The study, design, and testing of a system to retrofit and thermally activate an existing tunnel (in operation or abandoned) for an energy purpose not envisaged originally. The system includes a network of pipes capable of transporting a heat transfer fluid. A prototype of such a system is being investigated by means of preliminary numerical analyses with the final aim to install it in the Piedicastello tunnels within the Trento demo. The tunnels, today abandoned and devoted to an exhibition hall, will be turned into a heat exchanger with the ground and with the internal environment for road de-icing and/or heating and cooling purposes of an adjacent building to test the potential of the identified solution in a realistic operating environment.

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A new developed smart home lighting control system is demonstrated in SAB Housing Association Department 75 in Sønderborg, DK. The demonstration site includes 19 double terrace houses, in total 38 apartments. The smart home systems in the apartments control the lighting, electrical appliances, access controls and burglar alarms. The electrification control system can also be connected to the heating control system. 

Remotely from a smart phone app, the user can turn on and off each lighting unit and electrical appliance in the apartment and control the temperature of the heating system. The regulation can also be activated from a central panel placed on a wall in the apartment.  

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BIM and Digital Twins are used to optimise building performance from environmental and economic perspectives. The approach enables a comprehensive evaluation across the building lifecycle, including environmental impact, costs, and energy use, as well as aspects such as community inclusivity, use of indoor and outdoor spaces, water management, noise and pollution, and architectural quality.

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Local energy storage systems using recycled electric vehicle batteries give a second life to batteries that are no longer suitable for transport. Combined with solar panels, these batteries store excess renewable electricity and release it when energy demand is higher. The systems can be installed in a wide range of buildings, from schools and offices to residential developments, helping to create more flexible and self-sufficient local energy systems.

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A two-step methodology that aims to select the cost-optimal solutions for retrofitting of buildings in large-scale renovation process (200-300 dwellings). From a set of different potential combinations of passive elements (e.g., adding different insulation materials with different thickness and/or windows) and active elements (e.g., heat pumps / multi-split air conditioning for heating, cooling and DHW and/or photovoltaics), the methodology helps to select the most appropriate combination considering the energy performance and economic parameters. The process aims to select solutions that achieve a 50% reduction in the energy demand and/or a significant improvement in the thermal comfort conditions. A detailed economic model is part of the methodology giving as a result the following outputs: investment costs deducting grants for each owner and life cycle global costs.

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Use of eco-friendly local construction materials and traditional craftsmanship in sustainable renovation projects. By combining natural and low-impact materials, such as timber and local sandstone, with modern construction techniques, it aims to reduce the environmental footprint of buildings while supporting local producers and preserving traditional building knowledge. An online catalogue of sustainable construction solutions further helps designers and builders compare materials based on their environmental performance and encourages the wider adoption of locally sourced, circular building practices.

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Solar PV scale smart battery systems are an integrated energy solution that combines rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) panels with on-site battery storage in large residential buildings. The system is designed to demonstrate and monitor how locally produced solar energy can be stored and optimally used at building and neighbourhood scale, increasing self-consumption, reducing grid dependency, and improving overall energy resilience.

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Use of digital technologies, such as satellite images, street-level photos and 3D scans, to automatically analyse buildings and identify those with similar characteristics. By looking at features such as roof shapes, façade designs and construction materials, the system creates a kind of “building DNA” that groups buildings into common types. This makes it easier to plan large-scale renovations, identify suitable retrofit solutions and accelerate the delivery of energy-efficient upgrades across entire neighbourhoods.

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