Ljubljana
EffiComfort - EffiComfort: An Innovative Business Model for Energy Efficiency and Occupant Comfort through Integrated Smart Energy Solutions in Public and Residential Buildings
About the project
EffiComfort tackles the challenge of decarbonising public and residential buildings while ensuring indoor comfort, particularly for vulnerable users. In Ljubljana, many buildings suffer from poor indoor environmental quality (IEQ) and inefficient energy use. Despite earlier retrofits, the city's progress has slowed, and existing energy models often overlook occupant comfort. Current retrofit models are often static, costly, and detached from user needs.
The project introduces an innovative Comfort-as-a-Service (CaaS) model that integrates energy efficiency measures, smart energy systems and occupant comfort guarantees. Three pilot buildings – a newly built multi-apartment block and two primary schools – will serve as testbeds for CaaS, combining real-time monitoring, performance-based contracts and Thermal Acclimatisation Training (TAT).
EffiComfort aims to validate the CaaS model, sign two contracts (one public & one private), and train 10 Comfort Managers. It will achieve at least 25% energy savings – playing a vital role in achieving the city's carbon neutrality targets – and improve IEQ and user satisfaction. The model is designed to be easily scalable and replicable without major upfront investment, achieving immediate impact and supporting the EU’s energy and social inclusion goals.
Challenges
EffiComfort addresses systemic barriers that hinder the acceleration of energy renovations in buildings. It confronts technical, behavioural, and financial challenges that prevent the integration of comfort with energy efficiency, especially in settings where affordability and engagement are limited.
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Existing building renovation models are static and fail to deliver measurable comfort improvements. They lack real-time controls and do not account for user-specific comfort needs, limiting their effectiveness and user satisfaction.
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The high upfront costs of deep renovation and lack of accessible financing options – particularly for low-income or vulnerable groups – prevent large-scale uptake and exclude citizens from benefitting from energy efficiency improvements.
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Building users often lack awareness of the link between their behaviour and comfort-energy performance. Limited engagement opportunities further weaken the social acceptance and sustainability of renovation outcomes.
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Energy Service Companies (ESCOs) and other providers are usually rewarded for completed works, not long-term performance. This misalignment offers little incentive to ensure sustained comfort or monitor energy savings over time, especially post-renovation.
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Municipalities face legal and technical limitations in procuring integrated, outcome-based service models like CaaS. They often lack the tools and expertise to manage complex contracts that combine renovation, services and citizen engagement.
Proposed solutions
EffiComfort pilots an innovative Comfort-as-a-Service (CaaS) model that links energy renovation with guaranteed comfort. Through smart monitoring, performance-based contracts, behavioural training and new professional roles, the project delivers sustained energy savings and improved indoor conditions, especially for vulnerable users.
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Two performance-based Comfort-as-a-Service (CaaS) contracts will be signed – one for a public building and one for a residential block – linking payments to verified improvements in energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality.
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Pilot buildings will be equipped with real-time indoor environmental quality (IEQ) and energy monitoring systems. These smart controls enable dynamic management of HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) systems to optimise comfort conditions and reduce energy consumption.
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Thermal Acclimatisation Training (TaT) will be delivered to building users, helping them understand and adapt to energy-efficient comfort settings, which supports behavioural change and reduces rebound effects.
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Ten professionals will be trained and certified as Comfort Managers. They will support the implementation of CaaS, engage residents, interpret data, and mediate between users and service providers throughout the contract period.
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A replicable and scalable CaaS business model will be developed, including legal templates, financial tools, governance models and procurement guidelines to support uptake by municipalities and housing providers across the EU.
Milestones
Launch of project and establishment of governance structures
Setup of Ventilation (HVAC) System and Sensory Equipment in 3 buildings
Two CaaS contracts developed for public and residential pilots
10 professionals trained to support CaaS and user engagement
Training provided to building users to support behaviour change and dynamic management of indoor temperatures in buildings