e-SAFE: energy and seismic affordable renovation solutions for the decarbonisation and seismic safety of the EU building stock

This paper aims at showing the concept, the scope and the main challenges of the four-year innovation project e-SAFE, started in October 2020 and funded by the EU in the framework of the H2020 Programme. e-SAFE aims to develop a new deep renovation system for non-historical reinforced concrete (RC) framed buildings, which combines energy efficiency and anti-seismic retrofitting actions with a series of further advantages including affordability, improved architectural image and reduced implementation time, costs and occupants’ disruption. The proposed envelope solutions include plug-and-play modules made of a timber-framed structure combined with local bio-based recyclable or recycled insulating materials, and prefabricated Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) boards equipped with seismic energy dissipation devices. Thermal systems will include air-to-water heat pumps assisted by storage tanks to maximize PV self-consumption rate. e-SAFE will also address strategies to activate new value chains to boost the deep renovation market throughout Europe, including financial and social aspects. The paper will also present some preliminary results about the expected energy and carbon reduction ensured by the e-SAFE solutions.