Mapping culture and climatic energy drivers: A new visual library to achieve successful Plus Energy Building design

Mapping culture and climatic energy drivers: A new visual library to achieve successful Plus Energy Building design

A new online GIS tool is helping designers, researchers and policymakers to understand how different European climates and cultures can influence energy demand in buildings.

Researchers from RMIT University, Eurac Research and University Ca’ Foscari Venezia have launched an innovative GIS map with a difference: The European Climate and Cultural Atlas for Plus Energy Building Design – the 2CAP-Energy Atlas.

The Atlas has been developed as part of the Cultural-E project which is funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme.

The research focuses on Plus Energy Buildings (PEBs) – those which produce a surplus of energy thanks to renewable sources – and aims to show how culture and climate can influence the type and intensity of energy practices.

Now the project team is inviting feedback from the PEB community on the beta version of the Atlas.

The new platform, which combines expertise from the social sciences and building engineering, is expected to deliver insights to help building professionals to achieve more successful PEB design.

By combining knowledge from case studies, relevant building policy and real designer experiences, the team has created an interactive, layered GIS map of Europe to assist building professionals using real data from occupied buildings and Cultural-E’s demo sites.

•
12 May 2021

Share

To develop the Atlas, the researchers also interviewed PEB building designers in four different European Union climatic areas.

 “Through these discussions we collected valuable experiences and insights into PEB practices and identified some of the challenges to achieving a successful PEB design,” said RMIT Europe researcher Iván Luque Segura.

“Interestingly, the designers also revealed how cultural habits, such as showering, laundry or cooking practices, socio-economic factors and different climates can impact upon a building’s energy balance.”

The Atlas combines this first-hand knowledge with scientific data through analytical maps, data layers and interactive graphics – allowing the user to cross-reference and compare different content and parameters, such as climate patterns and cultural behaviours.

“You might expect less of an energy demand for household cooling in the milder parts of Europe, but in this aspect, we can see through the maps that there is actually an upward trend,” said Luque Segura.

“This could be a reflection on what people in northern or central Europe perceive to be a comfortable indoor environment – this kind of insight can influence changes in building design to avoid overheating, for example, and therefore the need to waste energy.”

Available for free (under registration), the online tool is expected to see market uptake by 2030 and impact upon future building design.

“We hope the Atlas becomes a useful guide for the PEB community by providing resources to allow designers to integrate household and practice diversity to come up with different sets of conditions according to specific profiles,” said Professor Ralph Horne from RMIT University’s College of Design and Social Context.

The PEB community is invited to visit the Atlas website to experience the tool first-hand and provide their valuable feedback to the Cultural-E research team to support the continuous development of the initiative.  

Cultural-E Atlas

More information about the project can be found on the Cultural-E website.

Cultural-E is coordinated by Eurac Research, a research centre headquartered in Bozen, Italy. The consortium includes 17 participants, such as local authorities, SMEs, technology providers, designers, European universities, construction companies and European umbrella associations.

Project contact: Marco Bailo, marco.bailo@eurac.edu

Cultural-E media contact: Veronika Schröpfer, veronika.schropfer@ace-cae.eu

The Cultural-E project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement Number 870072. This article reflects only the author's view and the Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains.

12 May 2021

Share

  • RMIT Europe
Engage

Related News

rental-crisis-ea-1220px.jpg

New report proposes using tax system to improve rental properties

A new report from RMIT University urban policy experts recommends using Australia’s tax system to force investors to improve conditions for private renters.

dream-plan-thumbnail.jpg

European COFUND to convert ideas into actions to tackle global climate-related challenges 

The DREAM+PLAN program will spearhead a new community of visionary changemakers across Europe and Australia. 

news-healthy-food-1220px.jpg

Low-carb, high-fat diets boost diabetes risk

A comprehensive study of 40,000 Australians over 17 years found low-carbohydrate, high-fat diets increased a person's chances of developing diabetes by 20%.

auspire-group-thumbnail.jpg

RMIT University set to lead ambitious €7.2 million Australia-Spain postdoctoral training network

RMIT has announced that the €7.2 million (AU$11.9 million) Australia-Spain Network for Innovation and Research Excellence (AuSpire) has been approved for funding by the European Commission.

Show more
aboriginal flag
torres strait flag

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

More information