RIBuild - A probability-based life cycle assessment software for retrofitting historic buildings
Challenge: WHY the innovation has been developed? What problem is addressed and why has not been not solved before?
In Europe 30% of all buildings are historic buildings and they are expected to last for decades. Therefore there is great potential for energy savings and emission reductions through renovation measures. However, the long‐term perspective of historic building interventions together with several structural, architectural, and social constraints have made it very difficult to apply standardised procedures such as Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Costing (LCC) and support decision-making on building retrofitting. Barriers such as uncertain investments, long payback periods and perceived credit risk hamper building energy renovation.
Solution: WHAT the solution is about? HOW it goes beyond the state of the art?
The RIBuild Software tooI allows a “probability‐based” life‐cycle assessment of environmental and economic impacts of building retrofit measures. LCA and LCC data inputs – e.g. building component prices, embedded energy, etc ‐ can be combined considering their “uncertainty ranges”. The software provides results in alternative scenarios. Furthermore, it offers an idea of the significance of input parameters’ uncertainties and their impacts on the results, through a detailed sensitivity analysis. In this way, the user is made aware of the inherent uncertainties related to environmental impacts and costs of building renovation, and during the design stage can work on the most proper and effective solutions. The software can be effectively applied as a decision support tool during the building renovation phase.
End-users and examples of uses: WHO will beneficiate/ is beneficiating from the solution? WHERE and HOW the solution has been adopted? How will impact people or end-users? Add as more as possible examples of market and society uptakes
Primary target group are building designers and owners. The innovation has already been applied to several buildings and will be further employed to develop guidelines for a “safe” internal insulation of historic buildings. The tool can be also used to investigate the affordability and environmental benefits of different design solutions (especially related to the energy efficiency issue) so that also researchers, building engineers, and real‐estate stakeholders can benefit from the tool.
Future possibilities: Future market perspectives when the innovation will be fully available or in use
A full application of the tool in building renovation decision-making will allow to promote building renovation actions based on realistic data.
Media coverage
www.ribuild.eu
References for more information (eg. website, social media)
Contacts:
Elisa Di Giuseppe (e.digiuseppe@univpm.it)
Marco D'Orazio (m.dorazio@univpm.it)
Edoardo Baldoni (edoardo.baldoni@gmail.com)
Ernst Jan de Place Hansen (ejp@sbi.aau.dk)
Application sectors:
- Heritage-led urban regeneration and adaptive reuse
- Environmental sustainability and energy efficiency
Objectives:
- Market/business development
- Consumers’ awareness and information, trust building
- Supporting strategies, regulatory frameworks legislation and standards at EU and national levels
- Supporting environment (Infrastructures, intermediaires, new business opportunities)
- Regional/Local development
RRI Dimensions:
- Public Engagement
- Governance
Communities:
- Circular, sustainable and creative cities
- Shared management of cultural heritage
