ECO-HOUSING EUROPE (ECO-HOME)

Type: Innovation Action (IA)
Duration: 36 months • TRL: 5→7/8 (pilot demonstration)
Acronym: ECO-HOME
Coordinator (indicative): Njord Construction Guide (NO) – sustainable construction & BIM, quality/risk methods, TEK17 alignment.
Indicative pilots: Stavanger region (coastal/cold-wet), Oslo region (continental).
Policy alignment: EPBD recast (EU/2024/1275) incl. whole-life-cycle GWP disclosure roadmap (2027), ≥1000 m² new buildings disclosure by 2028, all new buildings by 2030; Member State limit-value roadmap by 2027.EnergyWLC EPBD GuidanceWorld Green Building Council
Frameworks: Level(s) indicators; EN 15978 whole-building LCA; DNSH. Green Forumsusproc.jrc.ec.europa.euiTeh StandardsEuropean Commission

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1. Excellence

1.1 Objectives

ECO-HOME will design, industrialise and pilot replicable eco-housing typologies that:

• Cut whole-life-cycle GWP ≥ 55% vs. 2020 baseline (EN 15978; Level(s) Indicators 1.1/1.2). iTeh Standardssusproc.jrc.ec.europa.eu
• Achieve Zero-Emission Building (ZEB-ready) operational performance aligned with EPBD recast trajectories. Energy
• Use ≥60% bio-based/recycled content by mass in superstructure/envelope (timber, bio-composites, low-carbon binders).
• Reduce time-to-build by 30% via off-site/modular methods; CAPEX parity (±5%) through design-for-manufacture.
• Ensure health & comfort: daylight, acoustic, thermal & VOC targets aligned with Level(s) Indicators 4.x. Green Forum
• Deliver digital building passports and BIM-LCA datasets enabling EPBD WLC disclosure in EPCs. ecostandard.org

1.2 Relation to the work programme

The project fits typical Cluster 5 ambitions on energy-efficient, climate-neutral buildings and New European Bauhaus values (sustainability, aesthetics, inclusion), demonstrating scalable, affordable eco-housing across climates while operationalising EPBD 2024 whole-life carbon provisions. Energy

1.3 Concept & Methodology

• Design logic: Level(s) as the umbrella performance language; EN 15978 for LCA at concept → detailed → as-built; EPD-based assemblies. susproc.jrc.ec.europa.euiTeh Standards
• Materials & systems: engineered timber; bio-based composites; low-carbon concrete/geopolymer elements; dry, reversible joints; mechanical fixings for reuse; heat-pump-ready HVAC; PV-ready envelopes.
• Digital: BIM-LCA pipelines; parametric design to optimise embodied/operational carbon; prefabrication detailing; building passports linked to LCA & circularity data.
• Users & co-creation: participatory design with housing co-ops/municipalities; behaviourally informed interfaces for low-energy living.
• Compliance: Norwegian pilots align with TEK17; adaptive reuse cases apply NS 3424 condition analysis to grade components and set scope (tasking, registration, assessment, reporting).
• Regulatory horizon: EPBD WLC disclosure integration into EPC workflows; Member-State roadmaps & limit values considered in design envelopes. Energy

1.4 Ambition

• Innovation in structure & skin: hybrid CLT-bio-composite façade cassettes; demountable low-carbon slabs; moisture-safe envelope for Nordic climates.
• Industrialisation: DfMA kit-of-parts; digital QA; takt planning; design-for-disassembly (DfD).
• Data & policy innovation: open methodologies to compute and disclose WLC GWP per EPBD Annex III, creating replicable national workflows. ecostandard.org

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2. Impact

2.1 Expected outcomes & impacts (selected)

• Policy uptake: Practical workflows and datasets to meet EPBD WLC disclosure from 2028/2030; guidance for limit-value roadmaps (2027). WLC EPBD Guidance
• Climate: ≥ 55% WLC GWP reduction per dwelling; validated by third-party EN 15978 assessments. iTeh Standards
• Market: Cost-neutral eco-housing typologies enabling rapid municipal deployment; supply-chain playbooks for SMEs.
• Societal: Enhanced comfort/health; co-creation with residents; NEB-quality architecture.

2.2 Measures to maximise impact

D&E (Dissemination & Exploitation):

• Standardisation alignment: Level(s) indicators; EN 15978; contribute to national EPBD WLC methods; support EPC WLC disclosure. susproc.jrc.ec.europa.euiTeh Standardsecostandard.org
• IPR & licensing: Shared reference designs (CC BY-NC) + licensed industrial details for manufacturing partners.
• Target audiences: municipalities, housing co-ops, prefab OEMs, financiers; policy makers implementing EPBD.

Communication:

• NEB-style exhibitions; open dashboards of LCA/energy; on-site open days; multilingual playbooks.

Open Science & DMP: FAIR data, open LCA models, anonymised sensor data; DMP delivered M6 and maintained (HE requirement). cbe.europa.eu

DNSH compliance: Design choices screened against the six environmental objectives; no significant harm substantiated via LCA, water/stormwater plans, circularity KPIs and biodiversity-positive landscape design. European Commission

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3. Implementation

3.1 Work plan (overview)

WP	Title	Lead	Months	Key tasks	Key deliverables
WP1	Project management, ethics & quality	Coordinator	1–36	Governance, GA, risk, ethics, QA; periodic reports	D1.1 PM² plan (M2); D1.2 Data Mgmt Plan (M6, updates)
WP2	Policy & performance framework	Univ./Institute	1–12	Translate EPBD WLC & Level(s) to project KPIs; national method mapping; DNSH plan	D2.1 KPI handbook (M4); D2.2 DNSH dossier (M8) Energysusproc.jrc.ec.europa.eu
WP3	Materials & components	Industry	1–18	Timber/bio-composite façade cassettes; low-carbon slab system; moisture-robust details	D3.x component specs & EPD-ready datasets (M12–18)
WP4	DfMA system & digital twin	AEC tech SME	4–22	Parametric kit-of-parts; BIM-LCA automation; building passports	D4.2 BIM-LCA pipeline & passport schema (M16)
WP5	Pilot design & permitting	Architect (NO)	6–18	Two pilots (Stavanger/Oslo); TEK17, universal design, fire, acoustics; EPC plan including WLC disclosure	D5.1 Permitted designs (M18)
WP6	Construction & commissioning	Contractor	14–30	Off-site manufacture; assembly; commissioning; as-built LCA per EN 15978	D6.2 As-built LCA+cost reports (M30) iTeh Standards
WP7	Monitoring, POE & LCA/LCC	Research	20–36	Energy/IAQ/comfort; WLC updates; Level(s) reporting; circularity audit	D7.1 POE & Level(s) report (M34) Green Forum
WP8	Market uptake & exploitation	Cluster org.	10–36	Business models, finance toolkits, policy briefs; standardisation inputs	D8.3 EPBD WLC policy brief (M24); D8.4 Market playbook (M36) World Green Building Council

Milestones: MS1 governance set (M2); MS2 KPI framework agreed (M6); MS3 pilot permits (M18); MS4 buildings commissioned (M28); MS5 POE complete (M34).

3.2 Management structure, risks & quality

• Governance: GA, Exec Board, WP leads, External Advisory (municipality, EPC authority, manufacturing).
• Quality: Stage-gated reviews; BIM model checks; independent LCA review.
• Key risks (examples): supply chain (mitigate via multi-sourcing); permitting delays (early authority engagement); cost parity risk (value engineering); moisture performance (hygrothermal modelling + site QA).

Condition & reuse (adaptive cases): Scope-of-work set by NS 3424 phases—defining task, planning, registration, assessment, reporting—supporting objective reuse decisions.

3.3 Consortium (indicative roles)

• Njord Construction Guide (NO) – coordination, BIM/QA, risk & quality systems; Nordic craftsmanship & TEK17 practice.
• SustainArc (NO) – sustainable architecture, community co-creation, operations from concept to post-occupancy.
• Elevation Designs (EU partner) – design for manufacturability & immersive client visualisation.
• Taksdal BT (NO) – engineering, project control, webinars & SME dissemination.
• University/Institute (TBD) – EPBD/Level(s) methods, LCA/LCC, POE.
• Prefab OEM (TBD) – manufacturing & logistics.
• Municipal housing co-op (TBD) – pilot sites & replication.

3.4 Resources & budget (indicative)

• Total: €9.6 M; ~1,200 PM
• WP shares: WP1 8%, WP2 7%, WP3 18%, WP4 14%, WP5 16%, WP6 22%, WP7 9%, WP8 6%.
• Major cost drivers: pilots (materials, off-site fabrication), monitoring, LCA reviews, dissemination.

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Cross-cutting & mandatory aspects

Open Science & DMP

All peer-reviewed results OA; underlying data FAIR with controlled access; DMP delivered and updated per HE rules. cbe.europa.eu

Ethics & Security

• Ethics: user data (POE) anonymised; consent & DPIA where needed.
• Security: site H&S; cybersecurity of digital twin (role-based access, audit logs).

Gender Equality, Inclusion & NEB

Gender-balanced governance; inclusive co-design; NEB quality criteria applied to pilots.

DNSH (screening summary)

• Climate mitigation: EN 15978 LCA at design/as-built; EPBD-aligned operational performance. iTeh StandardsEnergy
• Water & circularity: Water-sensitive urban design; disassemblable assemblies; reuse targets & take-back schemes.
• Pollution & ecosystems: Low-toxicity materials; site biodiversity net-gain planting and soil care.
  Documentation compiled in D2.2 DNSH Dossier. European Commission

Standardisation & policy interface

• Contribute use-cases to Level(s) community and national EPBD WLC methods; support EPC disclosure workflows and Member-State GWP roadmaps/limits. Green ForumWLC EPBD Guidance

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Key KPIs (by project end)

• WLC GWP: ≥ 55% reduction vs. 2020 baseline (kgCO₂e/m², EN 15978 A1–A5, B4, C, D). iTeh Standards
• Operational energy: ≤ 35 kWh/m²·yr (space heat/cool; climate-adjusted).
• Bio-based/recycled content: ≥ 60% structural/envelope mass.
• Assembly time: −30% vs. conventional build.
• Cost: CAPEX parity (±5%); LCC −10% at 30 years.
• Health/comfort: Level(s) 4.x targets met (IAQ, acoustics, thermal). Green Forum
• Policy readiness: Validated EPC-WLC disclosure package for pilots (as-built), aligned with EPBD Annex III. ecostandard.org

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Draft Deliverables (examples)

• D2.1 KPI & Compliance Handbook (EPBD/Level(s)/DNSH), M4. Energysusproc.jrc.ec.europa.euEuropean Commission
• D3.x Component TDS & EPD-ready datasets, M12-18.
• D4.2 BIM-LCA Pipeline & Building Passport Schema, M16.
• D5.1 Permitted Pilot Designs & EPC-WLC plan, M18. ecostandard.org
• D6.2 As-built LCA Reports (EN 15978), M30. iTeh Standards
• D7.1 Post-Occupancy & Level(s) Report, M34. Green Forum
• D8.3 Policy Brief – EPBD WLC implementation, M24. World Green Building Council

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Two pilot typologies (indicative)

1. Compact family rowhouse (NO-coastal): 3 storeys; hybrid CLT + bio-composite façade cassettes; heat pump + balanced MVHR; rooftop PV.
2. Adaptive reuse micro-apartments (NO-urban): NS 3424-guided component reuse plan; dry interiors; circular kitchens/baths; shared amenities.

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Why this consortium

• Execution strength (construction/BIM/QA): Njord Construction Guide brings robust QA, risk, BIM and client handling.
• Design leadership (sustainability & community): SustainArc’s mission-driven sustainable architecture and community engagement processes.
• Engineering & SME diffusion: Taksdal BT spreads know-how via webinars/workshops; connects to Norwegian AEC SMEs.

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