Impact of energy retrofits on indoor environmental quality and hygrothermal performance of the buildings in different climate scenarios

Programme 2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B Northern Periphery and Arctic

Date of latest update: 2025-09-24

Description

Description (EN):

Residential building stock energy retrofits play a key role in EU climate actions. The impacts of these retrofits on indoor environmental quality (IEQ) and occupant comfort need to be assessed to inform future renovation programmes. Both European and national housing surveys have reported housing quality problems linked to IEQ and occupant health. There is a continued need to engage SMEs and other stakeholders in the monitoring of retrofit techniques and their impact on IEQ, and hygrothermal performance of building structures, to provide sustainable and healthy buildings. The RIAQ project will inform and engage SMEs, building stakeholders, and occupants about common protocols for an IEQ assessment, and assess the potential for improving IEQ along with energy efficiency and improving the resistance of buildings in the changing climate. The RIAQ project will present further evidence for the potential in improving IEQ in the current residential building stock. The RIAQ develops the assessment protocol and promotes sustainable retrofit techniques, supporting the transition to a circular and resource efficient economy, climate change adaptation, and energy efficiency of retrofitted buildings. The RIAQ will sought to accelerate the ability of peripheral communities, SMEs, and national and international inspection services to create solutions for energy retrofits. It will connect SMEs interested in generating sustainable energy retrofit solutions, and give them greater insight into emerging technologies, upcycling opportunities, and product development strategies, including product sustainability narratives centred on the circular economy. Drawing on the expert connections developed during RIAQ, the project will also inform and engage SMEs, stakeholders, and communities about the relevant legislation and policies which are taking shape around national and transnational circular economy initiatives.

Actual Achievements (EN):

The preparatory project has effectively laid the groundwork for our main project application. Through documentation, we have successfully captured the evolution of our project idea and the formation of a collaborative and dynamic partnership. A key achievement lies in the documentation of project-specific deliverables. We have studied retrofit approaches, delving into the intricacies of energy, thermal and hygrothermal performance and indoor air quality (IAQ), and design features within a pilot sample of homes in both Ireland and Finland. This exploration serves as a foundation for our larger initiative. A major milestone is the initiation of a pilot project, where we've undertaken the harmonization of protocols for consistent evaluation of IAQ. This standardized approach ensured a robust methodology for assessing the performance of buildings both before and after retrofit. The data collected from total of five houses, out of which four were pre-retrofit and one post-retrofit, provided valuable insights that informed our main project's strategic direction. The preparatory project provided an opportunity for the team to develop new knowledge and skills. One example is the set up required to collect an indoor pollutant, Acrolein, which is a volatile organic chemical (VOC) for which further indoor exposure data are required. Indoor acrolein sources include smoking and wood combustion, burning incense, and building materials. There is some evidence that the use of wood burning stoves could become popular across European homes as a secondary heating source in energy retrofits, therefore it is timely to evaluate the impact of their use on indoor acrolein concentrations. Exposure to acrolein can cause eye and respiratory irritation (short term), while carcinogenicity effects are uncertain and require further study. Acrolein is very difficult to measure, therefore a new collaboration was established with the Fraunhofer Institute fr. Wood research in Germany, who assisted the team develop competency in this area. Samples for acrolein were collected according to recommended protocols acquired from Germany, where the samples were sent for analyses. The team also developed new knowledge and skills regarding how to collect indoor dust samples for microbial analysis, which was conducted in three pilot homes in Finland. Due to time constraints, the analyses results were not obtained, but the necessary field protocols were discussed and harmonized in collaboration with National Institute for Health and Welfare, Department of Environmental Health in Kuopio Finland, with whom we also established a continuing partnership. The collaboration between Ireland and Finland in this preparatory phase has added significant value. By combining expertise and perspectives from diverse backgrounds, we have cultivated a rich pool of knowledge. This synergy not only enhanced the credibility of our project but also fostered a collective approach toward addressing shared challenges in retrofitting and building sustainability. The preparatory project has set a solid foundation, demonstrating our commitment to innovation, collaboration, the pursuit of sustainable solutions, outreach, networking, and forming new partnerships. This initial phase of work propels us forward with confidence as we embark on the larger endeavor outlined in the main project application.

Thematic information

Construction and renovation SME and entrepreneurship

Priority: (VI-B_NPaA_2) Strengthening the capacity for climate change adaptation, and resource sufficiency in NPA communities

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: 046 Support to entities that provide services contributing to the low carbon economy and to resilience to climate change, including awareness-raising measures

Partners (2)

Lead Partner: University of Oulu

Partner’s ID if not PIC: FI02458955

Department: Good Indoor Air and Building Health/Civil Engineering/Faculty of Technology

Address: Pentti Kaiteran katu, 90014 Oulu, Finland

Department address: Pentti Kaiteran katu, 90014 Oulu, Finland

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.oulu.fi

Total budget: EUR 49 664.80

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 32 282.12

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 65.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 17 382.68

University of Galway

Name: University of Galway

Department: College of Science and Engineering

Partner’s ID if not PIC: IE0022578J

Address: University Road, H91 TK33 Galway, Ireland

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: https://www.universityofgalway.ie

Total budget: EUR 49 166.42

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 31 958.17

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 65.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 17 208.25

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

University of Galway

Impact of energy retrofits on indoor environmental quality and hygrothermal performance of the buildings in different climate scenarios

Partners and Projects info

University of Oulu

Impact of energy retrofits on indoor environmental quality and hygrothermal performance of the buildings in different climate scenarios

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Impact of energy retrofits on indoor environmental quality and hygrothermal performance of the buildings in different climate scenarios

Project acronym: RIAQ - Prep

Project ID: NPA0200057

Project start date: 2022-12-01

Project end date: 2023-11-30

Project status: closed

Relevant linked projects:

METABUILDING Labs (https://metabuilding-labs.eu/) (EN) | The project gives access to EU wide network of testing facilities (and partners) and innovation services for new building envelope technologies and products. (EN), Ireland’s national Construction Technology Centre (www.constructinnovate.ie) (EN) | Ireland’s national Construction Technology Centre brings together the whole value chain to accelerate people-centric innovation in construction and the built environment that drives the transition towards a sustainable society and economy. (EN), Built2Spec project (https://built2spec-project.eu/) (EN) | Tools for the 21st century construction worksite. The project developed new and innovative on-site quality assurance tools to bridge the gap between the design and operational phases of building life cycle. Those included 3D imagery tools, BIM, smart building components, IAQ tools, airtightness test tools, thermal imaging and acoustic tools. (EN), nZEB RETROFIT (http://www.nzeb-retrofit.com/) (EN) | The project examined the effectiveness of innovative building structural elements and systems, regarding their structural, environmental and energy performance in retrofitting existing buildings. The project provided Irish network of stakeholders and knowledge/experience in terms of design, consumption, building methods, materials, energy efficiency, costs and user comfort in building retrofits. (EN), InChildHealth (https://www.oulu.fi/en/projects/inchildhealth-identifying-determinants-indoor-air-quality-and-their-health-impact-environments) (EN) | The project identifies determinants for indoor air quality and their health impact in environments for children: measures to improve indoor air quality and reduce disease burdens (EN)

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 98 831.22

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 64 240.29

Total EU funding (co-financing rate): 65.00%

Co-financing sources:

ERDF: Amount, EUR 64 240.29. Co-financing rate, 65.00%.

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

(bullets are inserted automatically and may be incorrectly placed)

Deliverables:

Management (early stage)
Management (final stage)
Identification of energy retrofit approaches
Engagement with main and future project partners and stakeholders
Investigating IEQ and sustainable design features in pilot sample of homes in Ireland and Finland
Pilot project - Harmonizing protocol
Pilot project - Hygrothermal performance pre and post retrofitted buildings

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

Financing programme

2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B Northern Periphery and Arctic

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

2025-09-24

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

65 / 65 (100%)

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

310 / 310 (100%)

Notes on the data

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Impact of energy retrofits on indoor environmental quality and hygrothermal performance of the buildings in different climate scenarios

Description

Thematic information

Partners (2)

Partners map

Summary

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

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

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