Initiatives are multiplying in Luxembourg to successfully face energy challenges and positively respond to the EU directives, notably in the construction sector. Innovative materials, but also new techniques and technologies are developed, offering unprecedented perspectives. Refurbishment techniques are also a key part of this transformation of the sector, involving often revolutionary approaches.
In this context, Neobuild - the Luxembourgish technological innovation cluster for sustainable construction, and the Fonds du Logement (FdL) - responsible for the development of social housing, are both involved as Partners in an ambitious project funded by the EU (Interreg North West Europe - NWE), called E=0. The project, managed by Stroomversnelling (Netherlands) is based on the successful Energiesprong program (literally energy leap) in the Netherlands, delivering net-zero energy (E=0) retrofits with a minimum 30-year performance warranty.
Several pilots will be developed to demonstrate the feasibility of such an endeavor in different North-West Europe countries with a transnational collaboration.
At the Luxembourgish level, the choice has been made to focus not only on new materials but also on the most recent techniques and the latest technologies: the integration of BIM - Building Information Modeling - in the process of planning and construction is a good example of this approach.
To improve team coordination and optimize construction costs, BIM will be used to develop digital models of the Luxembourgish refurbishment pilot. Using innovation as a guideline, all solutions, ranging from the most ambitious to the ones offering the best price/quality ratio will be applied to reduce both time and interventions on site to limit the inhabitants’ discomfort. For instance, whenever possible, efforts will be put into standardization and prefabricated elements.
In order to achieve such an ambitious goal, the Fonds du Logement launched a public tender in order to identify an architect willing to commit to this challenge.
Many architects answered positively the call. The FdL then shortlisted some of them and performed individual interviews. All architects on the short list were committed to use modern techniques as well as innovative approaches.
The laureate has now been chosen and final negotiations are taking part to push even more towards a circular economy approach with bio-based materials.