Zero energy buildings for zero energy neighbourhoods

Programme 2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B Central Europe

Date of latest update: 2025-10-08

Description

Description (EN):

The implementation of the ZEB4ZEN project includes strengthening innovation capacity, cooperation for greener and better connectivity, as well as improving governance for cooperation in Central Europe. The overall project objective is to develop a methodology and define action plans for achieving zero emission neighbourhoods based on the experience of pilot activities and investments in well-known city neighbourhoods that were historically recognised as the ideal star-shaped cities of the Renaissance. This project connects two opposing concepts: modern and traditional. More precisely, this project identifies and exploits solutions aimed at modernizing historic centres while protecting their historical heritage. Based on the exchange of experiences and knowledge among the project partners and associated partners, the result of the project will be a structured and clear methodology for determining the potential of near-zero energy neighbourhoods that should be considered when creating energy action plans for particular districts. This can significantly contribute to energy planning, which will ultimately have a positive impact on climate change, i.e., reducing greenhouse gas emissions and achieving electricity neutrality. Beyond the opportunity for energy and carbon savings, the built heritage needs continuous care and maintenance to sustain functionality and avoid decay. Given that the topic is relatively new and unexplored, national cooperation and exchange of knowledge and experiences is of great importance for the good implementation of the project. In addition, there is no single approach to solving problems and multiculturalism (different buildings, user behaviour, level of development, energy poverty), and accordingly energy consumption can lead to unique methods or at least grouping of methods according to certain criteria, such as national development.

Actual Achievements (EN):

The overall consortium has made significant progress through excellent cooperation, resulting in the joint development of a comprehensive methodology on energy data flows within city neighborhoods. This joint methodology offers a detailed framework for analyzing and assessing both the demand and supply sides of neighborhood energy usage. This milestone, which corresponds to activity A1.1 and the associated deliverables (D1.1.1, D1.1.2, and D1.1.3), marks a significant step forward and is now available in its final version. In addition, we successfully defined the technologies required for scanning neighborhoods and have completed scans of three out of the four pilot neighborhoods. These digital twins are currently being populated with the necessary technical parameters, enhancing our capacity for detailed analysis and planning. Within WP2, the preparation phase for three pilot investments is nearing completion. This sets the stage for the real implementation phase of these pilot investments, reflecting our readiness to transition from planning to action. A major achievement has been the continuous involvement of the citizens living in the neighborhoods. Their active participation has been crucial in shaping our approach and ensuring that the project outcomes are aligned with the community's needs and expectations. Overall, these achievements highlight the added value of our collaborative efforts, demonstrating significant progress and setting a strong foundation for future project phases.

Project outputs: Organizations cooperating across borders(EN)
Jointly developed Zero emission neighbourhoods auditing solution(EN)
Quedlinburg neighbourhood energy flows pilot action(EN)
Solar Energy Community pilot action(EN)
Optimization of the thermal insulation system of historical tenement houses pilot action(EN)
Green and digital neighbourhood transformation pilot action(EN)
Monitoring, reporting and verification for zero emission neighbourhoods EE/RES measures(EN)
Strategy for achieving near-zero energy standards for cultural heritage sites within the neighbourhoods(EN)
Neighbourhood digital-twin development focused on cultural heritage sites(EN)
Energy action plans presented in VR environment(EN)
Energy planning using VR environment(EN)
Website: https://www.interreg-central.eu/projects/zeb4zen/

Thematic information

Construction and renovation Renewable energy Energy efficiency

Priority: (VI-B_CE_2) Cooperating for a greener central Europe

Priority specific objective: RSO2.1. Promoting energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions

Priority policy objective (Interreg specific objective): PO2 A greener, low-carbon transitioning towards a net zero carbon economy and resilient Europe by promoting clean and fair energy transition, green and blue investment, the circular economy, climate change mitigation and adaptation, risk prevention and management, and sustainable urban mobility

Type of intervention: 044 Energy efficiency renovation or energy efficiency measures regarding public infrastructure, demonstration projects and supporting measures

Partners (7)

Lead Partner: Energetski institut Hrvoje Požar

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 999570063

Partner’s ID if not PIC: HR43980170614

Department: Department for energy efficiency

Address: Savska cesta , 10000 Zagreb, Croatia

Department address: Savska cesta , 10000 Zagreb, Croatia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.eihp.hr

Total budget: EUR 563 500.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 450 800.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 112 700.00

Miasto Zamość

Name: Miasto Zamość

Partner’s ID if not PIC: PL9222697472

Address: Rynek Wielki, 22-400 Zamość, Poland

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: http://zamosc.pl

Total budget: EUR 174 092.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 139 273.60

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 34 818.40

Contractors:

Name: KWADRA ARCHITEKCI SP. Z O.O.
VAT registration or tax identification number: 7123476494
Name: Morando
VAT registration or tax identification number: 9223604059
Name: Luneta restauracja
VAT registration or tax identification number: 9220011051
Name: Usługi Inżynierskie
VAT registration or tax identification number: 5631692116

Politechnika Lubelska

Name: Politechnika Lubelska

Department: Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Department of Conservation of Built Heritage

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 998139313

Partner’s ID if not PIC: PL7120104651

Address: Nadbystrzycka, 20-618 Lublin, Poland

Department address: Nadbystrzycka, 20-618 Lublin, Poland

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: https://pollub.pl/

Total budget: EUR 280 999.60

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 224 799.68

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 56 199.92

Hochschule Magdeburg-Stendal

Name: Hochschule Magdeburg-Stendal

Department: Engineering and Industrial Design - Institute for Electrical Engineering

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 999877747

Partner’s ID if not PIC: DE218059771

Address: Breitscheidstr., 39114 Magdeburg, Germany

Department address: Breitscheidstr., 39114 Magdeburg, Germany

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.h2.de

Total budget: EUR 288 237.60

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 230 590.08

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 57 647.52

Contractors:

Name: BDO AG Wirtschaftsprüfung
VAT registration or tax identification number: DE118514042

Città di Palmanova

Name: Città di Palmanova

Department: Communication office and staff of the mayor

Partner’s ID if not PIC: IT00249070301

Address: Piazza Grande, 33057 Palmanova, Italy

Department address: Piazza Grande, 33057 Palmanova, Italy

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: http://www.comune.palmanova.ud.it

Total budget: EUR 188 222.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 150 577.60

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 37 644.40

Agenzia per l’energia del Friuli Venezia Giulia

Name: Agenzia per l’energia del Friuli Venezia Giulia

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 930203520

Partner’s ID if not PIC: IT02517490302

Address: Via Santa Lucia, 33013 Gemona del Friuli, Italy

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Sectoral agency

Website: http://www.ape.fvg.it

Total budget: EUR 348 000.80

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 278 400.64

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 69 600.16

Grad Karlovac

Name: Grad Karlovac

Department: Communication office and staff of the mayor

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 913500993

Partner’s ID if not PIC: HR25654647153

Address: Ul. Dr. Ivana Banjavčica, 47000 Karlovac, Croatia

Department address: Ul. Dr. Ivana Banjavčica, 47000 Karlovac, Croatia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: http://www.karlovac.hr

Total budget: EUR 198 374.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 158 699.20

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 39 674.80

Contractors:

Name: Grid ONE d.o.o.
VAT registration or tax identification number: 21721383787
Name: ENA d.o.o.
VAT registration or tax identification number: 24759414355

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

City of Zamość

Zero energy buildings for zero energy neighbourhoods

Partners and Projects info

Politechnika Lubelska

Zero energy buildings for zero energy neighbourhoods

Partners and Projects info

Magdeburg-Stendal University of Applied Sciences

Zero energy buildings for zero energy neighbourhoods

Partners and Projects info

City of Palmanova

Zero energy buildings for zero energy neighbourhoods

Partners and Projects info

Energy Management Agency of Friuli Venezia Giulia

Zero energy buildings for zero energy neighbourhoods

Partners and Projects info

City of Karlovac

Zero energy buildings for zero energy neighbourhoods

Partners and Projects info

Energy Institute Hrvoje Požar

Zero energy buildings for zero energy neighbourhoods

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Zero energy buildings for zero energy neighbourhoods

Project acronym: ZEB4ZEN

Project ID: CE0100345

Project start date: 2023-04-01

Project end date: 2026-03-31

Project status: ongoing

Relevant linked projects:

CE1373 PROSPECT2030 – PROmoting regional Sustainable Policies on Energy and Climate change mitigation Towards 2030 (EN) | PROSPECT2030 tackles the challenges related to the transition towards a low-carbon economy and the adoption of climate change mitigation policies that all Central Europe Regions are facing. The project is based on the belief that EU regions should be the hub for a radical rethink of public fund use and energy planning approach in a more decentralized and smart way.
The key synergy is that the ZEB4ZEN project wants to go even deeper in terms of energy planning so PP1 and PP3, being partners in both projects, will use the gathered knowhow and results, and replicate it at the neighbourhood level.
(EN), MED504 IMPULSE – Integrated Management Support for Energy efficiency in Mediterranean Public buiLdings (EN) | IMPULSE introduced an integrated management support system for planning energy efficiency interventions in public buildings. The main problem was the lack of available energy consumption data for the building stock and of easy-to-use decision-support systems to conclude the most affordable action plans and this is the key synergy with the ZEB4ZEN project where the LP plans to upscale the existing solutions, improve the IMPULSE project results and transpose them so that they fit the neighbourhood energy planning needs of CE countries. (EN), MED990 CESBA MED - CESBA MED Sustainable MED Cities (EN) | Development of eight regional contextualized tools for sustainability assessment, including methodology for use. The tools are designed for support in decision-making to public building managers for the preparation of energy efficient reconstruction plans, of both buildings and the wider urban area. It enables synergies between single building and neighbourhood level approach to renovation planning. The CESBA MED sustainability tool comprising of seven sustainability areas provides grading according to the specific criteria and is presented in CESBA MED certificate. (EN), H2020-LC-SC3-EE-20202-2 - TIMEPAC (EN) | The project TIMEPAC - Towards innovative methods for energy performance assessment and certification of buildings, is about improving existing energy certification processes, moving from a single, static certification to more holistic and dynamic approaches that consider the data that also includes generation and storage, operation of building, buildings connected to energy distribution and transport which is the focus of one of our pilot investments, as well as buildings as dynamic entities, continuously changing over time. Numerous synergy in all these aspects will be used to improve the implementation of ZEB4ZEN project. (EN), H2020-LC-SC3-EE-2020-2 – EUB SuperHub (EN) | The EUB SuperHub project (European Building Sustainability performance and energy certification Hub) will support the evolvement of the certification process in the EU by development of a scalable methodology to view, access and monitor the buildings through their lifecycle (embedded energy, costs etc.). Holistic view of buildings, social and technological shifts in the society require a change in the way we observe and handle the built environment helping incentives to yield in energy efficiency and investments. These project activities can significantly contribute to the implementation of activities in the ZEB4ZEN project. (EN), EEA Grants Fund - Establishment of the national training center for nearly Zero Energy Buildings (nZEB) (EN) | The overall objective of the project is to enhance knowledge of the professionals dealing with buildings and raise the awareness among other respective stakeholders regarding all the aspects of the building retrofit by adopting innovative technical solutions fitted to the nZEB requirements. This will be done by establishing the national training center for nZEB. Since the large portion of this 1.6 M€ project is to deeply retrofit the PP1 office building using state-of-the-art technologies fitted to nZEB standard, the PP1 will share this experience which will surly help PP’s responsible for the implementation of the pilot investments within the WP2. (EN), The New European Bauhaus (EN) | APE FVG has become an official partner of the New European Bauhaus on November 12th, 2021. The Agency strongly supports this initiative since it is committed to promote energy efficiency in the building sector since 2006 and would like to integrate the other two pillars of the Bauhaus (aestetichs and inclusivity) in its action, in particular when it comes to cultural heritage where quality of architecture and co-design of solutions represent the challenges beyond sustainability. (EN), ITAT3003 TUNE - Energy skills without borders (EN) | TUNE was an Interreg crossborder cooperation project between Italy and Austria aiming to harmonize energy indicators and to standardize energy accounting tools used by Local Public Authorities to better monitor and manage their building assets. This approach was complemented by significant capacity building activities addressed to civil servants to increase their capacity for better investment planning in the perspective of energy requalification. (EN), ERA-NET RIGRID-Rural Intelligent Grid (EN) | RIGRID aimed to develop a digital tool enabling planning energy infrastructures in European rural areas. The main characteristic of the RIGRID project lies in its holistic approach and in using Virtual Reality based solutions. Three main criteria have been considered to develop the planning solutions: technical, economic and social. The Virtual Reality tool allowed to better communicate the impact that the planning solution might have on the rural landscape for operating it as Net-Zero Energy System. These solutions have been implemented in two demonstrators located respectively in Germany and in Poland. (EN), Horizon 2020 PortForward (EN) | PortForward aims to develop digital solutions to operate ports in a smarter, greener and more sustainable way. Virtual Reality solutions have been developed for the German demonstrator in Magdeburg for which a digital twin tool has been tested. (EN)

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 2 041 426.00

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 1 633 140.80

Total EU funding (co-financing rate): 80.00%

Co-financing sources:

ERDF: Amount, EUR 1 633 140.80. Co-financing rate, 80.00%.

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

(bullets are inserted automatically and may be incorrectly placed)

Infrastructure investments:

I2.3 - Green and digital neighbourhood transformation - EUR 125 000.00 - country: Hrvatska (HR), town: Karlovac, street: Banjavčićeva, 9, postal_code: 47000, Panonska Hrvatska (HR02), Karlovačka županija (HR027)
I2.2 - Optimization of the thermal insulation system - EUR 122 000.00 - country: Polska (PL), town: Zamość, street: Bazylianska, 19, postal_code: 22-240, Lubelskie (PL81), Chełmsko-zamojski (PL812)
I2.1 - Solar Energy Community - EUR 105 000.00 - country: Italia (IT), town: Palmanova, street: Via Mazzini, n.a., postal_code: 33057, Friuli-Venezia Giulia (ITH4), Udine (ITH42)

Deliverables:

Identification of neighbourhood energy supply and demand specifics - buildings
Identification of neighbourhood energy supply and demand specifics – other neighbourhood elements
Joint methodology on energy data flows within the city neighbourhood
EE/RES measures for zero emission buildings
EE/RES measures for zero emission neighbourhoods
Joint catalogue of EE/RES solutions needed to reach the zero-emission neighbourhood standard
Multicriteria analysis for EE/RES measures optimization
Functional specification for web-based EE/RES measures optimizer
Development of the transnational web-based EE/RES measures optimizer
Scanning the pilot neighbourhoods
Digitalization of scanned neighbourhoods
Transnational protocol for neighbourhood digital-twin development
Jointly developed pilot actions report
Jointly developed solutions report
Report on pilot action 1 preparation phase
Report on pilot action 1 implementation phase
Report on pilot action 1 evaluation phase
Report on pilot action 2 preparation phase
Report on pilot action 2 implementation phase
Report on pilot action 2 evaluation phase
Report on pilot action 3 preparation phase
Report on pilot action 3 implementation phase
Report on pilot action 3 evaluation phase
Interactive exchange of experience workshop
Transnational handbook on ZEB4ZEN pilots
Transnational methodology for MRV of energy savings
Assessment of the cultural heritage locations within the pilot neighbourhoods
Energy flows of cultural heritage sites
Strategy on energy retrofit of cultural heritage neighbourhoods
The New European Bauhaus and pilot neighbourhoods
Promotion of pilot neighbourhoods within the new European Bauhaus initiative
Cultural heritage sites thoroughly digitalised
Building information modelling for zero energy neighbourhoods’ guidelines
Jointly developed neighbourhood digital-twin focused on cultural heritage sites
Citizen’s involvement
Development of green and digital energy action plans
Energy action plans communication strategy
Virtual reality tool design
VR tool pilot testing
VR tool deployment
Presentation of the VR tool at the local level
Presentation of the VR tool at the regional/national and transnational level

Contribution to wider strategies and policies:

EuropeanGreenDeal The European Commission adopted a set of proposals to make the EU's climate, energy, transport and taxation policies fit for reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels. The ZEB4ZEN project will help achieve the targets by showing that the slightly changed focus from individual buildings to neighbourhood can boost the implementation of urgently needed green and digital solutions.
TerritorialAgenda2030 The Territorial Agenda 2030 seeks to promote an inclusive and sustainable future for all places and to help achieve Sustainable Development Goals in Europe. Joint innovative results of the ZEB4ZEN project are inevitably going to influence the green Europe objective in all three priorities since the project is focused on building the healthier environment of neighbourhoods that are following the key circular economy principles combining sustainable digital and physical solutions.
EUStrategyDanubeRegion The ZEB4ZEN project contributes to the goal of EUSDR Sustainable Energy priority area (PA2), especially the objective related to launching the cutting-edge technology developments, which will increase the energy efficiency of the region and enhance the use of renewable energy sources. Both PP1 and PP2 as being part of the EUSDR area will be strongly involved in promoting project results within this regional strategy.
EUStrategyAdriaticIonianRegion The ZEB4ZEN project contributes only moderately to EUSAIR strategy in the Pillar 4: Sustainable Tourism and the topic 2 Sustainable and responsible tourism management (innovation and quality) since the ZEB4ZEN pilot actions are implemented in three UNESCO protected neighbourhoods (PP4, PP7 and AP) and three star-shaped cities that will implement innovation and quality and thereby improve the tourism offer and enhance sustainability.
EUStrategyBalticSeaRegion The ZEB4ZEN project contributes to the goal of EUSBSR Policy Area Energy, especially the Action 1 Streamlining efforts on energy efficiency in the region by deepening regional cooperation and Action 4 Increasing the share of renewable energy. Both PP6 and PP7 as being part of the EUBSR area will be strongly involved in promoting project results within this regional strategy.
EUStrategyAlpineRegion The project integrates well with the EUSALP strategy in particular with respect to the AG9 aim "Greening the Alpine infrastructure" which focuses on energy efficiency in the building sector and promotes harmonised, affordable and operational assessment tools to be used by public authorities in order to boost sustainable and low-carbon buildings as well as with the AG5 "Smart villages initiative" where ICT makes energy efficiency solutions more feasible and widespread even in rural areas.
Other The ZEB4ZEN`s pilot projects will be applied to the annual New European Bauhaus competitions to achieve better promotion of project outputs and an opportunity to continue the communication activities even after the project is finalized. Also, the pilot projects tackle all Renovation Wave focus areas, most directly decarbonisation of heating and cooling and energy renovation of worst performing buildings, through research and innovation and direct investments.

Programme Common Output Indicator:

RCO 116 - Jointly developed solutions, Measurement unit:
RCO 084 - Pilot actions developed jointly and implemented in projects, Measurement unit:
RCO 087 - Organisations cooperating across borders, Measurement unit:
RCO 083 - Strategies and action plans jointly developed, Measurement unit:

Delivered output indicator(s):

(RCO87) Organisations cooperating across borders: 14.0

Programme Common Result Indicator:

RCR 084 - Organisations cooperating across borders after project completion, Measurement unit:
RCR 104 - Solutions taken up or up-scaled by organisations, Measurement unit:
RCR 079 - Joint strategies and action plans taken up by organisations, Measurement unit:

Project part of European Union Macro-Regional or Sea Basin Strategy: EUSBSR

EUSBSR Priority (Policy) area / Horizontal action:

EUSBSR Degree of compliance:

Project part of European Union Macro-Regional or Sea Basin Strategy: EUSALP

EUSALP Priority (Policy) area / Horizontal action:

EUSALP Degree of compliance:

Project part of European Union Macro-Regional or Sea Basin Strategy: EUSDR

Project part of European Union Macro-Regional or Sea Basin Strategy: EUSAIR

EUSAIR Priority (Policy) area / Horizontal action:

EUSAIR Degree of compliance:

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B Central Europe

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2025-10-08

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

100 / 100 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

1 013 / 1 011 (100.2%)

Notes on the data

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Zero energy buildings for zero energy neighbourhoods

Description

Thematic information

Partners (7)

Partners map

Summary

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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