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Description
Provide the University of Aveiro with a methodology and respective monitoring that allows for an increase in the application of the principles of Circular Economy in the rehabilitation and maintenance of buildings. A) The preparation of a Construction and Demolition Waste Management Plan
B) The definition of an instrument to validate the application of the principles of sustainable construction and the circular economy, being a factor to consider in the decision-making and in the development of the project, from its initial phase.
The application of the project results will be tested in the definition of the specialties project of 5 buildings of the University of Aveiro. i. establish the mandatory use of materials that incorporate components from recycled materials, in a viable percentage according to the development of the state of the art;
ii. define an effective control flow for the conduction of materials from demolitions;
iii. define a guide of measures or assumptions for inclusion in the specifications of the different specialties;
iv. establish the mandatory use of circularity passports for buildings and components;
v. develop and apply environmental product claims;
vi. develop projects demonstrating the application of the European Commission''s LEVEL(S) system.
Summary of project results
The proposed operation aims to provide UA with a methodology that allows the application of the Circular Economy principles. To achieve this goal, UA has two partners: Platform for Sustainable Construction Association, managing cluster Habitat in Portugal, that provides a network of I&D institutions, municipalities and companies in the Habitat value chain; and EVRIS Foundation, an Icelandic foundation, created for the purpose of sharing Icelandic knowledge and experience with other countries. Together, this partnership should be able to provide elements that enable UA building rehabilitation and maintenance projects to consider the Construction and Demolition Waste Management Plan (PGRCD) as an innovative project and a management tool in the logic of the principles of sustainable construction and circular economy; and develop a methodology for validating the application of the principles of sustainable construction and circular economy, being a factor to consider in decision-making and project development, since Preliminary Program. The PGRCD should establish mandatory use of materials incorporating components from recycled materials, at a viable percentage as the state of the art develops, an effective flow control of the handling of demolition materials to be an integral part of new material transformation and manufacturing processes, a guide of measures or assumptions for inclusion in specifications of the different specialties, round passports for buildings and components, development and application of environmental product declarations, demonstration projects for the implementation of the EC’s LEVEL (S) system.
New knowledge acquisition and development
Definition of sustainable building solutions
Demonstrator development
Communication Plan
The project included the development of a tool to achieve sustainability and certify the demand for sustainable products in the built environment (buildings, urban areas, projects, materials and products) from the design phase to the operation phase. This EcoDesign tool has been converted to BIM, making it more user-friendly for engineers and architects, in order to promote its use. This use of BIM was not initially foreseen in the project.
The construction of the pilot was not foreseen in the project or its budget, which only includes specialty projects. The construction of the pilot building was to be supported by the University of Aveiro and was not carried out in time due to the lack of candidates for the open public competition for this purpose.
The EcoDesign tool was converted to BIM, making it more user-friendly for engineers and architects, in order to promote its use.
The Pilot project (ZTC) was independently evaluated by LiderA and obtained an A+ grade in Sustainability, which means that the ZTC project represents a potential improvement in Environmental Performance of 75%.
The project contributed with 3 innovative solutions, namely the EcoDesign Tool, the material circularity passport and the RCD Management Plan. The specialized projects and specifications for public contracting developed integrate these instruments, and represent an innovative process that will allow for better application of the principles of the circular economy in construction.
The project''s activities will continue beyond its execution period, namely a future project involving more than 100 University buildings on its 3 campuses, which could constitute a place of learning and demonstrator for other public and private entities. The ongoing case studies are also drivers of current and future R&D (master''s and doctoral work).
The project also had results that were not initially foreseen and that will have an impact beyond its execution period, namely the conversion of the EcoDesign tool into BIM, making it more user-friendly for engineers and architects.
Summary of bilateral results
The project had the presence of the EVRIS Foundation as an Icelandic partner entity to share Icelandic knowledge from private and public entities and independent experts to EEA Grants beneficiary countries.