Cultural-E goes a step beyond Nearly Zero Energy Buildings (nZEBs) towards the future of Plus Energy Buildings (PEBs). The team is approaching this topic by looking at climate and cultural differences in the use of residential buildings around Europe. By the end of the five years the project will have built four new Plus Energy Buildings in France, Germany, Italy and Norway. Cultural-E will also produce design tools, smart technologies, methodologies and policy recommendations for Plus Energy Buildings.

The project team develops technologies that take into consideration the local climate and socio-cultural contexts to enable a comprehensive optimisation of value/cost ratio of PEBs. One of the design tools will be an interactive atlas of the different European climate-cultural geo-clusters in combination with possible solution sets in order to provide guidance for architects and designers interested in building PEBs.

The smart technologies such as cloud-based House Management System, combining natural ventilation in a smart hybrid ventilation system, smart air movement system, and the decentralized Packed Heat Pump system will be further developed. Existing technologies such as photovoltaic/battery systems, thermal insulation materials, thermal mass activation and storage, shading systems will be further consolidated. Eight climate and cultural solutions sets will be developed.

The affordable solutions will guarantee a plus energy balance, a deep reduction in GHG emissions, healthy and comfortable indoor environments, provided by climate-resilient technologies. The team will also look at co-benefits, such as health and community impact. For instance, a PEB could balance the energy needs of a cultural heritage building in the same district, which cannot be retrofitted.

The architects and designers will also be provided with an easy to understand and informative data visualisation for energy simulations to support the design of Plus Energy Buildings. Finally, the project intends to accelerate the transition from nZEBs to Plus Energy Buildings by providing policymakers with evidence-based recommendations that address cultural factors and legal barriers. One of ACE’s responsibilities is the drafting of various policy papers aimed at the next EPBD revision 2024-2026, at the end of the project.

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Fixed EC Keywords: HVAC systems, building design, Integration of renewables, Low/nearly-zero & energy positive buildings, Energy efficient buildings, Climate-cultural tailored technology solution-sets, user-centric design, regenerative indoor and outdoor environment, quantified co-benefits, soundness comprehensive return of investment