SARA is a demonstration project which aims to test advanced sustainable energy technologies integrated by an innovative architectural approach and combined monitoring and building management systems for the construction of a number of public-access eco-buildings.

SARA has constructed six highly sustainable and replicable public-access buildings in five EC Member States (Spain, France, Italy, Slovenia, United Kingdom), and one New Independent State (Uzbekistan). The eco-buildings have been equipped with advanced sustainable energy technologies integrated by an innovative architectural approach and combined monitoring and building management systems (BMS). Given that public-access buildings tend to have relatively intense energy consumption, the overall impact in terms of absolute energy savings and pollution reduction has been particularly significant.

Although each SARA demonstration project was locally focused, horizontal transfer of knowledge between the different projects was facilitated by an expert advice team. Other concentrated teams of participants worked in parallel on specific RTD (Research and Technical Development) issues related to the integration of BMS, remote monitoring, internet-based knowledge dissemination, socio-economic studies and training so as to exploit synergies between all aspects of the project. The key aspects of the project are public access, innovative yet cost effective and replicable results, consideration of end users and interdisciplinary team work on various RTD activities. These aspects, applied across various climatic regions will produce large-scale social, urban and environmental benefits. The project also aimed to contribute to the development of European energy policy and legislation to accelerate market penetration of innovative sustainable technologies.

In order to implement the six demonstration projects and construct the eco-buildings, the SARA Consortium conducted research and analysis on: planning and architecture, material and energy efficiency components, renewable energy systems, plans for the designs, approved materials and construction methods, architectural and execution plans for renewable energy technologies, energy certificates for each SARA project, BMS hardware and software, energy demand and use, and an Intelligent Control Strategy Prototype, among others.

The SARA Consortium implemented the research on sustainable building through the construction of six eco-buildings:

In addition, the SARA project has produced a range of training and communication tools for local authorities and for teachers and trainers working on eco-building subjects and developed an on-line monitoring system for one of the eco-buildings (Educational Office Building in Southampton).

The project cost was 6.03 million euro, 2.92 million funded by the EC.

SARA is an energy demonstration project supported by the European Commission (DG TREN), 6th Framework Programme

Jordi Andreu Batallé (Project Coordinator), tel. +34 93 402 11 45

//2004

case

Urban Policy > Urban environment

Environmental sustainability