured into three work packages:

Subtask A

Specification of holistic and integral retrofit concepts

Subtask B

Development of prefabricated multifunctional roof modules

Subtask C

Complete integration of the energy distribution system with prefabricated components

Subtask D

Development of prefabricated multifunctional façade modules

Subtask E

Demonstration, Monitoring, Dissemination