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Residential Renovation towards nearly zero energy CITIES

Articles & Interviews
R2CITIES Project VideoR2CITIES Project Video

Watch here our results!

R2Cities crosses the finish line: the resultsR2Cities crosses the finish line: the results

The EU project on smart districts has unveiled its energy saving achievements after its renovation works in three residential areas

R2CITIES Best Practices BookR2CITIES Best Practices Book

R2CITIES Best Practices Book is available for download.

Is it worth renovating old buildings?Is it worth renovating old buildings?

The building sector is the largest energy-consuming sector in Europe. As retrofitting works are often unaffordable for people who own apartments in old blocks, the EU has had to step in

The human factor in saving energyThe human factor in saving energy

Throughout Europe buildings are still responsible for 40% of energy consumption and 36% of CO2 emissions. More renovation of the existing stock is needed. This is where citizens come into play

Protecting health by improved building efficiencyProtecting health by improved building efficiency

A revised EU directive to fight energy poverty and pulmonary diseases due to unhealthy buildings should be approved this month

Household air pollution: the forgotten hazardHousehold air pollution: the forgotten hazard

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimated that each year 4.3 million people die of exposure to household pollutants. Buildings with a safe indoor environment can reduce healthcare costs

The “washing machines” district smartens up to halve energy consumptionThe “washing machines” district smartens up to halve energy consumption

A peripheral district in Genoa, Italy, has become a smart city lab. The project has improved apartment conditions, reduced waste and lowered the energy bill, all with the help of citizens

Solar energy: “googling” your roofSolar energy: “googling” your roof

Internet users can assess the solar potential of their roofs through a platform developed by Google. The online “calculator”, which was only accessible in the US, has now reached Europe, starting in Germany

Tackling the ethical challenges of big dataTackling the ethical challenges of big data

An authority on social data, Susan Etlinger argues we need to apply critical thinking and exercise caution as we enter the age of “data ubiquity”

High-tech and low-cost solutions to handle urban wasteHigh-tech and low-cost solutions to handle urban waste

Innovations in waste management systems need new regulations for the management of sustainable landfills

Genoa - Lavatrici district storytellingGenoa - Lavatrici district storytelling

R2CITIES innovation for the benefit of local citizens.

Saving a Monster: Retrofitting of Social HousingSaving a Monster: Retrofitting of Social Housing

In Genoa, Italy, there are tenants who only pay as little as €50 in rent for a small apartment in a social housing estate, but this is only part of the story.

Boosting cooperation between cities to fight climate changeBoosting cooperation between cities to fight climate change

Mayors of cities in Europe and its Mediterranean neighbourhood have committed to acting together to ensure the transition to a more energy-efficient model based on the use of renewables and the reduction of CO2 emissions

Turkey's solar market has started 'teething'Turkey's solar market has started 'teething'

Although in its infancy, solar energy generation in Turkey has a promising outlook

Power of the Sun. Dirt cheapPower of the Sun. Dirt cheap

In a world hungry for energy, top scientist Michael Grätzel hopes to make solar cells more affordable by copying photosynthesis

Italy: the energy efficiency way of the washing-machine shaped dwellings in GenoaItaly: the energy efficiency way of the washing-machine shaped dwellings in Genoa

A social housing district with poor insulation, a municipality that is meeting a long-standing demand by residents while transforming the area into a model for eco-sustainability

Smart Data to evaluate return on retrofitting investmentSmart Data to evaluate return on retrofitting investment

Saving money by cutting the energy consumption of buildings is not strictly a question of technology. People need hard data to be convinced of the positive financial implications

Emre Yöntem: Meeting energy efficiency targetsEmre Yöntem: Meeting energy efficiency targets

Energy efficiency of a building can be calculated throughout its first 60 years of life after retrofitting thanks to Life Cycle Assessment schemes 

Multifold challenges for districts level retrofittingMultifold challenges for districts level retrofitting

Retrofitting a district is quite different from retrofitting a single building: the technological challenges involved are far greater.

Transparency and residents’ involvement make retrofitting workTransparency and residents’ involvement make retrofitting work

A residential energy-saving retrofitting program adopts strategies to convince local inhabitants of its benefits.

Retrofitting: all stakeholders involved upfrontRetrofitting: all stakeholders involved upfront

Involving all the players in a comprehensive retrofitting project from the start, an approach known as Integrated Project Delivery, could be the key to its success

César Alonso: third parties play a key role to making buildings energy efficientCésar Alonso: third parties play a key role to making buildings energy efficient

The town council of Valladolid, Spain, is renovating its heritage buildings to achieve near-zero energy districts, while involving all stakeholders.

Gloria Piaggio – Genoa, a Smart CityGloria Piaggio – Genoa, a Smart City

New technologies and energy management could soon lead to sustainable cities.

Greening our citiesGreening our cities

Solutions to halving energy consumption, costs and greenhouse emissions in cities may be on the horizon, as long as partners find suitable ways to cooperate.

Low energy district renovationLow energy district renovation

Renovations of entire districts, designed to reach near zero energy consumption, need to be replicable if they are to be widely adopted

Rubén García: how to refurbish urban residential low energy districtsRubén García: how to refurbish urban residential low energy districts

Three cases studies will constitute the basis for developing an easily replicable strategy for renovating districts so that they reach near zero energy consumption

Turning a building green is a question of controlTurning a building green is a question of control

Managing the building’s different energy processes is key to ensure higher energy efficiency and users’ comfort

The big picture is the greener pictureThe big picture is the greener picture

Life cycle analysis is a tool to evaluate the environmental impact over the life time of buildings