Institutes & CentersInstitute for Renewable Energy - Projects - MEZeroE

MEZeroE

EU H2020 MEZeroE - Measuring Envelope products and systems contributing to next generation of healthy nearly Zero Energy Buildings

MEZeroE is an EU distributed open innovation ecosystem for: (i) developing nZEB Enabler Envelope technology solutions; (ii) transferring knowledge; (iii) matching testing needs with existing facilities; (iv) providing monitoring in living labs; and;(v) standardizing cutting-edge solutions coming from SMEs and larger industries, to foster inclusive change in the building sector, being accessible via a single-entry point to all users.

MEZeroE ecosystem will be accessed via a single-entry point web-based multi-side virtual marketplace which will include 9 Pilot Measurement & Verification Lines (PM&VL), 3 Open Innovation Services (OIS), and resources for training, business model development, systematic IP and knowledge management. MEzeroE will fast-track prototypes to the market as fully characterized products.

MEZeroE virtual marketplace is expected to be active and self-sustaining well beyond the project timeline. Based on synergies among partners, existing channels and a dedicated marketing strategy MEZeroE will exploit 3 revenue lines to ensure a 4x leverage factor vs. EU contribution.

Project duration: January 2021 - July 2026
Project status:
Funding:
Societal Challenge (Horizon 2020 /EU funding /Project)
Total project budget: €17,133,862.50
Website: https://www.mezeroe.eu/
Institute: Institute for Renewable Energy

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buildings technology renewable energy

Scientific Publications

Journal article2026

Digital information and data flow management for building envelope solutions: the MEZeroE BIM dataset tool as an Open Innovation Service

Sesana MM, Salvalai G, Dell’Oro P, Gupta A

Akshit Gupta

Data inconsistency and limited interoperability among various stakeholders compromise data uniformity and hinder digitalization across all stages of the construction life cycle, thereby inhibiting effective collaboration in the development of innovative envelope construction solutions. To address these challenges, the MEZeroE project developed a novel standardized Building Information Modeling (BIM) dataset tool that enables stakeholders to access consistent, high-quality and application-specific data in a unified digital environment. This study presents the development and implementation of the MEZeroE standardized digital dataset tool, which introduces a structured and interoperable framework for data flow management specifically tailored to innovative building envelope solutions. By combining a systematic literature review with a Grounded Theory approach, the study identifies critical gaps in current practices and defines nine Construction Segments and fourteen envelope parameter categories, which represent a new standardized data structure for envelope solutions. The tool is integrated into the MEZeroE Virtual Marketplace, providing a practical digital infrastructure that supports BIM object creation, facilitates Digital Product Passport compliance, and enables real-time collaboration among designers, manufacturers, and other stakeholders. This integration enhances decision-making processes and accelerates the adoption and deployment of innovative building envelope technologies in real-world construction projects.

DOI Source

DOI: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2026.117252

Journal article2025

Developing a principal components model of indoor smellscape perception in office buildings

Torriani G, Albatici R, Babich F, Vescovi M, Zampini M, Torresin S

Francesco Babich, Giulia Torriani

In recent years, research has increasingly explored the relationship between humans, smells, and the built environment. However, a standardized system that fully captures all crucial perceptual dimensions of indoor smellscapes is still missing. To address this gap, a sensory test was conducted in a living lab to identify the underlying perceptual dimensions of indoor smellscapes in office settings. A total of 42 participants assessed 22 olfactory scenarios commonly encountered in offices, delivered through an olfactometer. Participants evaluated these scenarios using 80 unidirectional scales designed to describe human responses to indoor smellscapes, with each descriptor rated on a visual analogue scale (0–100) indicating the degree of "descriptor–smellscape match". Through Principal Component Analysis, Pleasantness, Presence, and Naturalness were identified as the three main perceptual dimensions, explaining 64.78 %, 13.61 %, and 6.91 % of the total variance, respectively. The relationships between principal component scores and smell categories were analysed using linear mixed-effects models, revealing significant effects of olfactory categories on principal components scores. Based on these findings, a measurement system is proposed, structured around a 2D space defined by two orthogonal axes—Pleasantness and Presence—with two additional axes, Engagement and Power, rotated 45° within the same plane. This model identifies key perceptual constructs to be measured (e.g., in post-occupancy evaluations), and specifies attribute scales. Furthermore, the study provides insights into which smell categories influence these perceptual dimensions in office environments. By offering a systematic approach, this framework provides a valuable reference for both research, standardization and practical applications in the built environment.

DOI Source

DOI: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2025.113044

Conference proceedings article2024

From single tests to a test-chain: A comprehensive approach for evaluating the interaction between the building envelope and the IEQ

Babich F, Pinotti R, Gazzin R, Visentin C, Lollini R

Riccardo Gazzin, Francesco Babich, Roberto Lollini, Riccardo Pinotti

In recent years building envelope systems have become increasingly more com-plex. Especially in high-performance low-carbon buildings, envelopes comprise several passive and active components such as advanced membranes, mechanical ventilation machines and integrated photovoltaics that must be mutually optimized to ensure a global elevated performance. One of the key expectations from these innovative envelopes is better capabilities of providing highly comfortable and healthy indoor environments while using as little energy as possible. However, the complexity of such envelopes poses two major challenges: (i) standard assessment procedures might not be usable to evaluate them either because these do not fully capture their potential or be-cause the complexity of product makes the standard test unfeasible, and (ii) multiple indoor environmental quality (IEQ) domains are simultaneously affected by these envelopes, and thus complementary tests in different domain are needed to ensure that a benefit in one domain does not lead to issues in others. For this reason, a test-chain for a thorough energy demand, indoor occupants’ comfort, and behaviour analysis performance has been implemented. It comprises a set of labs and additional simulation capabilities to study the building envelope-IEQ interaction at various technology readiness level. This paper provides an overview of the test-chain and its first application for the evaluation of a multifunctional façade. This façade includes a reversible air-to-air heat pump, a mechanical ventilation system, and openable windows, and aims at easing the achievement of the nZEB target while delivering elevated IEQ.

DOI Source

DOI: 10.1051/e3sconf/202452301001

All Publications

Rethinking building envelopes: adaptive façades for low‑energy, climate‑responsive buildings
Juaristi M (2026)
Internet

More information: https://build-up.ec.europa.eu/en/resources-and-tools/art ...

From Controlled Experiments to Real-World Insights: A “Test Bed Building” framework for Post-Occupancy Evaluation of Building Envelope
Systems
Gupta A, Blumauer U, Vandi L, Lollini R, Babich F (2026)
Conference proceedings article

Conference: CISBE Technical Symposium | Loughborough | 26.3.2026 - 27.3.2026

More information: https://go.cibse.org/l/698403/2026-03-20/bz91jk/698403/1 ...

https://go.cibse.org/l/698403/2026-03-20/bz91jk/698403/1774018760jFFNzto3/paper_CIBSE_192_20260116__1_.pdf

MEZeroE Open Innovation Test Bed for building envelope products: fostering the collaboration between industry and research
Babich F, Aurrekoetxea O, Blumauer U, Bernabé Diez G, Gupta A, Hauer M, Korsholm Andersen R, Kwiecień, A, Manca M, Nowak-Michta A, Pinotti R, Roher Armentia J, Salvalai G, Treppo Mekis B, Wargocki P, Otaño Aramendi, N, Olano Azkune X (2026)
Conference proceedings article

Conference: CISBE Technical Symposium | Loughborough | 26.3.2026 - 27.3.2026

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Journal article2025

Developing a principal components model of indoor smellscape perception in office buildings

Torriani G, Albatici R, Babich F, Vescovi M, Zampini M, Torresin S

Francesco Babich, Giulia Torriani

DOI Source

DOI: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2025.113044

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