E2VENT · Project

Smart Ventilated Façade System That Cuts Building Energy Costs by 40%

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Imagine wrapping an old building in a smart skin that breathes, generates electricity, and stores heat — like giving it a high-tech winter jacket that also powers itself. E2VENT built modular panels you bolt onto existing walls that combine insulation, solar power, heat recovery, and intelligent ventilation all in one layer. The system watches the weather forecast and automatically adjusts to use as little energy as possible. Two real buildings — one in Spain, one in Poland — were fitted with these panels to prove the concept works in different climates.

By the numbers

40%+

Energy savings target for retrofitted buildings

40%

CO2 emissions reduction target

<25 kWh/m²/year

Performance target excluding appliances

Consortium partners across 8 countries

Real-world demonstrator buildings (Spain and Poland)

SMEs in the consortium

The business problem

What needed solving

Older commercial and residential buildings across Europe waste enormous amounts of energy through poor insulation, outdated ventilation, and lack of on-site renewable generation. Traditional deep retrofits are expensive, disruptive to occupants, and require coordinating multiple separate contractors for insulation, HVAC, and solar — making building owners reluctant to invest despite rising energy costs and tightening EU regulations.

The solution

What was built

E2VENT built an integrated modular ventilated façade system combining thermal insulation, photovoltaic panels, smart heat recovery units with thermal storage, and an intelligent management system that uses weather forecasting to optimize energy use. The full system was installed and commissioned on two demonstrator buildings in Spain and Poland, with 21 deliverables documenting the development, installation, and testing process.

Audience

Who needs this

Commercial property management companies with aging building portfoliosMunicipal and social housing authorities facing EU energy mandatesFaçade construction and building envelope contractors seeking turnkey retrofit productsReal estate developers specializing in building renovation and repositioningEnergy service companies (ESCOs) offering performance-based retrofit contracts

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Commercial Real Estate & Property Management

enterprise

Target: Property management firms or building owners with aging commercial portfolios

If you are a property manager dealing with high energy bills and tenant complaints about comfort in older office buildings — this project developed a modular ventilated façade system that combines insulation, solar panels, and heat recovery in a single bolt-on layer. It was demonstrated on real buildings in Spain and Poland, targeting energy savings of more than 40% and achieving less than 25 kWh/m² per year. The system adapts to different climates and building types, meaning you can standardize retrofits across your portfolio.

Building Retrofit & Façade Construction

mid-size

Target: Façade contractors and building envelope specialists looking for differentiated products

If you are a façade construction company competing for retrofit contracts — this project created an integrated ventilated façade product that bundles thermal insulation, photovoltaic generation, and smart heat recovery into easy-to-install modular units. With 6 industrial partners already involved in development and real-world installation at two demonstrator sites, the technology is designed for cost-effective manufacturing and fast on-site assembly. This could give you a turnkey energy retrofit offering that competitors lack.

Social Housing & Public Building Management

enterprise

Target: Municipal housing authorities and public building operators under EU energy mandates

If you are a housing authority facing EU requirements to bring buildings to near-zero energy standards — this project developed a low-intrusion retrofit system that can be installed on occupied buildings without displacing residents. The façade management system uses weather prediction to optimize energy use automatically, targeting a reduction of 40% in CO2 emissions. It was tested across different climate zones with 13 partners from 8 countries, proving adaptability for diverse European building stocks.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What does the system cost compared to traditional building retrofits?

The project objective explicitly targets a 'cost-effective' and 'affordable price' system, but no specific cost figures per square meter are available in the project data. Because the façade integrates insulation, solar, and HVAC into one installation step, total retrofit costs should be lower than procuring and installing each component separately. Contact the coordinator for pricing from the demonstrator projects.

Can this scale to large building portfolios or entire housing blocks?

The system was designed as modular and replicable — the objective states it can be 'adaptable to different types of buildings and climates.' It was demonstrated on two real buildings in different climate zones (Spain and Poland), covering both residential and commercial applications. The modular design means production can scale through standard manufacturing processes.

Who owns the intellectual property and can I license the technology?

The project involved 13 partners from 8 countries, so IP is likely shared under the consortium agreement. NOBATEK, a French research and technology organization, coordinated the project. Licensing terms would need to be negotiated with the consortium — SciTransfer can help identify the right contact for IP discussions.

Does this meet current EU energy efficiency regulations?

The system targets NZEB (Nearly Zero Energy Building) retrofit standard levels, which aligns with the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. The performance target of less than 25 kWh/m² per year meets or exceeds most Member State requirements. The objective states the system assures 'at least the same comfort levels required by Member States Building Codes.'

How long does installation take and how disruptive is it?

The project objective describes the approach as 'low intrusive,' meaning it is designed to minimize disruption to building occupants during installation. The façade components are modular and designed for easy on-site assembly. Based on available project data, the demonstrator deliverable includes detailed step-by-step installation planning for both demo sites.

Does it work with our existing building management system?

Yes — the project specifically developed the system to 'inter-operate with existing or latest state-of-the-art Building Energy Management Systems.' The intelligent façade management system uses weather prediction and controls the integrated components, but feeds into your existing BMS for whole-building optimization.

What kind of ongoing maintenance and support is needed?

Based on available project data, the system includes smart sensors and a real-time management system that monitors performance automatically. The modular design should make component replacement straightforward. Specific maintenance schedules are not detailed in the public data — the consortium partners would have operational data from the 3+ year project period.

Consortium

Who built it

The E2VENT consortium is well-balanced for commercialization, with 6 industrial partners (46%) and 5 SMEs — meaning nearly half the team already operates in the market. Led by NOBATEK, a French research and technology SME specializing in sustainable construction, the 13-partner team spans 8 countries (Belgium, Czech Republic, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Poland, UK), giving it broad European market coverage. The mix of 3 universities and 3 research organizations provided the scientific foundation, while the industrial majority ensured the solutions were designed for real-world manufacturing and installation. This composition suggests the technology was developed with commercial viability in mind from the start.

NOBATEKCoordinator · FR
PRZEDSIEBIORSTWO ROBOT ELEWACYJNYCHFASADA SP ZOOparticipant · PL
ARISTOTELIO PANEPISTIMIO THESSALONIKISparticipant · EL
FUNDACION TECNALIA RESEARCH & INNOVATIONparticipant · ES
EUROPEAN ALUMINIUMparticipant · BE
UNIVERSIDAD DE BURGOSparticipant · ES
RINA CONSULTING SPAparticipant · IT
PICH-AGUILERA ARQUITECTOS SLparticipant · ES
UNIVERSITY OF HULLparticipant · UK
FENIX TNT SROparticipant · CZ
FUNDACION CARTIFparticipant · ES
ACCIONA CONSTRUCCION SAparticipant · ES

How to reach the team

NOBATEK is a French research and technology organization specializing in sustainable building — SciTransfer can help you reach the right person on their team.

Order a report on this consortium See NOBATEK profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore licensing this façade technology or connecting with the E2VENT consortium? SciTransfer can arrange an introduction and help you evaluate fit for your building portfolio.

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