- 14. April 2023
EASI ZERo aims to accelerate European building renovation with new low-carbon materials
The EU-funded EASI ZERo project has been launched to develop an envelope system of bio-based and recycled materials for efficient building renovation to achieve near zero energy balance and CO2 emissions.
The EASi Zero project, funded by the EU, addresses the pressing need to renovate buildings in Europe to rise their thermal performance in an efficient way while minimizing the environmental impact.
The EASI ZERo project focuses on developing an easy-to-install envelope component package for efficient renovation with a low carbon footprint.
"By providing an innovative solution for deep building renovation, we aim to achieve near zero energy balance and CO2 emissions, which will have a significant impact on the environment and the lives of people living in these buildings," says Philippe Thony, CEA France, who is coordinating the project consortium of 16 European partners representing the whole construction industry and renovation value chain.
Passive and circular materials
The system includes a selection of bio-sourced insulation materials that show a high level of thermal performance. This includes grown mycelium wood fibers, low carbon foam, recycled raw material for sprayed renders, multifunctional building bricks, and safe finishes without negative impact on environment and human health.
The EASI ZERo system provides a complete solution for the whole envelope, including facades, roofs, and openings, with an energy storage layered material that provides additional thermal control on the interior side to smooth the demand/response of heating and cooling.
The materials can be applied to external or internal insulation, facades, and roofs, and a render based on recycled materials protects the insulation layer on the exterior facade. The re-use of components and the integration of recycled materials enhance circular economy by closing carbon cycle and raise resilience in the construction value chain.
The solution will adapt to any building typology and specificity, for indoor and outdoor renovation operations.
Easy to apply
The insulation materials and renders can be directly applied to the walls' surfaces with well-known processes and available skills in the construction industry. It will demonstrate cost-efficient and easy installation.
Design tools, numerical database and material passport will optimise the materials combination towards maximum sustainability and minimum payback time for any typology of buildings and conditions (climate, aesthetics, specific risk).
Projects use-cases will show real buildings reaching durable high environmental performance and carbon emission over more than 40 years and neutral energy balance with integrated PV generation where relevant.
A multidisciplinary consortium of 16 partners representing all the building construction and renovation value chain will support these objectives and benefit from project outcomes.
Funded by EU
The EASI ZERo project is funded by the EU and is in response to the Call: HORIZON-CL4-2022-RESILIENCE-01-16 — Building and renovating by exploiting advanced materials for energy and resources efficient management.
FACTS
What is the EASI ZERo system?
The EASI ZERo system will provide a global and inclusive material solution for the whole envelope, including façades, roof and openings.
- a selection of bio-sourced insulation materials showing high level of thermal performance
- a sprayable render based on recycled materials that protects the insulation layer on the exterior façade and ensure a long durability to the materials
- a roof of standard tiles or PV integrating tiles that respects aesthetics of the existing building thanks to specific coloured PV panels
- windows and doors with an innovative lightweight and bio-sourced foam frame
- a specific paint that provides a safe, healthy and aesthetic finish for the interior and the window frames
- an energy storage layered material that provides additional thermal control on the interior side to smooth the demand/response performance of heating and cooling
Seven highligts of the EASI ZERo system
- Bio-based and recycled materials with a low carbon-footprint
- High level of thermal performance
- Compatible to all building typologies
- Easy to install and dismantle
- Assessed performance at building scale over lifecyle
- Documented environmental, social and economical impacts
- Near zero energy balance and CO2 emission
PROJECT FACTS
- Project start: December 2022
- Project end: May 2026
- 16 partners from 7 European countries
- Funded by the European Union from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 101091531.
- Total budget: € 8,086,602.25
- EU contribution: €6,972,698.13
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.3030/101091531