Project Proposal: Affordable Zero Energy Buildings (A-ZEB) This project aims to achieve significant construction and lifecycle cost reductions of new NZEB’s through integral process optimization in all construction phases. The main objectives are: a) To develop a methodology for cost reduction in synergy with better energy/ grid-interaction/comfort/environmental performances of new NZEB’s for the European climate zones with a framework of tested strategies and technologies from which designers, builders and urban planners may combine the best for their context. b) To disseminate the gained and consolidated knowledge and experience as market-ready solutions to the widest possible EU audience and this way inspire stakeholders to take up new NZEB’s with RES concepts and implement the cost-effective solutions. c) To facilitate frontrunners and innovators, from policy-makers to progressive contractors, to help transform the building sector into a sustainable industry, with ready-to-use material and strategies to influence their target groups. Optimizing construction processes to fully integrate available solutions (in the areas of process, technology, contracting) is seen as the largest potential in lifecycle cost reduction and is at the core of the project. A-ZEB proposes to create a common methodology on this. The main steps are: - Evaluate available experience and solutions - Create a common methodology for cost reduction - Apply the methodology to demonstration projects - Finalise the methodology including lessons learned - Disseminate the results The project will pave the way for the process and organizational innovation in construction, to enable significant cost-reduction and solid market acceptance of NZEB’s.

Built2Spec brings together a new and breakthrough set of technological advances for self-inspection and quality assurance that will be put into the hands of construction stakeholders to help meeting EU energy efficiency targets, new build standards, and related policy ambitions. B2S will expand upon a cloud based construction support platform, conceived following the most advanced integrated design and delivery framework for the building sector and hosting applications that facilitate worksite activities and quality compliance by putting knowledge in hands of contractors, in the form of shared design specifications and 3D models, installation guidelines, information on regulatory frameworks, and help from construction experts on smartphones and tablets. New self-inspection technologies managed within the platform and developed in the project include: • Special IR camera in smartphones coupled with new mathematical “reverse” models for on-the-fly analysis of existing buildings envelope thermal properties • Rapid BIM modelling via instant 3D capture with smartphones, passed via the cloud to the refurbishment team back-office, allowing accurate instant energy efficiency evaluation, quality check and streamlined quotation process • Portable, innovative low pressure air tightness technique allowing testing of occupied buildings • Smart sensor-embedded construction elements (identification, structural performance, and building environment parameters) • Portable single device for Indoor Air Quality tests offering multi-gas capabilities targeting the most harmful gas pollutants • A novel lightweight portable sound source for on-site acoustic tests to regulation compliance The B2S system will be integrated into the operations of SME contractors, large construction firms, and end user clients directly within the consortium and work program activities, assuring systematic and scientific performance measures, feedback and powerful exploitation and dissemination strategies.

With the objectives of the Green Deal in mind, COSMIC aims to provide IT systems that address large-scale energy resource optimization challenges by leveraging AI and data solutions. It will foster collaboration between small and large companies to create industrial ecosystems, focused on key applications with the potential for substantial and escalable impact. COSMIC´s ecosystems are composed by 1) large-industries - facilitating big datasets and large-scale pilots, 2) core technical partners - providing transversal-to-sector technical solutions, 3) SMEs and start-ups – bringing specific data/AI based assets through open calls. The project will offer a set of data/AI based platforms, solutions and modules as transversal core infrastructures able to accommodate external IT assets. Third Parties, mainly SMEs and start-ups, will bring these assets in the form of data/AI based services and solutions, that are specific-to an energy resources optimization key applications. The integration of these core and application-oriented technologies will result in a set of Integrated AI Systems (IAIS) for Key Energy Resource Optimization Applications capable to scale-up to cover more key applications. COSMIC will test these systems in 14 large-scale pilots in 5 countries: Spain, Belgium, Portugal, France and Finland, and at European level, together with the validation of end-user and final beneficiaries' acceptance of social-science methods. To foster replicability, a package will be offer including the lessons learned and recommendations for future adoption, including suggestions for feasible win-win industrial partnerships, and guidance on ecosystems sustainability. These ambitious objectives will be realized by a consortium of experienced and highly complementary partners from both research institutions, industrial partners, public authorities and NGOs from eight European countries.