/* Add your own Mailchimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block.       We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. */
top of page

Baseline Status of the Living Labs: Setting the Stage for PROBONO Interventions

PROBONO, a project funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 program, aims to turn six European district and site-level areas into Green Building Neighbourhoods (GBNs). These Living Labs in Madrid, Dublin, Porto, Brussels, Aarhus, and Prague serve as testing grounds for innovative solutions designed to enhance energy efficiency, sustainability, and social inclusivity.


Before implementing any transformative interventions, understanding the current status is crucial. This principle is at the heart of PROBONO's approach, which involves assessing the baseline or reference status of its Living Labs before deploying innovative solutions. Leading this baseline definition effort is CARTIF, whose expertise ensures that the evaluation sets a robust foundation for measuring the project's impact. By providing a clear picture of the initial conditions in each Living Lab, the baseline evaluation is pivotal in ensuring that the interventions lead to meaningful, sustainable improvements. This blog explores the baseline evaluation process and its significance in ensuring that the interventions lead to meaningful, sustainable improvements in these Living Labs


Positive impacts of smart charging technologies, by Waldron et al. (2019).

Significance of the Baseline Evaluation


The baseline evaluation is essential for several reasons:

  • Benchmarking: It provides a reference point against which the impact of interventions can be measured. This benchmarking is crucial for assessing the effectiveness of the implemented solutions.

  • Customization: Understanding the initial conditions helps tailor interventions to the specific needs and conditions of each Living Lab. This customization ensures that the solutions are relevant and effective.

  • Stakeholder Engagement: Involving local communities and stakeholders in the baseline evaluation process fosters transparency and collaboration. It ensures that all parties understand the current state and the potential improvements that the interventions aim to achieve.

 

Baseline Calculation Process in PROBONO


The baseline evaluation is a methodical process involving several key steps to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the current state of each Living Lab:


  1. Definition and Scope: Establishing what constitutes the baseline involves identifying key parameters such as energy consumption, environmental impacts, and socio-economic conditions. This step ensures that the evaluation covers all relevant aspects to provide a holistic view of the initial conditions. This is what is called in the PROBONO project “Evaluation Framework”.

  2. Data Collection: Using predefined templates, data is gathered to capture detailed information about the buildings, their operational conditions, and their energy systems. This information is crucial for creating an accurate reference point for future comparisons.

  3. Integration: Combining data from various sources helps to create a cohesive picture of the current state of each Living Lab. This integrated approach ensures that the baseline is comprehensive and reflects the actual conditions accurately.


Baseline definition approaches in PROBONO


In the case of the PROBONO project Living Labs, there are three different approaches considering their current status for the baseline definition:

  1. Renovation of an already existing Living Lab (keeping the same final use):

    • Dublin, Brussels and Prague Living Labs: The focus here is on existing buildings like the in the case of the County Hall and Harbour Lodge for the Dublin Living Lab, the existing School of Brussels or the Faculty of Civil Engineering in Prague. Baseline data encompasses historical energy consumption, building occupancy, and indoor environmental quality, providing a solid foundation for evaluating the effectiveness of planned interventions.

    • Porto Living Lab: Slightly different than the previous one, this lab adopt a campus approach and integrates multiple buildings into a single energy community. The baseline evaluation includes energy consumption patterns, renewable energy potentials, and socio-economic data, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the current state.


  2. Complete renovation of an existing Living Lab (changing the final end use):

    • Aarhus Living Lab:  In Aarhus, the complete renovation of an old hospital into a university campus requires a baseline approach based on new construction standards, ensuring that the evaluation accurately reflects the current conditions.


  3. Completely new construction of a Living Lab:

    • Madrid Living Lab: As a new construction project, meaning that nothing exists prior to the interventions, the Madrid Living Lab's baseline is established using Spain's Building Technical Code, which sets minimum construction standards. The baseline data includes projections for energy demands, construction materials, and environmental impacts, forming the foundation for future impact assessments.


The baseline data will enable PROBONO to


  • Develop accurate models for predicting the impacts of interventions. These models will be crucial for planning and optimising the implementation of solutions.

  • Create Digital Twins for each Living Lab, allowing for simulation and optimization of solutions. Digital Twins will help in visualising the interventions' impacts and making necessary adjustments in real time.

  • Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the interventions, ensuring they meet the project's sustainability and efficiency goals. Continuous monitoring will help in assessing the long-term impact and success of the interventions.



Future Pathways and Upcoming Plans in PROBONO


As PROBONO progresses, the baseline data will serve as a foundation for implementing and fine-tuning interventions. Future steps include:

  • Deployment of Innovative Solutions: Based on the baseline data, specific technologies and practices will be introduced in each Living Lab. These solutions will be tailored to address the unique needs and conditions identified during the baseline evaluation.

  • Continuous Monitoring and Evaluation: Using the established baseline, the project will continuously monitor the performance of the interventions to ensure they achieve the desired outcomes. This ongoing evaluation will help in making necessary adjustments and improvements.

  • Replication and Scaling: Successful strategies and technologies will be documented and shared, allowing for replication in other regions. This knowledge sharing will contribute to broader sustainability goals and foster the development of more Green Building Neighbourhoods.


Conclusion

The baseline evaluation of the Living Labs is a critical step in the PROBONO project. It not only provides a clear picture of the starting point but also guides the customisation and implementation of innovative solutions. By understanding where we begin, we can better measure our progress and ensure that the interventions lead to meaningful, sustainable improvements. The journey from baseline to breakthrough in the PROBONO project promises to be a transformative one, paving the way for greener, more sustainable urban environments across Europe.

 

If you wan to know more about the PROBONO baseline evaluation activities click HERE!






16 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Comments


PB_logo_org.png
EU flag.jpg

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Europe Research and Innovation programme under Grant Agreement No 101037075. This output reflects only the author’s view, and the European Union cannot be held responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.

Join our green community

Take the next step on your sustainability journey and subscribe to our newsletter. 

Follow Us On:

  • LinkedIn
  • X
  • Youtube

2024 Web by Smart Innovation Norway

bottom of page