BEEM-UP : Building Energy Efficiency for a Massive Market Uptake

BEEM-UP demonstrates the economic, social and technical feasibility of retrofitting initiatives for drastically reducing the energy consumption in existing buildings. The aim is also to use the results to lay the ground for massive market uptake of energy efficient retrofitting. BEEM-UP are implemented in three sites (France, the Netherlands and Sweden) and incorporate innovative solutions to achieve a 75% reduction in space heat energy use, in addition to reduce the energy demand for hot water and lighting, while ensuring a comfortable and healthy living environment. These ambitious targets are demonstrated through the most economical attractive alternatives for retrofitting and thereby setting the ground for massive market uptake. An absolute condition to succeed is to use integrated design. In integrated design the building owners, industry, designers and energy experts collaborate around the building to reach a higher performance and be more adapted to the tenant needs than if just plugging in separate solutions are used. New concepts have been identified within BEEM-UP that can be replicated in further retrofitting projects. An ambitious monitoring program to demonstrate the reduction in energy consumption has been accompanying the whole process and will continue over a period of at least two years after the retrofit. This technical monitoring is complemented with a social monitoring, focusing on the involvement and acceptance by the tenants. A whole program is designated to involve the tenants in the retrofit. ICT systems (smart metering and building control) will encourage and support energy savings.