An interview of Cátia da Costa from Inegi, Development engineer
Inegi worked on what we called “renovation packages”, tell us more! How did this work feed in the 3 one-stop-shops developed in the HORIS project?
At INEGI, we focused on identifying and designing integrated renovation packages tailored to different building types and national contexts (Portugal, Spain, and Italy). We mapped a wide range of energy efficiency measures: from low-cost, quick interventions to more comprehensive ones like insulation, heating systems, lighting, appliances, renewable energy, and water-saving solutions. Based on this, we developed technical packages that maximise benefits in terms of energy savings, comfort, investment cost, and CO2 reduction.
I’ve learned how critical it is for these measures to work together: one can lose its impact if not combined with others. In our opinion, this work will be a core part of the OSS, because these renovation packages serve as the technical backbone of the platform. They translate complex technical data into clear, personalised recommendations, helping users make informed decisions about improving their homes.
Editor’s note: Discover the home renovation packages available to consumers on the one-stop-shop platform, the Technical measures that will be added to the platform, and the Factsheet of home renovation fast fixes (tips and quick interventions).
How is the work done in other projects important here?
In previous projects outside INEGI, I worked directly with vulnerable consumers facing energy poverty. That helped me better understand what people need, what they already know, and what kind of information actually motivates them. At INEGI, we’ve also built on technical insights from earlier work, like data on building characteristics by construction period and country. For the tool we developed, it was essential to have access to detailed information on the thermal performance of buildings: including heat transfer coefficients and other technical characteristics, broken down by country and construction period. This allowed us to build a solid foundation for the renovation calculation tool we developed, which estimates the heating and cooling needs of each home based on its typology and context. By combining this with renovation measures, we were able to ensure that the proposed solutions are technically reliable and realistically applicable across different building types and climates.
You worked also on the quality assessment of professionals with Bureau Veritas, tell us more.
We contributed by helping BV define the structure of the checklists: including the key topics like windows, heating systems, insulation, etc., and the specific evaluation questions for each area. We also reviewed the content they developed for the training modules, to help ensure it aligns with the technical standards we’ve been applying throughout the project.
Technical solutions for home renovation by country: could you share with us some insights, lessons learned?
One big takeaway was the need to simplify technical content without losing accuracy. We tried to design the backend calculations in a way that minimizes the number of questions users need to answer, while still producing meaningful results. Personally, I also deepened my knowledge of the measures themselves: I discovered alternative solutions that can replace more costly or invasive ones, which could be useful for different user profiles or constraints.
Editor’s note: D4.1 – Reports on financing schemes, legal and regulatory aspects, and technical measures for Portugal, Spain, and Italy (September 2024, NOVA)