Periodic Reporting for period 2 - TIMEPAC (Towards innovative methods for energy performance assessment and certification of buildings)
Okres sprawozdawczy: 2023-01-01 do 2024-10-31
TIMEPAC aims to enhance existing building energy certification processes by transitioning from static, one-time certifications to more comprehensive, dynamic approaches that consider: a) data generated throughout the entire energy performance certification process, including generation, storage, analysis, and exploitation, across all stages of the building lifecycle, from design to construction and operation; b) buildings as part of the built environment, and thus connected to energy distribution and transport networks; and c) buildings as dynamic entities that continuously evolve over time.
We are shifting from the concept of a one-off certificate to a continuous assessment of building energy performance, as suggested by the latest EPBD recast. Consequently, the concept of building energy performance certification is evolving into a more comprehensive notion of integral building assessment throughout its lifetime, considering not only energy performance but also other sustainability dimensions.
The purpose of TIMEPAC is to contribute to this evolution towards enhanced EPCs, making them a useful tool for achieving the decarbonization of the building stock by increasing both the rate and efficiency of building renovation.
We are shifting from the concept of a one-off certificate to a continuous assessment of building energy performance, as suggested by the latest EPBD recast. Consequently, the concept of building energy performance certification is evolving into a more comprehensive notion of integral building assessment throughout its lifetime, considering not only energy performance but also other sustainability dimensions.
The purpose of TIMEPAC is to contribute to this evolution towards enhanced EPCs, making them a useful tool for achieving the decarbonization of the building stock by increasing both the rate and efficiency of building renovation.
In the first stage of the project, we conducted a preliminary analysis of the building energy performance certification processes in six partner countries: Austria, Croatia, Cyprus, Italy, Slovenia, and Spain. The study identified differences in the methods and tools used across the four stages of certification: generation, storage, analysis, and exploitation. Based on this analysis, guidelines for improving the process to ensure a seamless certification system were outlined.
The contextual analysis established the baseline for developing the Transversal Deployment Scenarios (TDS), which focused on five key topics: integrating BIM with EPC, including operational data in certification, linking renovation passports to data repositories, complementarity of SRI, Level(s), and EPCs, and analysing EPC databases for large-scale rehabilitation programs. These forward-looking scenarios expanded knowledge and suggested new directions for transforming EPCs into effective tools for sustainable urban development, broadening their role beyond merely assessing individual building energy performance.
The TDS results were verified through workshops with professionals involved in building certification across the partner countries. Additionally, a survey was conducted to identify the needs of stakeholders in building renovation. The workshops covered four main topics: improving certification with enhanced EPCs, exploiting EPCs through advanced analysis, creating renovation passports, and enhancing building operation.
The final step involved transferring the knowledge gained from the TDS and then discussed with professionals through training activities within the TIMEPAC Academy. A comprehensive training programme, consisting of 83 lectures and exercises totaling 120 teaching hours, was developed to help professionals apply the enhanced certification procedures. Six webinars and eight in-class courses were delivered, with training materials and recorded lectures available for download on the Academy website.
The project findings have been presented and discussed with professionals and researchers in the workshops held in Ljubljana, Torino, and Vienna, and the Barcelona final conference.
The communication strategy focused on three key principles: raising awareness, fostering engagement, and encouraging interaction. The TIMEPAC website served as the main hub, offering updates on news, events, and resources like videos, factsheets, guidelines, reports, and brochures. Activities were regularly shared through the project social media channels (LinkedIn, Twitter (X) and YouTube). A consistent brand identity was maintained across all digital and physical channels to ensure coherence and visibility.
Exploitation activities were strategically carried out throughout the three-year project, ensuring that results were effectively used both during and after the project’s completion. An exploitation strategy was developed to ensure the sustainability of the TIMEPAC Academy and the continued use of project assets.
The contextual analysis established the baseline for developing the Transversal Deployment Scenarios (TDS), which focused on five key topics: integrating BIM with EPC, including operational data in certification, linking renovation passports to data repositories, complementarity of SRI, Level(s), and EPCs, and analysing EPC databases for large-scale rehabilitation programs. These forward-looking scenarios expanded knowledge and suggested new directions for transforming EPCs into effective tools for sustainable urban development, broadening their role beyond merely assessing individual building energy performance.
The TDS results were verified through workshops with professionals involved in building certification across the partner countries. Additionally, a survey was conducted to identify the needs of stakeholders in building renovation. The workshops covered four main topics: improving certification with enhanced EPCs, exploiting EPCs through advanced analysis, creating renovation passports, and enhancing building operation.
The final step involved transferring the knowledge gained from the TDS and then discussed with professionals through training activities within the TIMEPAC Academy. A comprehensive training programme, consisting of 83 lectures and exercises totaling 120 teaching hours, was developed to help professionals apply the enhanced certification procedures. Six webinars and eight in-class courses were delivered, with training materials and recorded lectures available for download on the Academy website.
The project findings have been presented and discussed with professionals and researchers in the workshops held in Ljubljana, Torino, and Vienna, and the Barcelona final conference.
The communication strategy focused on three key principles: raising awareness, fostering engagement, and encouraging interaction. The TIMEPAC website served as the main hub, offering updates on news, events, and resources like videos, factsheets, guidelines, reports, and brochures. Activities were regularly shared through the project social media channels (LinkedIn, Twitter (X) and YouTube). A consistent brand identity was maintained across all digital and physical channels to ensure coherence and visibility.
Exploitation activities were strategically carried out throughout the three-year project, ensuring that results were effectively used both during and after the project’s completion. An exploitation strategy was developed to ensure the sustainability of the TIMEPAC Academy and the continued use of project assets.
The knowledge gained from the future scenarios offers insights into transforming current certification processes, the necessary methods and tools, and actions to be taken by involved actors. This knowledge has been shared with professionals: over 400 participated in verification workshops, approximately 1,400 responded to the survey, and over 1,000 took part in training activities.
TIMEPAC actively contributed to the NextGenEPC cluster, participating in workshops and meetings and providing inputs for the latest EPBD recast recommendations. Verification Scenarios and workshops held in Austria, Croatia, Cyprus, Italy, Slovenia, and Spain revealed significant findings, particularly around training gaps for professionals addressing EPBD challenges. Our results confirmed that generating EPCs from BIM data enhances their accuracy and reliability. BIM models offer a detailed digital representation of a building’s physical and functional aspects, including geometry, materials, systems, and performance data, which can improve EPC calculations by reducing reliance on outdated or incomplete information.
To further improve EPC accuracy, the latest EPBD recommends comparing calculated energy performance with metered energy consumption. Incorporating operational data enables new indicators for a comprehensive building assessment across EU countries, including tailored energy performance, calibration against monitored data, economic evaluation of energy efficiency measures, indoor environmental quality (IEQ), and Building Automation and Control System (BACS) impact assessment.
National building energy performance databases can support the assessment of building stock conditions and the development of renovation plans at various scales, but quality checks on EPC data are crucial for accurate energy modeling and refurbishment analyses.
Training and capacity building are key to equipping professionals with the skills needed to implement TIMEPAC’s enhanced certification vision. Continuous professional development is essential to integrate these methods and maintain a continuous data flow throughout the certification process. The TIMEPAC Academy plays a central role in this by offering training focused on BIM and EPC data analysis, data collection, and advanced building assessment methods for sustainable renovation.
TIMEPAC actively contributed to the NextGenEPC cluster, participating in workshops and meetings and providing inputs for the latest EPBD recast recommendations. Verification Scenarios and workshops held in Austria, Croatia, Cyprus, Italy, Slovenia, and Spain revealed significant findings, particularly around training gaps for professionals addressing EPBD challenges. Our results confirmed that generating EPCs from BIM data enhances their accuracy and reliability. BIM models offer a detailed digital representation of a building’s physical and functional aspects, including geometry, materials, systems, and performance data, which can improve EPC calculations by reducing reliance on outdated or incomplete information.
To further improve EPC accuracy, the latest EPBD recommends comparing calculated energy performance with metered energy consumption. Incorporating operational data enables new indicators for a comprehensive building assessment across EU countries, including tailored energy performance, calibration against monitored data, economic evaluation of energy efficiency measures, indoor environmental quality (IEQ), and Building Automation and Control System (BACS) impact assessment.
National building energy performance databases can support the assessment of building stock conditions and the development of renovation plans at various scales, but quality checks on EPC data are crucial for accurate energy modeling and refurbishment analyses.
Training and capacity building are key to equipping professionals with the skills needed to implement TIMEPAC’s enhanced certification vision. Continuous professional development is essential to integrate these methods and maintain a continuous data flow throughout the certification process. The TIMEPAC Academy plays a central role in this by offering training focused on BIM and EPC data analysis, data collection, and advanced building assessment methods for sustainable renovation.