SENZEB

It aims to promote the construction and, primarily, the rehabilitation of residential buildings, equipping them with high eco-efficiency. The project seeks to address the difficulties and challenges implicit in the NZEB standard, contributing to its regulation in Portugal, and demonstrating its viability as an accessible solution for the general population. It aims not only to experiment with known techniques and systems applicable in the construction and rehabilitation of buildings but also to promote the development of innovative solutions through a comprehensive and multidisciplinary research exercise in collaboration with various partners.

The project focuses on two construction initiatives:

• A pilot project for eco-efficient construction (phase 1), promoted and funded by private partners, to test NZEB architectural solutions in the Serra da Estrela.
• A pilot project for eco-efficient rehabilitation, promoted and co-funded by the pilot municipality, of an autonomous building (phase 2), integrated into a group of properties to be intervened in subsequently (phase 3), enhancing the local built heritage.

There are also plans to develop replication projects under similar frameworks for the rehabilitation of other built sets with heritage value in other geographical areas and climatic conditions across the country, in municipalities for replication, as well as the possibility of replication, in a network, at an international scale.

This initiative arises from an association between the Department of Architecture at the University of Coimbra and the design studio Archigraphics—Studio, which has already brought together various strategic partners in the construction sector, laboratories, and research and development centers at UC and the Municipality of Gouveia.

Project coordinated by:

• João Paulo Cardielos

Entities:

ADAI – Association for the Development of Industrial Aerodynamics; CES – Centre for Social Studies of the University of Coimbra; ITeCons – Institute for Research and Technological Development for Construction, Energy, Environment, and Sustainability; EfS – Energy for Sustainability Initiative; Municipality of Gouveia

Based at:

• DARQ