CULTURAL-E

Climate and cultural based design and market valuable technology solutions for Plus Energy Houses

Call and programme

Horizon2020, Innovative Actions

Ongoing project 

Brief description

CULTURAL-E aims to define modular and replicable solutions for Plus Energy Houses (PEH), taking into account climatic and cultural differences, and involving all the key actors involved in the life cycle of the building; the project intends to create comfortable, efficient and affordable interior environments.

CULTURAL-E will develop technologies and sets of customizable solutions based on specific contexts and energy demands,  as well as achieving a complete optimization of the value / cost ratio of PEHs. The design technology sets for the assembly will be produced and guided by a careful mapping of European climates, building archetypes and cultural energy habits, maximizing the share of demand covered by renewable sources (towards Ø emissions in the operational phase).

CULTURAL-E solution sets are the result of a user-based projectation process and aim to achieve and maintain the best internal environmental conditions at low cost. Homes become regenerative for the indoor and outdoor environment in the lifecycle, with minimal additional costs, thus ensuring a solid return on investment.

To increase the replicability of solutions and the adoption of a “culture-centric” design, the main market players involved in the development of PEHs are supported by dedicated tools and guidelines that will foster the development of solid and inclusive business models.

InEuropa srl supports participation in the ABITCOOP project, as a partner.

Activities

The main activities of the project are:

  • WP1 – Project Management
  • WP2 – Understanding Cultural and Climate drivers for Plus Energy Houses (PEH) Design
  • WP3 – Development of pre-engineered and user-centred technologies and exploitation plan to accelerate market uptake
  • WP4 – Definition of PEH tailored solution sets and business models
  • WP5 – Co-benefits of Plus Energy Houses (PEH)
  • WP6 – Demonstration actions of Plus Energy Houses (PEH)
  • WP7 – Communication and dissemination
  • WP8 – Ethical requirements

Expected results

Cultural-E seeks to increase market absorption of Plus Energy Houses (PEH) buildings by proposing measures to overcome certain barriers. Project outcomes include design tools, smart technologies, methodologies (e.g. for economic evaluation) and policy recommendations (to facilitate the construction of PEH).

Coordinator

EURAC – EUROPEAN ACADEMY OF BOLZANO (IT)

Partnership

  1. RMIT – ROYAL MELBOURNE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY SPAIN SL (ES)
  2. UNIVE – UNIVERSITA CA’ FOSCARI VENEZIA (IT)
  3. UNIVERSITAET STUTTGART (DE)
  4. BRUNEL UNIVERSITY LONDON  (UK)
  5. ACE – CONSEIL DES ARCHITECTES D’EUROPE (BE)
  6. NOBATEK INEF 4 (FR)
  7. SINTEF AS (AF)
  8. STEINBEIS INNOVATION GGMBH (DE)
  9. ICIE – ISTITUTO COOPERATIVO PER L’INNOVAZIONE SCRL (IT)
  10. VILOGIA SA (FR)
  11. OSLO KOMMUNE (NO)
  12. WILHELM NUSSER GMBH SYSTEMBAU (DE)
  13. ABITCOOP (IT)
  14. ADVANTIC SISTEMAS Y SERVICIOS SL (ES)
  15. VENTIVE LTD (UK)
  16. EUROFINESTRA SAS DI ECOSISTEMA SRL (IT)
  17. VORTICE ELETTROSOCIALI SPA (IT)

Duration

The project has a duration of 5 years (1 October 2019 – 30 September 2024)

Total budget 

The EU grant is €7,999,950.76 out of a total budget of €9,641,336.25.

The grant reimburses 100% of the eligible costs of beneficiaries that are non-profit legal entities, and 70% of the eligible costs of beneficiaries that are profit legal entities.

Funding agency

European Commission – Research and Innovation DG