Kifissia
NEW EPOCH - eNErgy Waste solutions through development of POsitive sChool buildings as sustainable, innovative Hubs for community engagement
About the project
Like many other European cities, Kifissia faces the double challenge of an ageing public building stock and insufficient renovation capabilities. In response, the city launched the NEW EPOCH project, using optimised renovation strategies to transform selected school buildings into Positive Energy Educational Buildings (PEEBs) through deep energy retrofitting, innovative construction methods and comprehensive community engagement. Three school buildings in Kifissia will serve as lighthouse projects for other buildings with similar characteristics aiming for climate neutrality. School buildings were chosen because their unique and simple construction layouts make them perfect piloting grounds for a renovation approach that is affordable, transferable and replicable. This original, energy-based renovation methodology, founded on biobased circular material prefabrication , is to be designed, constructed and implemented in the three schools
Kifissia's trailblazing solution is also set to boost similar energy-efficient building renovations in the future. Transforming schools into PEEBs not only reduces energy consumption and improves thermal comfort and indoor air quality for the students, it also increases the quality of education and fosters a culture of sustainability, waste reduction and environmental responsibility. In fact, the renovated schools are designed to become new living labs serving as dynamic innovation hubs for collaboration between the municipality, students, educators and local stakeholders.
Challenges
NEW EPOCH addresses three key urban challenges: environmental degradation and energy inefficiency; renovation constraints; and social disengagement. According to the UN Environment Programme (Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction 2024/2025), building and construction sector contributes to 34% of global CO2 emissions, with materials like cement and steel responsible for 11% of these emissions. Through recycling and deconstruction, the project reduces Construction and Demolition Waste, which produces more than 35% of the total waste stream.
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Outdated infrastructure and insufficient renovation actions. Each school consume around 150-200 kWh/m² every eight months due to poor insulation, non-energy-efficient windows, and outdated heating and cooling systems.
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Limited renovation timeframe during the three-month summer break, with conventional renovation methods taking too long to accommodate deep energy renovations.
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Social disengagement, as schools and local communities rarely collaborate on sustainability initiatives, and municipalities often lack resources. Decision-making is centralised, limiting local responsibility for environmental issues.
Proposed solutions
The initiative involves transforming local schools into Positive Energy Educational Buildings – cornerstones of measurable sustainability and community engagement. It focuses on affordable energy efficiency and production, with targets to reduce energy demand to below 100 kWh/m2 per year, and produce energy at a level up to four times the primary energy demand.
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Transformation of three schools into Positive Energy Educational Buildings (PEEBs), using a holistic approach to improve energy efficiency by up to 10 times, and create optimal indoor and outdoor environments for students and professors.
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Prefabrication and streamlined renovations, with ready-prepared components like façades quickly assembled on-site to reduce disruption, errors and time constraints. The aim is to reduce construction time by 40% compared to a conventional renovation.
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Community engagement and professional training, with PEEB awareness-raising workshops and practical tools for building renovations. Schools will become living labs where students, educators and community members collaborate on sustainability projects.
Milestones
Detailed mapping of all relevant stakeholders, including role and potential contribution to the progress of the project and recording needs and expectations on the results of the renovation process.
Technical Specifications
Completion of public procurement and signature of contracts for the construction of investments
Preparation of the Bio-based prefabricated façade
Finalizing upgrading activities in the selected schools
Initialization of internal activities for the establishment of municipality energy office, including trainings
Living labs established in the renovated schools