Research projects
IEA EBC 97, 2024–2029, Sustainable Cooling in Cities
Client: IEA, Key Partners: Operating Agent: Dr. Anna Laura Pisello, Research Activities (Active Member): This IEA EBC Annex addresses the urgent need to develop and implement effective strategies for sustainable cooling in cities, in response to increasing urban heat stress, growing cooling demand, and the interlinked effects of climate change and urbanization. The Annex aims to identify scalable, systemic solutions to reduce cooling loads and support climate-resilient urban environments, emphasizing equity, health, and energy performance. Subtask B (Our Lab Contribution): Our team focuses on Subtask B, which investigates how urban design, morphology, materials, and infrastructure can contribute to sustainable cooling at multiple spatial levels—from city scale to building scale. This includes evaluating climate-responsive interventions such as cool surfaces, urban greenery, and water-based strategies, while promoting synergies between passive design and technological solutions. Special attention is given to the feedback loops between outdoor climate mitigation and indoor cooling demand, with the aim of informing integrated planning approaches that enhance both comfort and resilience. Status & Budget: Ongoing (EUR 20 k€)
BEST, 2024-2025, Thermophysical properties enhancement of functional composite phase change materials for railway tunnel thermal environment control (Building thErmal STorage)
Phase change energy storage is a technology that utilizes the heat effect accompanying the phase transition of phase change materials to achieve energy storage. It is believed to have unique technological advantages in passive railway tunnel thermal environment control. However, the inherent low thermal conductivity and liquid leakage of melted phase change materials severely limit the energy storage rate, affecting the promotion and application of phase change materials in tunnel thermal environmental control. This research proposes an interfacial polymerization technology within a multiple emulsion to build millimeter-sized shape-stable phase change materials with a typical core-shell structure. The functional composite phase change materials integrate temperature control of phase change materials and shape the performance of flexible silicone materials, realizing the dual effects of overcoming liquid leakage of phase change materials and enhancing effective structural strength. Nanocarbon materials are planned to be introduced into the composite phase change materials to enhance thermal conductivity. Thermophysical properties and structural morphology of functional composite phase change materials will be tested. This research will analyze the structural strength and stability of built functional composite phase change materials and obtain the thermophysical properties, enhancing the strategy of phase change materials available to railway tunnels. The research achievements are expected to provide feasible technical support for effectively regulating the thermal environment in tunnels.
DeConstruct, 2020-2024, A circularity evaluation framework for office building design
Key Partners: Sustainable Building Design Lab, Kamp C, Colruyt Group Technics & Engineering.
The circular design promises a new era of sustainable engineering that has long been of great interest to architects, construction professionals, and their clients, but is still relatively primitive. The project focuses on studying circular building design and efficient materials because the positive impact can only be achieved by using resources. Develop a methodology to guide architects during early design within the circular design paradigm and empower Belgian architects to embrace and integrate the principles of circular design in an innovative way in their design practice to facilitate their leadership toward the European sustainability targets and set the foundation for future development in education, research, and practice within a new paradigm and for knowledge know-how in relation to the circular economy.
The research's expected outcome visualizations will be a guide that sets standards of circular building design for scientific researchers, students, and architects.
This research aims to inform and guide architectural students and architects in practice during the design process for circular design outcomes, starting from early design.
The operational objectives of the research project are formulated as follows:
1. Development of a carrying framework (design principles and strategies, indicators, metrics, measures,…) for circular design.
2. Providing an overview of and recommendations for circular building design in Belgium.
3. Translation of this framework into a methodology that will guide architects during early design within a circular design paradigm.
4. Validation and dissemination of the guiding methodology in education.
This doctoral research aims to facilitate architectural students and architects in practice in their quest for circular designs. The guiding methodology is specifically tailored for the Belgian context, although the framework on circular design will also be useful as a starting point for other country-specific support in aiming for creative and innovative solutions for current environmental challenges. A deconstruction assessment tool (DeCon) will be developed to evaluate the disassembly potential of the buildings in the early design and deconstruction stages to support Design for Disassembly DfD.
IEA EBC 89, 2023-2028, Ways to implement net-zero whole-life carbon buildings
Client: IEA EBC 89, Key Partners: PI and initiator: Dr. Alexander Passer, Research Activities (Active Member): The IEA EBC Annex 89 focuses on the pathways and actions required to implement whole lifecycle-based net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from buildings in policy and practice. This means explicitly considering embodied and operational GHG emissions across all lifecycle stages, also called whole-life carbon (WLC). In other words, Annex 89 aims to contribute to global efforts to accelerate and scale up the transition towards net-zero whole-life carbon (NetZ-WLC) buildings. Status & Budget: Granted (EUR 18 k€).
RENOWAVE, 2023-2027, Dynamic Renowave
Client: FNRS PDR, Research Activities (Principal Initiator and Investigator: Prof. Shady Attia, Partner: Prof. Andre Stephan (UCLouvain)). The project's overarching aim is to enable retrofitting residential buildings based on a data-driven decision support system so that renovations result in a net reduction of lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions. Status & Budget: Granted (EUR 190 k€).
This work aims to develop a dynamic life cycle energy and greenhouse gas emissions analysis model for retrofitting residential buildings. The model will be developed based on a data-driven parameterization and simulation of renovation solutions across the dimensions of geometry, climate, materials, building systems, and energy mixes. The project name is Dynamic Renowave, and its overarching aim is to enable retrofitting residential buildings based on a data-driven decision support system so that renovations result in a net reduction of life cycle greenhouse gas emissions. The research method is based on coupling building energy simulation data during the building use stage with life cycle assessment data across the production, construction, and end-of-life stages. A bottom-up parametric decision support system for renovations and a user-friendly interactive dashboard will inform solutions that result in a net reduction in life cycle energy use and greenhouse gas emissions for multiple future scenarios. This will ensure that the European Renovation Wave does not paradoxically result in rebound greenhouse gas emissions, as was the case with some building operational energy efficiency schemes.
HaBiMo, 2023-2028, Towards a bioclimatic and modular habitat using Compressed Earth Blocks in Burkina Faso
Client: ARES, Key Partners: PI and initiator: Prof. Luc Courard, Research Activities: develop a Bioclimatic and modular habitat in improved raw earth in Burkina Faso, Status & Budget: Granted (EUR 500 k€).
The majority of the inhabitants of Burkina and of the countries of the West African sub-region struggle to find a durable, economical and comfortable habitat. Ancestral techniques and their recent developments are struggling to compete with construction materials and systems imported from Europe, which are poorly suited to the climatic environment. More broadly, the technical skills of local actors, particularly young people and professionals in the construction sector, must be strengthened. This project aims to reclaim traditional earthen housing for the local population, particularly middle-income households. As shown by the research carried out within the framework of the PRD "Improvement of the quality of housing made of mud bricks in Burkina Faso," the socio-economic obstacles can be overcome through the design of model buildings and the study of the establishment of a sector allowing greater distribution of Compressed Earth Bricks (CEB). Therefore, the project proposes to work on the study of the conditions for setting up an extraction/ manufacture/design/construction adapted to the land development of the city of Ouagadougou (doctoral thesis 3, master 1) based on a specific and complete architectural concept at the level of buildings (doctoral thesis 2, master 2) and anchored on a sizing model adapted to BTCs (Ph.D. thesis 1). In collaboration with various stakeholders, including the Ministry of Housing, as well as that of training, the NGO Autre Terre and La Fabrique (incubator), the 2iE technological desk set up under the previous PRD will act as technical support for players in the sector (property developers, architects, engineers, contractors). They will ensure the implementation of training sessions for all stakeholders in the sector aimed at appropriating techniques and the economic model.
IEA ES Task 43, 2023-2027, Thermal building mass storage
Client: IEA ES Task 43, Key Partners: PI and initiator: Dr. Christoph Rohringer, Research Activities (Active Member): The task's central goal is to prepare thermal building mass storage for a multipliable, efficient and economically attractive implementation. To this end, four main questions are addressed in the respective subtasks. Sustainable materials and multipliable construction techniques in new buildings and refurbishment will be investigated for their suitability for thermal component storage.) Strategies for efficient system integration at the building and neighborhood level will be developed and combined with suitable storage and load management control strategies. 3) Non-technical challenges and barriers to the market introduction of thermal component storage will be analyzed internationally, and recommendations for action to overcome them will be developed. 4) KPIs (key performance indicators) for thermal component storage systems will be developed to make systems comparable and assessable. Guidelines for the structural implementation of thermal component storage systems, including sensors, are being developed to supplement demonstrator fact sheets as a starting point for potential implementers. , Status & Budget: Granted (EUR 20 k€).
Buildings are switching from heating-dominated to mixed (heating and cooling) dominated regimes. Buildings are important pillars for the future energy system. Therefore, the task community will work on harnessing the full potential of activated building masses as distributed storage technology for renewables and grid flexibility. The Energy Storage Technology Collaboration Programme (ES TCP) facilitates integral research, development, implementation, and integration of energy storage technologies such as Phase Change Materials (PCM), Electrical Energy Storage, Thermal Energy Storage, Distributed Energy Storage (DES) & Borehole Thermal Energy Storage (BTES).
ILOTS, 2022-2023, Études d'îlots de chaleur urbain à Bruxelles
Client: The city of Brussels, Key Partners: MK Engineering and 1010 Landscape Architecture Office, Research Activities (Active Member): ILOTS - Urban heat island effect mitigation in Brussels, adopting a multiscale assessment of urban heat island effects and testing different adequate adaptation and mitigation measures. This project will investigate microscale, nature-based solutions, considering social acceptance, Status & Budget: Granted (EUR 100 k€).
The City of Brussels anticipates the heat island's harmful effects by considering adaptation and mitigation measures to improve the inhabitants' comfort during intense heat waves. Heat stress is a climatic problem, a socio-cultural dimension. Roofs and pavements cover about 70 percent of urban surfaces and absorb more than 80 percent of the sunlight that contacts them. This energy is converted to heat, which results in hotter, more polluted cities and higher energy costs. In the Brussels Region, about 15% of the surface is covered with trees, and a little less than 60% of the inhabitants can benefit somewhat from their cooling effect. The presence of passive cooling is rare, and the integration of nature-based solutions in urban tissue is cosmetic. It is no secret that social or less affluent neighborhoods are much more covered with asphalt and inert materials and have less green than wealthy neighborhoods. Heat stress also forces people into an urban exodus toward open spaces around our city. Indeed, it is one of the leading environmental factors that pushes people to leave the city in search of a new place to live in a green environment. In this project, we are adopting a multiscale assessment of urban heat island effects and testing adequate adaptation and mitigation measures. This project will investigate and evaluate microscale, nature-based solutions, considering social acceptance, to improve residents' outdoor thermal comfort in intense heat waves and to create nature-based cool islands in Brussels.
SurChauffe, 2021-2024, Overheating Indicator and Calculation Method for Walloon Buildings
Client: Walloon Region, BEWARE Fellowships 2, Key Partners: MK Engineering, Research Activities (Principal Initiator and Investigator): Develop Overheating Indicator and Calculation Method for Walloon Buildings, Status & Budget: Granted (EUR 300 k€).
As climate change continues, the risk of overheating will rise in new and existing buildings in mixed humid climate zones in Europe. This project investigated the impact of climate change on overheating in Belgian buildings for different weather scenarios towards the end of the century. The project methodology involved modeling using EnergyPlus simulations and observations using field measurements. The project approach considered climate change's long-term and short-term effects on building performance and used current and future climate data from the regional atmospheric model, MAR. Case studies from Belgium, including assisted living facilities, office buildings, and residential buildings, were used to demonstrate the approach. The reference building models were first calibrated using monthly energy-use data in accordance with ASHRAE Guideline 14. The buildings were then assessed with different active and passive strategies, and their performances were quantified for long-term and short-term events like heat waves using PMV/PPD and adaptive thresholds recommended by EN 16798-1. The project also proposed a multi-criteria decision support framework to help designers during the early stage of building design.
The study results indicated an increase in overheating and cooling energy use in the reference buildings by the end of the century. In addition, due to the climate change-sensitive sizing and design approach coupled with optimal sizing, the reference buildings were climate change-resistant towards the worst-case scenario by the end of the century. The main audiences of the project include IEA EBC Annex 80, Buildwise, Project OCCuPANt consortium, MK Engineering, and their clients. The main impact of the project is that it contributes to a field of study that is a new territory for clients and the construction sector. It can improve how we design, construct, use, and adapt buildings. As such, it could be a rich source of design inspiration to develop efficient approaches to produce resilient buildings in a future that is both certain (change is inevitable) and uncertain (unclear rate and magnitude of change), as well as meeting the challenging mitigation targets. In addition, the recommended solutions can improve the resilience of buildings in a way that will minimize future maintenance and operational costs. Finally, based on the findings, the project provided recommendations for future practice, research, and renovations.
MIMOSA, 2021-2022, MicroclIMate OasiS Algeria
Client: WBI, Key Partners: PI and initiator: Dr. Mohamed Elhadi Matallah, The project aims to evaluate the thermal conditions throughout southern Algeria's liveable and populated oasis territory., Status & Budget: Granted (EUR 10k€).
Oasis settlements are well known for their rural landscape and agricultural aspects, specifically the palm groves which cover the area's lands. Therefore, the project's focus was to develop a tourism thermal comfort scheme to be implemented by the Algerian government. The Application of the Tourism Climate Information Scheme can open opportunities for a large collaboration between Algeria and Belgium in terms of Energy strategies, Construction technologies and Agricultural investments. The targeted activities introduce new economic policies between the two countries. During the project, different activities were implemented to promote academic exchanges and scientific publications through the financial support of WBI. Exchanges with different Algerian and Belgian stakeholders, involving academic, industrial and policy sectors in the field of urban planning, resulted in the development of a vision for a future step that needs to be taken to improve health in residential housing and to maintain the strong attachment of indigenous people to their cultivations.
The project objectives are to 1) help and guide urban planners, professionals and policymakers to improve and upgrade the urban planning regulations and rethinking about the oases lands sustainability; 2) the project opens several ways for new partnerships in the scientific and industrial fields; 3) the project identified a large knowledge gap in the field of outdoor thermal comfort and cost optimality for energy efficiency period, the articulation of those gaps can be a foundation for many future research endeavors.
EMME, 2019-2023, Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East Climate Change Initiative
Client: The Cyprus Institute (under Prof. Salvatore Carlucci): develop adaptive and mitigating actions at the city level; Status & Budget: Granted (EUR 20 k€).
The Eastern Mediterranean & Middle East (EMME) region has been recognized as a global climate change "hotspot" with particularly high vulnerability to climate change impacts. Countries in the EMME region include Bahrain, Cyprus, Egypt, Greece, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Yemen. The EMME Climate Change Initiative aims to bring the EMME region together to coordinate a concerted regional response to address the climate crisis, in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement.
OCCuPANt, 2019-2023, Impacts of climate change on buildings in Belgium during summer
Client: Liège University: ARC, Key Partners: Prof. Xavier Fettweis, Prof. Anne-Claude Romain, Prof. Vincent Lemort, Research Activities (Principal Initiator and Investigator): Joint proposal to develop training on OCCuPANt: Impacts of climate change on buildings in Belgium during summer, Status & Budget: Granted (EUR 800 k€).
The OCCuPANt project questions the status quo in building regulation and design regarding overheating risks. It provides help to policymakers in the design of measures to protect the most fragile and often isolated population. On the strategic level, this project aims to contribute to a better society by indicating the vulnerability of occupants in the indoor environment to the projected impacts of climate change. By the vulnerability classification of Walloon buildings, the research provides information on whether, when and where adaptation measures are needed. The project also provides the basis for evaluating and prioritizing adaptation measures. The project aims to safeguard human health, comfort and productivity inside buildings despite a changing climate and to achieve this most sustainably, i.e., without compromising climate change mitigation efforts. The overarching aim is to guide the policy of local, provincial and regional governments in, among others, spatial planning, energy security and public health. Many stakeholders, such as local governments, urban designers and planners, health services, housing corporations, building engineers, architects and energy companies, can be identified.
IEA Annex 80, 2019-2023, Resilient Cooling for Buildings
Client: IEA SHC Task 80, Key Partners: PI and initiator: Dr. Peter Holzer, Research Activities (Subtask Leader): Focus on developing and applying low-energy and low-carbon cooling solutions on a large scale. Annex 80's main objective is to support a rapid transition to an environment where resilient, low-energy, and low-carbon cooling systems are the mainstream and preferred solutions for building cooling and overheating issues. (EUR 20 k€).
The world is facing a rapid increase in air conditioning in buildings. This is driven by multiple factors, such as urbanization and densification, climate change and elevated comfort expectations, and economic growth in the world's hot and densely populated climate regions. The trend toward cooling seems inexorable; therefore, it is mandatory to guide this development toward sustainable solutions. Against this background, it is the motivation of Annex 80 to develop, assess and communicate solutions for resilient cooling and overheating protection. Resilient cooling is used to denote low-energy and low-carbon cooling solutions that strengthen the ability of individuals and our community to withstand and prevent thermal and other impacts of changes in global and local climates. It encompasses the assessment of Research & Development of both active and passive cooling technologies of the following four groups: Reduce externally induced heat gains to indoor environments; 2) Enhance personal comfort apart from cooling whole spaces; 3) Remove sensible heat from indoor environments; and ) Control latent heat (humidity) of indoor environments.
Annex 80's main objective is to support a rapid transition to an environment where resilient, low-energy and low-carbon cooling systems are the mainstream and preferred solutions for cooling and overheating issues in buildings.
HELEN, 2021-2025, Holistic design of taller timber buildings
Client: European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST), Key Partners: PI and initiator: Prof. Gerhard Fink, Research Activities (Subtask Leader): Share and develop more holistic approaches, metrics and tools to evaluate the performance of tall timber buildings with the purpose of standardization and feasibility assessment of circularity and sustainability concepts, Status & Budget: Granted (EUR 250k€).
The main objective of the HELEN COST Action is to foster international interest and effort in developing a shared understanding and deriving common guidelines for the Holistic Design of talLer timbEr buildiNgs. A large group of experts forms the synergistic HELEN network from a wide field of the built environment sector, where researchers and industrial partners exchange knowledge and skills that have historically been isolated in individual research fields. SBD Lab participates in WorkGroup 4, which aims to produce and update state-of-the-art in taller multi-story timber building design fields: Sustainability and durability. This Work Group looks into the issues dealing with taller timber building environmental footprint and their longevity based on the design details, all assessed through the interdisciplinary prism of the consortium's experts. The results of this Work Group's work will closely correlate with WG 1, where the initial design assumptions are considered.
Tasks: 4.1) Analyse the state-of-the-art; 4.2) Identify existing and former WG network efforts; 4.3) Identify design field collisions in the design, construction and usage phases; 4.4) Narrow down research 19 focus on previously identified hotspots and schedule target Training schools, STSMs and Research calls (Horizon Europe + others), 4.5) Write Taller timber building design guidelines on their Sustainability and Durability.
ZERO, 2020-2023, Zero Energy and Low Carbon Buildings in Belgium & Poland
Client: Wallonie-Bruxelles International: Higher Education – International Capacity Building, Research Activities (Principal Initiator and Investigator): Joint proposal with Université of Liège (Prof. Shady Attia) and the University of Warmia and Mazury in Poland (Prof. Piotr Kosiński). To develop knowledge in the different areas of the investigation in Low Carbon Emission Buildings and Net Zero Energy Buildings in Poland, Status & Budget: Granted (EUR 25 k€).
To develop knowledge in the different areas of the investigation in Low Carbon Emission Buildings and Net Zero Energy Buildings in Poland, for responding to climate change and reducing the building sector's dependency on coal-fired energy. Connect international specialists in sustainable architecture and building engineering with an emphasis on energy efficiency to achieve the performance of Net-Zero buildings. The project will implement concrete actions to promote the training and capacity building of Polish/Belgian human capital in this area and generate academic exchange between universities and the scientific community in Poland, Wallonia, and Brussels. The project will focus on supporting Polish researchers with the knowledge and experience developed by our lab in Passive House Buildings, Net Zero Energy Buildings, and Low Carbon Buildings in line with the European Energy Performance of Buildings Directive.
Mutual exchanges and investigations will allow understanding of local realities and the social, political and cultural diversity of Poland's Building Stock to provide solutions related and affordable and energy-neutral buildings; link researchers and thus generate a context that promotes real change and re-engineering of all paradigms to achieve sustainable solutions and integrate advanced technologies in new and existing buildings. The project between Belgium and Poland will be extended until 2023. Special thanks to the external experts Dr. Robert Wójcik, Dr. Arkadiusz Węglarz, Dr. Dariusz Koc, Dr. Tadeusz Skoczkowski, Mr. Łukasz Krzysztoń, and Mr. Kamil Wiśniewski.
HERES, 2019-2022, Healthy and resilient schools in Chile and Belgium
Client: Wallonie-Bruxelles International: Higher Education – International Capacity Building, Key Partners: Université Catholique de Louvain: Prof. Geoffrey van Moeseke, University of Conception in Chile, Prof. Beatriz Piderit and Perspective Brussels: Dr.Valeria Cartes, Research Activities: Develop research and training on HERES - Healthy and resilient schools, Status & Budget: Granted (EUR 25 k€).
Planning for energy-efficient schools is not enough; we must also plan for healthy and resilient schools. HERES is a new project between Belgium and Chile on 'healthy and resilient schools' to prioritize diverse and affordable school designs, focusing on the most vulnerable in society. Schools face many challenges, such as aging buildings, poor construction and inadequate maintenance. This includes unhealthy or uncomfortable environments that affect highly sensible pupils with high cognitive performance expectations. Improving a school's resilience has a versatile constructive effect on education stakeholders.
Existing schools in Chile and FWB share common features: inappropriate design regarding visual, acoustical comfort and air quality. In addition, the use of cheap or old construction technologies leads to discomfort, next to the limited funding that inhibits adequate retrofitting and maintenance. Therefore, this project aims to share experiences regarding the design of new schools, retrofitting existing ones, and their operation. This includes developing guidelines and best practices for policymakers and school managers. Since schools are learning environments with unique particularities, this project will be conducted with dedicated attention to aspects such as the relationship between the school's urban context, the connection to spatial and functional programming and new pedagogical approaches.
RELI, 2016-2018, Resilience and Net-Zero Energy Buildings in Chile
Client: Wallonie-Bruxelles International: Higher Education – International Capacity Building, Key Partners: University of Conception in Chile: Prof. Beatriz Piderit, Research Activities: Joint proposal with the University of Conception in Chile to develop research training on Resilience and Net-Zero Energy Buildings in Chile, Status & Budget: Granted (EUR 25 k€).
This project is a two-year research and collaboration project in sustainable and resilient architecture, emphasizing the "Zero-Energy Buildings" goal. The project's objective was to establish a cooperation network to investigate collaboration opportunities in different research areas related to architectural resilience and net-zero energy buildings between Belgium and Chile. The project is positioned to respond innovatively to climate change and natural hazards. During the project, various activities were implemented to promote academic exchanges between Belgian Universities and Chilean scientific domains, with support from BibBio University and the Wallonie-Bruxelles Federation. Exchanges provided a better understanding of Chile's local realities and social diversity. The intensive exchanges during this project led to a vision for the future steps needed to maintain a healthy Chilean building stock with a low carbon impact and strong urban resilience. The project managed to create contact and a bridge that can foster and carry future collaboration shortly between the different partners, mainly the University of BioBio, the UCLouvain and the ULiège. The booklet elaborates on the outcomes of this project.
DenCity, 2016-2020, Zero Energy Lightweight Construction for Urban Densification
Client: ULiège, Funding Type: Liège University Welcome Grant, Research Activities (Principal Initiator and Investigator): DenCity Prototype: Concepts of Zero Energy Lightweight Construction Households for Urban Densification. The aim is to develop prototypes of lightweight zero-energy housing units to increase density and expand cost-effective, low-carbon buildings within cities. Prototypes are developed using environmental and structural simulation tools for optimization and decision support. Status & Budget: Granted (EUR 165 k€).
This research aims to provide a decision-support model to increase density in the built environment through roof stacking. It sets criteria to measure and map that potential regarding location and added floors. It provides a guideline for designers and designs to choose the most suitable building configurations according to site conditions. It develops a multi-criteria optimization method involving energy consumption and building performance. The methodology developed in this paper aims to provide a generic approach for decision-making about the roof stacking potential in European cities. Three main approaches have been followed to acquire data and model it: GIS Data for urban scale configurations, extensive survey and interviewing practitioners and validation through design and monitoring a real case study in Brussels as a proof of concept for the developed multi-criteria optimization method for roof stacking projects. This research developed an integrated methodology for mapping and quantifying the potential for increasing urban density through roof stacking at different urban levels. This method is based on combining three consecutive levels of decision-making for roof stacking: urban regulation, engineering, and architectural levels. This three-level approach secures the inclusion of the applied policies at the city level (top-bottom approach), technical support by specialists in the fields of urban planning, architecture, and civil engineering (intermediate level), and the participation of society (grassroots approach) in the decision-making process. We strongly note the need to adapt current urban policies and regulations in a reasonable way to encourage roof-stacking projects and promote their financial, social, and environmental benefits at both the individual and societal scale.
MADEEHI, 2016-2019, Eau, Énergie, Habitat à Madagascar
Client: EU, Erasmus+, Higher Education – International Capacity Building, Key Partners: PI and initiator: Prof. Luc Courard, Research Activities: Member: Joint proposal with the University of Toulouse, Pedagogic Cooperation and Innovation: Water-Energy and Habitat in Madagascar, MADEEHI's main objective is to strengthen capacities for managing energy, water, housing, and new technologies in harmony with the socio-cultural environment to ensure sustainable and rational local development based on entrepreneurship and the value of natural resources in Madagascar. Status & Budget: Granted (EUR 942 k€).
The MADEEHI project aims to strengthen the scientific and academic potential in Madagascar in terms of energy management, water management and housing, based on new technologies to ensure sustainable local development. This will be achieved through the creation of learning modules specifically adapted to local needs for higher education, with, on the one hand, the use of natural construction material resources for the disciplines concerned and, on the other hand, the prospect of training teachers-researchers (ToT) in the partner universities of the consortium, the aim being to raise the level of training to international level. The second novelty is the promotion of the sustainable water, energy and habitat sectors, which will be reinforced by the establishment of "demonstrators" in the form of a "green village" within which platforms representative of the themes supported will be set up: energy production, water, habitats and networks. This should allow the large-scale exploitation of renewable energy and considerably reduce fossil fuel use, which currently represents the largest part of energy production in Madagascar.
COST Action 1403, 2014-2018, Adaptive Facades Network
Client: European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST), Key Partners: PI and initiator: Prof. Andreas Luible, Research Activities (Subtask Leader): Share and develop more holistic approaches, metrics and tools to evaluate the performance of adaptive facades with the purpose of standardization and feasibility assessment of novel concepts; There are different scales and variants of evaluation methods: numerical (component and whole building) and experimental (laboratory and post-occupancy).
The main objective of COST Action TU1403 is to harmonize, share and disseminate technological knowledge on adaptive facades at a European level. This shall lead to increased knowledge sharing between European research centers and between these centers and industry, the development of novel concepts, technologies and new combinations of existing technologies for adaptive facades, and the development of new knowledge, such as effective evaluation tools/design methods for adaptive facades. Status & Budget: Granted (EUR 942 k€).
IEA Annex 40, 2008-2013, Towards Net Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB)
Client: IEA SHC Task 40 – ECBCS Annex 52, Key Partners: PI and initiator: Prof. Luc Courard, Research Activities (Active Member): Identify & refine design approaches and tools to support industry adoption of innovative demand/supply technologies for NZEBS. Developing simplified tools and interfaces to support integrating NZEB technologies and architecture during early design. Status & Budget: Granted (EUR 210 k€).
Energy use and emissions from buildings include direct, on-site use of fossil fuels and indirect use from electricity, district heating/cooling systems and embodied energy in construction materials. Given the global challenges posed by climate change and resource shortages, incremental increases in energy efficiency are not enough. Currently, a prominent vision proposes so-called "net zero energy," "net zero carbon," or "EQuilibrium" buildings. Although these terms have different meanings and are poorly understood, several IEA countries have adopted this vision as a long-term goal of their building energy policies. Before this project, what was missing was a clear definition and international agreement on the measures of building performance that could inform "zero energy" building policies, programs and industry adoption.
