Technologies for the Combined Seismic and Energy Upgrading of Existing Buildings

Abstract

To achieve the ambitious target of climate neutrality of the EU set out within the EU Green Deal, a reduction of energy use in the highly energy consuming building sector is critical. To achieve this, the renovation of existing buildings has been given a key role, starting with the Renovation Wave initiative. In fact, a large proportion of existing buildings in the EU are characterised by a high energy consumption for heating and cooling, often caused by poor or non-existent thermal insulation, as well as outdated heating and cooling systems. It is hence critical to improve their energy-efficiency through renovation to reduce the significant impact of the built environment on the total EU energy household and associated greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, in Europe’s seismic regions, earthquakes can cause significant human and economic losses, with a large impact on society. Recent seismic events have highlighted the vulnerability of older buildings with structural deficiencies that are in dire need for seismic retrofitting. A large proportion of the EU building stock requires renovation from both structural and energy perspectives. Recent scientific developments highlight better cost-effectiveness, safety and efficiency can be achieved when taking an integrated approach. This report presents materials and technologies developed and presented in the scientific literature.