Blog posts

One of the biggest challenges of HVAC systems is that heating or cooling energy needs to be generated on demand when the need occurs. HeatTank Thermal Battery system, developed by HeatVentors, is a solution to produce heating or cooling energy when it is the most efficient, when it is the cheapest, or when waste heat …

Flexible cooling & heating solution deployed in two sites for greater energy efficiency Read More »

The Pestszentimrei Zöld Liget Kindergarten is one of StepUP project pilots, aiming at demonstrating the viability of plug & play technologies for deep renovation. After a first renovation phase to ensure a thermal insulation of the facade and the roof, the works continued to renew the heating system, actively contributing to reduce the building’s energy …

Renewal of Zöld Liget Kindergarten’s Heating System Read More »

In the realm of prefabricated and sustainable construction and building renovation, the StepUP project has emerged as a pioneering initiative. The Spanish Pilot, undertaken by ACR, has faced numerous challenges while working towards demonstrating innovative technologies. This article explores the journey, setbacks, and successful outcomes of the Spanish Pilot within the StepUP framework. Initial ambitions …

Demonstrating StepUP Technology in Spain: overcoming challenges and embracing innovation Read More »

One of the main purposes of the Plug & Play Active System is to offer a cost-effective and time-saving solution for deep renovation compared to existing methods. Additionally, this solution ensures a high level of energy efficiency. Designed to be implemented in both existing and new buildings, it accelerates the transformation toward decarbonizing the current …

How can HeatTank thermal battery be integrated into existing heating & cooling systems to maximize energy saving? Read More »

The construction industry is constantly evolving, seeking solutions that not only ensure efficiency and effectiveness, but that are also sustainable and environmentally friendly. In this context, sandwich panels emerge as an innovative solution that offers considerable benefits in terms of thermal insulation while contributing significantly to the thermal comfort of buildings. This article explores the …

Thermal insulation properties of sandwich panels and improved thermal comfort Read More »

Introduction to the construction revolution: dry construction and off-site technologies The construction industry is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by the adoption of innovative methods such as dry construction and off-site technologies. These practices not only accelerate construction processes but also promote sustainability and energy efficiency. Let’s find out together how they are redefining the …

Building the future: the impact of new technologies on off-site construction Read More »

Energy Services Companies or ESCOs have been involved in designing and implementing efficiency measures in buildings since the eighties in North America, and the mid-nineties in Europe. Using Energy Performance Contracts (EPC) as the model to deliver guaranteed energy savings to building owners in the public and private sectors, they have been quite successful in …

Why ESCOs should partner with StepUP Read More »

The Municipality of the 18th District of Budapest Capital participates in the StepUP project as a demonstration site to integrate the technologies developed in the project in a public building in need of energy modernization, as well as test their effectiveness. Out of the entire public building stock, the Zöld Liget Kindergarten in Pestszentimre met all …

The renovation Zöld Liget Kindergarten, in the first phase of the StepUP project – step by step Read More »

As part of the EU Horizon 2020 funded project, StepUP, project coordinator IES has created a large scale district model encompassing 114 buildings within the Municipality of the 18th District of Budapest, providing a powerful decision-making tool to evaluate and inform an energy renovation roadmap for the area’s buildings. The aim of this study was to …

District Level Energy Modelling of Budapest’s 18th Municipality Read More »

When building owners engage into an energy renovation of their building based on the StepUP renovation methodology, they engage in new technologies and solutions making their building renovation more attractive and affordable. StepUp achieves this by using continuous feedback loops and promoting an iterative deep energy renovation approach, based on data insights, which minimises performance …

Can smarter Energy Performance Contracting (EPC) enhance the case for the StepUP renovation methodology? Read More »

Development and Testing Plug & Play technologies The StepUP project develops technologies for deep renovation with the aim of minimizing the performance gap and optimizing investments, whilst scaling up promising technologies solutions to Plug & Play (P&P) building-level applications. Plug&Play Solutions Development The market of deep renovation technologies today offers a variety of established and …

Development and Testing Plug & Play technologies Read More »

EU Pilot Sites show how Digital Twins can support building retrofits As coordinator of the EU Horizon 2020 project, StepUP, IES are helping to develop affordable solutions aimed at transforming the energy renovation market and making the decarbonisation of existing buildings a reliable, attractive and sustainable investment. To support these objectives, IES have been applying …

EU Pilot Sites show how Digital Twins can support building retrofits Read More »

Open Innovation concept – The TPC lesson for StepUP “Open Innovation is a noble principle, but in real life it is a utopia”. This could be a common reaction to the Open Innovation concept, especially in conservative environment such as the construction industry. But what is exactly “Open Innovation”?  The definition was given for the …

Open Innovation concept – The TPC lesson for StepUP Read More »

Lean Metholodology for building renovation projects Encouraged by the situation in recent years, the construction sector is undergoing a series of changes aimed at bringing its activity equal to the productivity levels of other industrial sectors. As can be seen in the following Figure 1 (the figure shows the productivity data of the construction sector …

Lean Metholodology for building renovation projects Read More »

Reduce Time on site (and other benefits) of using a prefabricated façades StepUP’s new renovation methodology employs a Plug&Play industrialised preassembled and prefabricated façades module to reduce energy building demand. The solution aims to reduce time-on-site and intervention costs while minimising the disruption in residents and users’ life and installation errors. Industrialisation and its benefits …

Reduce Time on site (and other benefits) of using a prefabricated façades Read More »

Why should you choose a ventilated façade for your building? The ventilated façade is the solution when the external wall of a building needs to be renovated. Choosing a ventilated façade means fostering a green sustainable approach to the designing and realization of pre-fabricated buildings, where providing energy efficiency is possible. The ventilated façade can …

Why should you choose a ventilated façade for your building? Read More »

TPC definition and added value for companies Could you imagine a market scenario where complementary technologies enrich a single product, relying on an open and accessible protocol? This is actually one of the main challenges that the StepUP project is pursuing. But let’s take it one step at a time. The StepUP project accounts among …

TPC definition and added value for companies Read More »

Using Digital Twins to Optimise Renovations and Drive Zero-Carbon Why Renovate? To reach ambitious zero-carbon targets that are set for 2050, we must start by improving the energy efficiency of existing buildings. Why? Because there are so many buildings already built that are wasting energy. It seems simple on paper. But why then are renovation …

Using Digital Twins to Optimise Renovations and Drive Zero-Carbon Read More »

Beyond energy cost savings for a more attractive deep renovation of buildings’ stock What is the main benefit, which firstly comes to mind, when thinking of energy renovations?   In the traditional approach, building owners or developers base their decision making on the expected energy-related cost savings: this argument has been the focal point in the …

Beyond energy cost savings for a more attractive deep renovation of buildings’ stock Read More »