An app for energy-efficient renovations of buildings

Sustainable use of energy is one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century. Fossil fuel supplies are shrinking, delivery can be unreliable, cost is unpredictable and climate change threatens to pass the point of no return. A new app for smartphones under development with EU support of the 'Energising the building sector!' (ENBUS) project will make it easy for the end-user when renovating their houses to evaluate options.

The project's main goal is to encourage awareness about and motivation to adopt energy-efficient building systems supported by better information and easy-to-use tools. The freely available app enables comparison of potential energy savings for four different product groups: windows, insulation, ventilation and heating.

In addition, the app provides detailed guidelines and considerations when renovating as well as explanations of search parameters under each product category. Those without a smartphone can take advantage of the interactive web version.

The beta version of the app prototype was presented during the match-making event at the Ecobuild 2014 conference. Ecobuild is one of the largest international events for sustainable design and construction of new and refurbished buildings. The critical business model for the app has been developed to ensure businesses and companies will want to use it to present and update their products.

Although the project's app is focused on homeowners, it provides the impetus for small and medium-sized enterprises in the construction sector to update and include their product portfolios so as to tap into a growing market. To help that happen, researchers have developed innovative business and financing models to stimulate greener construction.

Apps have become the modus operandi for most people with a smartphone, and ENBUS plans to use this powerful platform to recruit energy-conscious homeowners for energy-saving remodelling decisions. Homeowners are the tip of the iceberg. Getting the project's concepts off the ground through a well-focused and targeted campaign will pave the way to similar technology for commercial buildings and new constructions. Decision support will soon be at the fingertips of construction managers on rooftops and building sites worldwide.