Through the LIFE IP program, The European Union funds projects for environment and climate action. LIFE IP BuildEST project goal is pursuing Estonian national climate ambition through smart and resilient renovation. During the project, long-term renovation strategy of Estonian buildings (LTRS) will be updated and BuildEST has a crucial role implementing the strategy.
The European Union has set a target to develop a sustainable, competitive, secure, and decarbonised energy system by 2050, and the built environment has a major role to play in accomplishing this goal. The majority of the existing European building stock originates from the period of low requirements on energy performance that followed World War II, and at present about 75% of buildings are highly inefficient, consuming about 40% of total energy produced in Europe. Existing European building stock has a large potential for energy performance improvement, especially in colder regions. The strategy “A Renovation Wave for Europe – Greening our buildings, creating jobs, improving lives" was published in 2020 and aims to double the rate of building renovation in the EU, from 1% to at least 2% annually, by the end of this decade.
In Estonia, even faster rates of renovation are required because of inefficient construction quality and energy performance of old buildings and due to a large renovation deficit. Estonia’s long-term building renovation strategy was developed according to the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive with the aim of providing a strategical plan for transforming all the existing buildings into highly energy efficient and low carbon buildings by 2050.
- LIFE IP BuildEST objectives are to raise capacity, increase experiences, and develop the necessary toolset for improving energy performance and reducing carbon emissions of Estonian building stock in the required rate and depth set in LTRS.
- LIFE IP BuildEST will also provide a national framework and starter mechanism for carrying out the EU Renovation Wave Initiative on a national level. Sectoral capacity building foreseen in the LIFE IP project will help adoption of the initiative effectively by avoiding negative consequences (possible market failures and negative environmental impacts), establish a national framework for fast adoption of the regulations and financing.
- The larger goal of the BuildEST project is that environmental and climate issues are closely linked to the development of the built environment - it must be holistic, sustainable and in view of the long term.
LIFE IP BuildEST project started in 2022 and runs until 2028. The grant is awarded by the European Climate Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency. The total budget of the project is about 16.3 million euros, of which the European grant is 9.5 million.
Policy making
We map, develop, and demonstrate practices and tools for decarbonising existing building stock. We will find out what are the main obstacles to renovation, how the current practice in Estonia and other countries has worked and what needs to be changed. As a result of the work, the basic material for the development of energy-efficient renovation policies, business models and measures will be completed and LTRS will be updated.
Technical solutions
We establish best practices, develop science-based renovation solutions and guidelines. We make them available to owners and specialists. Developing solutions, we`ll consider the specifics and cultural value of the building type. The biggest challenges are the type of buildings that have been so far less studied: private houses, small apartment buildings and buildings in milieu valued housing areas. On typical apartment buildings, we focus on quarter-based industrialised renovation.
Demo showcases
We test and check the proposed solutions on pilot objects, also the possibilities to reuse construction materials and products. Sustainably renovated buildings are a good example and encourage neighbours to act. We will involve the communities to find solutions to rebuild the neighbourhood.
Adaption to changed climatic conditions
Climate changes has brought new circumstances. Europe has experienced per year more frequent floods, strong winds, wet periods, and more frequent near-zero temperatures. All this puts more demanding conditions on building materials and reconstruction.
In the project we establish climate risk evaluation criteria for deep renovation, and so ensuring climate resilience of buildings by designing and renovating them to last longer, avoid numerous renovations, improve their preparedness to withstand extreme weather conditions and consider the reduced cost for heating, cooling and hygrothermal performance of buildings due to changing climate, flood resilience technologies.
Circularity principles to renovation
Recycled building materials are a resource that we have used too little so far. We map the main barriers to material recycling and look for solutions for smart renovation and demolition.
We are exploring ways to easily dismantle and reuse building materials. We are testing the process of re-certification of element reuse and material recycling and developing the concept of a digital and physical material bank. The aim is to use the materials as long and repeatedly as possible, while ensuring their quality. In this way, we reduce construction and demolition waste and the need to use new natural resources.
We apply resource efficiency and circularity principles to renovation, such as circular use of materials, use of biobased materials, and high-quality recycling of construction materials, phasing out hazardous substances, incorporating waste treatment and pollution prevention principles, as well as considering the embodied energy and environmental impact of building in assessment of buildings.
Awareness raising
We will raise the awareness of owners, specialists, and general public about the possibilities of renovating buildings and thereby increase the demand for renovation. We highlight the benefits of energy-efficient renovation - homes last longer, are safer, have a better indoor climate, have lower maintenance costs, and improve accessibility. This is a multiple benefit for both the owner and the environment. Relevant target groups are owners of residential buildings, also owners, tenants, and managers of commercial and public real estate.
Buildings need maintenance and refurbishment even if energy efficiency is excluded. Falling canopies or balcony panels, a dilapidated facade, mold in a corner of the room, leaking pipes and a dangerous gas appliance are just some of the problems that will need to be addressed in an increasing number of buildings in the near future. However, the profit is multiple if the buildings can also be made energy efficient during the complete renovation.
Digital technologies
Already today, Estonia is the first country in the world where the entire building stock has a dynamically updated digital twin. In the project, we will advance digital tools that can be applied more to the use, maintenance, and renovation of buildings. At the same time, we want to increase their quality and availability and automate their choices for energy performance monitoring and smart readiness of renovation. In addition, we will further develop the digital logbook and renovation passport.
Project outcomes structured by focus area/work-package
Work-package 1. Development of stakeholder specific financial models and policy instruments for deep renovation:
NEB Compass: How to apply the New European Bauhaus principles to building renovation
Work-package 2. Guidance Document: applying the principles of the New European Bauhaus to building renovation projects
Photo: Eesti Vabaõhumuuseum, Esna-Kareda 2022
Work-package 2. Development of building and stakeholder type specific technical solutions and guidelines to streamline the renovation:
Work-package 2. Damage survey and infocharts:
Work-package 3. Setting up a renovation showcase (living labs):
Annelinn+, a joint living lab for the BuildEST and oPENlab projects, to accelerate high-rise (more than 5 stories) apartment building and neighbourhood renovation. Photo: Tiina Pitk
Work-package 4. Modelling climate risks, adopting the results in renovation standards and regulations and testing smart adaptation solutions, but also guidance materials for assessing building climate resilience and stormwater flood risks:
Work-package 5. Advancing resource efficiency and circular solutions for renovation:
Project partners:
Ministries: Ministry of Climate (coordinating beneficiary, up to 01.07.2023: Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications)
Universities: Tallinn University of Technology, Estonian Academy of Arts
Public authorities: Estonian Business and Innovation Agency (former KredEx), Environmental Investments Centre, State Real Estate Ltd, Information Technology Centre of the Ministry of the Environment
Municipalities: Tartu, Võru, and Rakvere city governments
Professional associations: The Estonian Union of Co-operative Housing Associations, Estonian Open-Air Museum Foundation Centre of Rural Architecture, Tartu Regional Energy Agency, Estonian Circular Economy Industries Association, Estonian Association of Construction Entrepreneurs, Estonian Digital Construction Cluster, Estonian Woodhouse Association
Contacts
Lauri Suu
LIFE IP Buildest project manager
- +372 5885 1144
- [email protected]
Anni Martin
LIFE IP Buildest project coordinator
- +372 5885 1066
- [email protected]
The BuildEST project has co-funded by the European Union. Financing agreement no: LIFE20 IPC/EE/000010 - LIFE IP BUILDEST
Views and opinions expressed in this website are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CINEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
Last updated: 14.10.2025
