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Check the real-life performance of our selected buildings:

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Find out more on the POWER HOUSE nearly-Zero Energy TaskForces:

Warm/Mediterranean
Cold/Continental
Divided/Individual
Financing

Why is the POWER HOUSE nZE Challenge key in helping Public, Cooperative and Social Housing providers in their path towards a fair energy transition?

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POWER HOUSE nZEC is an initiative coordinated by HOUSING EUROPE:

Established in 1988, Housing Europe is the European Federation of Public, Cooperative & Social Housing - a network of 42 national and regional federations which together gather about 41.400 public replica watches, social and cooperative housing providers in 18 countries. Altogether they manage over 25 million homes, about 12% of existing dwellings in the EU.

Social, public and co-operative housing providers have a vision of a Europe which provides access to decent and affordable housing for all in communities which are socially, economically and environmentally sustainable and where everyone is enabled to reach their full potential.

POWER HOUSE nZEC is partner of:

The BUILD UP initiative is designed to promote existing knowledge, guidelines, tools and best practices for energy-saving measures in buildings across Europe. At the same time, it informs and updates the market about the legislative framework in terms of goals, practical implications and future revisions.

The Covenant of Mayors is the mainstream European movement involving local and regional authorities, voluntarily committing to increasing energy efficiency and use of renewable energy sources on their territories. By their commitment, Covenant signatories aim to meet and exceed the European Union 20% CO2 reduction objective by 2020.

Join the POWER HOUSE nearly Zero Energy Challenge initiative!

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Key Documents:

1. June 2015

POWER HOUSE nearly Zero Energy Challenge Final Report

2015 might be a key year for the success or failure of EU Climate and Energy policies. The initiatives proposed within the framework of the Energy Union and the UN Climate Conference in Paris will decide the direction the EU will take regarding climate and the environment. The findings of the POWER HOUSE nearly-Zero Energy Challenge initiative could not be more timely.

This three-year initiative run by Housing Europe has come to an end and has produced solid policy-relevant findings. It aimed to boost the number of nearly-Zero Energy homes across the continent by sharing ideas and expertise between Public, Cooperative and Social Housing professionals and has provided a great opportunity for housing providers to share learnings, gather accurate performance data and make progress on energy efficiency throughout Europe.


Please click here to download the "POWER HOUSE nearly Zero Energy Challenge Final Report".

26. February 2013

The Fair Energy Transition towards nearly-Zero Energy Buildings

Public, Cooperative and Social Housing providers in Europe own and manage 12% of the housing stock. The POWER HOUSE nearly-Zero Energy Challenge initiative led by Housing Europe seeks to build capacity and confidence amongst these providers ahead of the requirement set by the EU directives.

The report introduces the nearly-Zero Energy Challenge and describes the important role that Public, Cooperative and Social Housing operators can play in delivering nZEB, clarifying also what they mean by a ‘fair energy transition’. It also addresses the issues at stake and barriers in developing nearly-Zero Energy Buildings previously identified through a need analysis carried out at European level. To conclude, the report proposes some recommendations for actions and illustrates some best policy and practice examples from all across the EU.


Please click here to download the "Fair Energy Transition towards nearly-Zero Energy Buildings Progress Report".

22. January 2014

Exemplary Financing Models from across the European Union

Although many Member States now have in place - or are working towards nearly-Zero Energy definitions - which will be incorporated into building requirements for new constructions, a large proportion of the housing stock which will be used in 2050 is already built. For this reason, there is a need to identify sustainable and accessible funding sources and innovative schemes in order to drive low-energy refurbishment programmes for these buildings as well.

This report considers where the Public, Cooperative and Social Housing sector stands in terms of financing energy efficiency in buildings and what the next steps are in moving towards the final required target. This process also includes the examination of ten different financial models currently being used by various member states, taken from a cross section of housing types and tenures, and with consideration of the benefits and limitations of each one.


Please click here to download the "Exemplary Financing Models from across the European Union Report".

30. January 2013

Overview on Status, Cost Optimality and Key Conditions for nZEB

Bringing together technical and economic feasibility while securing affordable housing is key to a 'fair energy transition' towards nearly-Zero Energy Buildings. This report provides an insight on the status of nZEB within the Countries involved in the POWER HOUSE nearly-Zero Energy Challenge initiative and describes favorable conditions for bringing nearly-Zero Energy standards into practice.

A chapter is also dedicated to the concept of cost-optimality; particularly, the issue of calculated energy demand and costs vs. measured energy consumption data and actual running costs was analysed and tested for the case of Austria, based on both theoretical calculation and actual  data collected from a broad sample of buildings. The conclusions of this report, from both the descriptive and the analytical part, are formulated as key challenges on the way to nearly-Zero Energy Buildings.


Please click here to download the "nZEB Overview: Status, Cost Optimality and Key Conditions for nZEB".

Case Studies of the Week:

nZEC - New construction of 8 dwellings in Via Nuova, Montelupo Fiorentino, Italy (UNDER MONITORING)

Name of organisation: Publicasa s.p.a.

Location: Montelupo Fiorentino, Italy

Type of Project: construction

Scale: individual buildings

Number of units/dwellings: 8

nZEC - New construction of 354 dwellings in General Eccher Strasse, Innsbruck, Austria (UNDER MONITORING)

Name of organisation: NHT - Neue Heimat Tirol

Location: Innsbruck, Austria

Type of Project: construction

Scale: group of buildings

Number of units/dwellings: 354

nZEC - Energy refurbishment of 38 dwellings in Via dei Querci, Firenze, Italy (UNDER MONITORING)

Name of organisation: Unica Soc. Coop. Firenze

Location: Firenze, Italy

Type of Project: refurbishment

Scale: individual buildings

Number of units/dwellings: 38