About the Project

The building sector is at present responsible for more than 40% of EU energy consumption. There are technologies under development, which could substantially improve (up to 30%) the energy performance of buildings, reducing the conventional energy demand in new and existing buildings and substantially contributing to reduce energy intensity, through combined measures of rational use of energy and integration of renewable energy technologies.

The ECO-BUILD project provides policy makers and stakeholders with

• an overview of the internationally most advanced concepts and technologies for Eco-buildings,
• best practice solutions for implementing those concepts and
• an assessment of the potential of and problems faced by different sets of policy measures adopted at the European and national levels.

The aim of the project is to work towards a new approach for the design, construction and operation of new and/or refurbished buildings, which is based on the best combination of the double approach: to reduce substantially, and, if possible, to avoid the demand for heating, cooling and lighting and to supply the necessary heating, cooling and lighting in the most efficient way and based as much as possible on renewable energy sources and polygeneration. The project goes beyond the requirements of existing legislation and thus contributes to a further development of regulatory issues in this sector.

Project duration is from October 2007 to March 2010.