About
iEPB aims to enhance the energy performance of the EU’s building stock by enhancing synchronization among existing Energy Performance Certifications (EPC) and other instruments.
This involves aligning existing EPCs with complementary tools like the Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI) and energy renovation recommendations.
The integration relies on the development of a shared data model for EPB (Energy Performance Building) Assessments, which holds the potential for future expansion to incorporate additional assessments.
Methodology
Common Data Model Development
The envisioned data model aims to reach universality and applicability throughout the EU, fostering coherence and harmonization among countries. A collaborative effort and coordination with officially recognized and validated EPB Assessment software ensures a standardized approach, allowing a more integrative consistency in EPB assessments at the European level.
Operational Implementation
The added value of iEPB’s approach will be demonstrate in operational ecosystems, where the benefits will be showcased for building professionals, product manufacturers, and end-users, emphasizing the practical advantages of integrating multiple assessments within a unified framework.
Enhancing EPB Assessment Quality
iEPB also focus on elevating the quality of EPB Assessments themselves, in order to facilitate the implementation of upcoming provisions within the recast of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). By emphasizing procedures based on actual building data, iEPB addresses existing deficiencies in the design and implementation of Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs).
Market Support and Stakeholder Engagement
iEPB is strategically designed to support the market adoption of EPB Assessment instruments: this support involves fostering synergies between tools and delivering added value to key stakeholders. Through strategic implementation, iEPB seeks to enhance the effectiveness and acceptance of EPB Assessments within the broader building performance landscape.
Objectives
Increased integration and synchrony of EPCs with other assessment instruments and planning tools
Easing collection, aggregation, and analysis of data for building’s performance assessments
Improving data accessibility and user friendliness of EPCs
Supporting EPB Assessments and Certification schemes to be more EU-compliant, consistent, and accurate
Demonstrating the applicability and effectiveness of the project results in operational environments
Impacts
The project’s hard impacts come from testing iEPB instruments and sharing national policy recommendations. Building professionals using iEPB tools during the project will enhance their practices, performing more accurate and cost-effective EPB assessments. End-users will test the iEPB web app’s interface, improving understanding, usage, and trust in EPB assessments, leading to better energy performance in showcased buildings.
Soft impacts result from various planned activities, including analyzing stakeholder groups, developing and implementing iEPB instruments, testing, training, and public outreach. The operational versions of iEPB instruments will be tested in real-life buildings, and project-engaged professionals, manufacturers, and end-users will receive training on their use.
Pilots
To help European countries adopting new provisions from the EPBD recast and ensure the practicality of developed solutions, the project utilizes pilot environments in Spain, The Netherlands, and Austria. In these environments, key stakeholders from the building industry are actively involved, providing real-world data to validate iEPB’s solutions.
The chosen pilot countries represent varying degrees of EPBD implementation, including differences in EPCs, building characteristics, market structure, and culture.
The building typologies involved are different, including residential and non-residential buildings for a wide range of sub-categories: apartments, schools, gyms, hotels, restaurants.