The current building stock in the European Union contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption, exacerbated by poor thermal performance and structural vulnerabilities, particularly evident in earthquake-prone regions like Southern Europe and Portugal. Retrofitting presents an opportunity for integrated energy and seismic upgrades, aiming to minimize disruption, cost, and duration of works.
For Reinforced Concrete (RC) framed structures, integrating steel exoskeletons offers a solution, although challenges include conflicting requirements and increased embodied carbon. Alternatively, replacing weak masonry infill walls with Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC) blocks may improve seismic and thermal performance, but might not suffice structurally or thermally.
Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) panels provide a sustainable option with good mechanical and thermal properties, yet may require additional insulation and pose uncertainties in structural connections. Another approach involves Textile Reinforced Matrix (TRM) for seismic retrofitting, coupled with insulation, to enhance structural capacity and ductility.
While these strategies offer advantages, they also entail drawbacks, indicating the need for further research. Sustainability considerations remain underexplored, necessitating deeper reflection on the subject.
The ZeroSkin+ project improves building efficiency through improving its thermal performance, saving energy and helping the environment
Our goal was to find the best ways to use recycled plastics in the process. This way, we can make renovations more sustainable and eco-friendly
