Kifissia
NEW EPOCH - eNErgy Waste solutions through development of POsitive sChool buildings as sustainable, innovative Hubs for community engagement
The NEW EPOCH project focuses on transforming school buildings into Positive Energy Educational Buildings through deep energy retrofitting, innovative construction methods, and community engagement. Using biobased circular material prefabrication, its original, energy-based renovation methodology will be piloted in three schools in Kifissia. Providing improved thermal comfort and air quality for students, and reduced energy consumption, the renovated schools will also serve as shared innovation hubs for the municipality, students, educators and local stakeholders, promoting sustainability, waste reduction and environmental responsibility.
Our main challenges...
Outdated infrastructure and insufficient renovation actions. Each school consume around 150-200 kWh/m² every eight months due to poor insulation, non-energy-efficient windows, and outdated heating and cooling systems.
Limited renovation timeframe during the three-month summer break, with conventional renovation methods taking too long to accommodate deep energy renovations.
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.
and proposed solutions
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.
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.
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.
Key figures
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
