Sustainable, inclusive, affordable and beautiful solutions for thermal comfort in buildings

¿De qué trata esta convocatoria?

The topic funds the development and demonstration of affordable, low-carbon solutions for thermal comfort in buildings, drawing on vernacular design, nature-based solutions, bioclimatic design or frugal innovation.

¿Qué financia esta convocatoria?

Scope

The topic belongs to the call "Beautiful, inclusive and sustainable neighbourhoods for communities". Keeping buildings comfortable often relies on energy-intensive solutions such as air conditioning, which emits greenhouse gases, costs money and adds to urban heat islands, affecting vulnerable groups such as older people and low-income households. The topic funds beautiful, sustainable and affordable alternatives inspired by vernacular principles, nature-based solutions, bioclimatic design and/or frugal innovation.

What proposals are expected to do

• Develop and demonstrate at least two such solutions for thermal comfort in buildings.
• Demonstrate them on new and/or existing buildings, including at least one cultural heritage building, in at least two different climatic zones in different Member States and/or Associated Countries.
• Evaluate reductions in life cycle greenhouse gas emissions and costs, and gains in affordability, compared with solutions now on the market.
• Ensure the solutions are accessible to vulnerable groups and aesthetically appealing.
• Identify barriers to implementation, scale-up and replication, including regulation, and give recommendations to overcome them.

Expected outcomes

• Much greater awareness among construction actors of solutions inspired by vernacular knowledge, nature-based solutions, bioclimatic design and/or frugal innovation.
• Thermal comfort achieved with significantly lower life cycle energy use, emissions and costs than dominant market solutions.

Approach

Projects are expected to be participatory and transdisciplinary and to explore synergies with related initiatives such as the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change. Activities are expected to reach TRL 5 to 7 by the end of the project. At least 0.8% of the budget is expected to go to engagement with the New European Bauhaus hub for results and impact.

¿Cuándo termina el plazo?

1 de diciembre de 2026 (25 días)

1 December 2026.