Project

In the last 10 years, new tools have been developed capable of evaluating energy saving measures for large building stocks through dynamic simulations involving, at the same time, many buildings. These tools, called Urban Building Energy Models (UBEMs), however require reference buildings to provide reliable results and current databases are either lacking or not adequate for this purpose. A reference building, called an archetype, is a virtual building that represents a significant part of the building stock; in UBEM, the reference buildings are associated with a geometry typically provided by GIS instrumentation and the reliability of the final results is linked to the significance and accuracy of the reference buildings adopted. The URBEM project will fill the current knowledge gap by providing a national database for reference buildings for use with UBEM tools. To this end, the working group will establish a solid methodology based on the analysis of available data, to make the process replicable and scalable at European level. All available databases at national, regional and local level, concerning the building fabric, building systems and energy use, will be studied to collect information, integrating existing archetype databases and adapting them to the specific needs of UBEM tools . Alternative data sources will be included in structured databases, integrating them and expanding the research results. The project will provide reference buildings to be used in tools to simulate intervention scenarios on an urban scale, which can be used by public authorities to develop energy policies and incentives to improve the efficiency of real estate assets. In particular, these tools can be used to predict the energy consumption of buildings in alternative and future scenarios.

The main goal of the Project is to develop a comprehensive database of reference buildings that accurately represents the national building stock. This database will serve as a crucial resource in reducing the uncertainties associated with UBEM simulations. By doing so, it will provide a valuable reference tool and analytical methodology for public authorities and other building stock holders, who will find it easier to manage and conserve their building heritage. Additionally, this database will enable the promotion of policies and incentives that further promote sustainable building practices. Overall, the Project’s objective is to enhance building energy efficiency and support the long-term sustainability of the built environment.