HAPPEN · Project

One-Stop Platform That Makes Deep Building Renovation in Southern Europe Bankable and Trustworthy

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Renovating old apartment buildings in Mediterranean countries is a mess — too many contractors, confusing options, and nobody trusts the promised energy savings. HAPPEN built a digital platform that works like a matchmaking service between homeowners who want to renovate and vetted professionals who can deliver. They also created a guarantee system so people can trust the promised savings will actually show up on their energy bills. The whole thing was tested on real pilot buildings across Southern Europe with actual monitoring to prove it works.

By the numbers

consortium partners

Mediterranean countries covered

main pilot sites with real building monitoring

project deliverables produced

SMEs in the consortium

The business problem

What needed solving

Old residential buildings across Southern Europe waste enormous energy, but renovating them is a nightmare — fragmented contractors, no transparency on actual savings, weak financial incentives, and renovation approaches designed for Northern Europe that don't work in Mediterranean climates. Homeowners and investors don't trust that deep renovation will deliver the promised returns, so the market stays stuck.

The solution

What was built

An integrated ICT platform that connects building owners with vetted renovation providers (like a marketplace for deep retrofit), a MedZEB monitoring protocol that tracks real energy performance on pilot buildings, a system of financial guarantees to build trust in renovation investments, and one-stop-shop solution packages tailored specifically for Mediterranean residential buildings. All tested across 3 main pilot sites in 7 countries.

Audience

Who needs this

Property management companies with aging residential portfolios in Southern EuropeEnergy service companies (ESCOs) looking for verified renovation protocols for Mediterranean climatesMunicipal housing authorities planning district-scale renovation programsGreen finance institutions seeking de-risked building renovation investment productsConstruction firms wanting to offer turnkey deep renovation services in the Med market

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Property Management & Real Estate

mid-size

Target: Property management firms or housing associations managing residential portfolios in Mediterranean countries

If you are a property manager dealing with aging residential buildings that hemorrhage energy — this project developed an integrated ICT platform and MedZEB renovation protocol tested across 3 main pilot sites in 7 Southern European countries. It matches your renovation needs with vetted solution providers and includes a guarantee system so your tenants and investors can trust the promised energy savings.

Construction & Renovation Services

SME

Target: Building renovation contractors and energy service companies (ESCOs) operating in Southern Europe

If you are a renovation contractor struggling with fragmented supply chains and clients who don't trust deep retrofit promises — this project created one-stop-shop solution packages and a trust-building guarantee system specifically for Mediterranean climates. The platform connects you directly with qualified demand from a consortium of 14 partners across 7 countries, reducing your sales cycle and giving your work a credibility stamp.

Energy Efficiency Finance

enterprise

Target: Banks, green finance institutions, or energy efficiency funds looking to de-risk renovation investments

If you are a financial institution looking to fund building renovation but worried about performance risk — this project developed financial support mechanisms and a system of guarantees specifically designed to make deep retrofits in the Mediterranean bankable. With monitoring protocols validated on pilot buildings producing real energy performance data, you get the verified savings metrics needed to underwrite renovation loans with confidence.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to use this platform or renovation protocol?

The project data does not include specific pricing or licensing fees for the ICT platform or MedZEB protocol. As a Coordination and Support Action (CSA), the outputs were designed to stimulate market uptake rather than commercialize a product directly. You would need to contact the consortium to discuss access terms and potential adaptation costs.

Can this scale beyond the pilot buildings to full district or city-level renovation?

The project explicitly explored district-scale applications and tested outputs across 3 main pilots plus smaller ones in 7 Mediterranean countries (Cyprus, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Slovenia). The MedZEB protocol was designed for wide replication across the Mediterranean built environment, suggesting the approach is ready for broader rollout.

Who owns the IP for the platform and renovation protocols?

The ICT platform and MedZEB protocol were developed by a consortium of 14 partners led by Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (Italian National Research Council). IP ownership would follow EU grant agreement rules. Contact the coordinator for licensing or partnership discussions.

Does this comply with EU energy efficiency regulations?

The project specifically aimed to propose suitable changes in regulatory environments and align with EU deep renovation targets. The MedZEB monitoring protocol produces high-quality datasets for energy performance metrics, which align with EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive requirements.

How long did the pilot testing take and what was measured?

The project ran from April 2018 to December 2021. Pilot buildings were equipped with monitoring systems that tracked energy and environmental parameters, building energy performance, and post-occupancy evaluation. The monitoring protocol also assessed climate change impact on renovation performance.

Can this integrate with our existing building management systems?

The project developed an integrated ICT platform aimed at facilitating matching between renovation demand and supply. Based on available project data, specific technical integration details with third-party building management systems are not documented. The 26 deliverables likely contain technical specifications worth reviewing.

Is there support available for implementing this in our region?

The consortium includes 14 partners across 7 Southern European countries with 4 research organizations, 3 industry partners, and 3 SMEs. The project was specifically designed for Mediterranean climates and residential stock. Regional adaptation support would depend on ongoing consortium activities post-project.

Consortium

Who built it

The 14-partner consortium spans 7 Mediterranean countries (Italy, Spain, France, Greece, Croatia, Cyprus, Slovenia), giving it authentic regional coverage where the renovation challenge is most acute. Led by Italy's National Research Council (CNR), it blends 4 research organizations with 3 industry players and 3 SMEs — the 21% industry ratio is typical for a coordination action focused on market barriers rather than technology development. The mix of 2 universities and 5 "other" organizations (likely public bodies, energy agencies, or associations) suggests strong connections to local policy and building owner communities. For a business looking to enter Mediterranean renovation markets, this consortium offers a ready-made network of local partners who understand both the technical and regulatory landscape across Southern Europe.

CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DELLE RICERCHECoordinator · IT
GRADBENI INSTITUT ZRMK DOOparticipant · SI
GIP AGENCE FRANCAISE POUR DES VILLES ET TERRITOIRES MEDITERRANEENS DURABLESparticipant · FR
ETHNIKO KAI KAPODISTRIAKO PANEPISTIMIO ATHINONparticipant · EL
INSTITUTO VALENCIANO DE LA EDIFICACION FUNDACIONparticipant · ES
ENERGIAKO KE PERIVALONTIKO GRAFIO EGEOUparticipant · EL
CERTIMAC SOC. CONS. A R. L.participant · IT
ENERGEIAKO GRAFEIO KYPROUparticipant · CY
SVILUPPO TECNOLOGIE E RICERCA PER L'EDILIZIA SISMICAMENTE SICURA ED ECOSOSTENIBILE SCARLthirdparty · IT
UNIVERSIDAD DE SEVILLAparticipant · ES

How to reach the team

Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Italy — reach out to their building energy efficiency division

Order a report on this consortium See CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DELLE RICERCHE profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want an introduction to the HAPPEN team or a tailored brief on how their renovation platform fits your market? Contact SciTransfer — we connect businesses with EU research teams.

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