PREPARATORY ACTIONS
Action A.1. Information collection and design of technical criteria for the choice of pilot buildings
It is intended to design a methodology that allows to identify and select technical criteria that facilitate the choice of the pilot buildings of the project. The selection of these technical criteria will be carried out through the analysis of information provided by the administrations with competences in the buildings and databases of the ministries of education and social services of Spain and Portugal. Some of the technical criteria that we intend to work on are: the type of construction, construction age, type of cladding, type of roofs, building materials, orientation and exterior context of the building.
Information from the education centres and social care services of Badajoz, Alentejo and Porto will be provided to correctly diagnose the type of Nature-Based Solutions to be implemented in each building. In addition, land occupancy maps and replicable reference models will be created for the selection of buildings.
In any case, it seeks to select pilot buildings for the project based on the technical criteria and standards that schools and social assistance centers located in the project area have to meet.
Action A.2. Drafting of projects for the application of nature-based prototypes in pilot buildings.
It is intended to examine all information related to Nature-Based Solutions, their application as climate adaptation tools and their effectiveness (investment/benefit). Through networking and clustering actions with various European projects and the generation of knowledge of the project will allow us to obtain an updated documentary basis for the elaboration and drafting of technical projects. A knowledge platform will be designed that will contain verified quality information on the different solutions based on nature, scope, social, economic and environmental impact, as well as the sustainability of its implementation. All this information will be transferred to the European Climate-Adapt Platform and the OPPLA Platform.
An analytical tool will be developed that will allow us to plan and choose Nature-Based Solutions based on the technical criteria and typology of buildings. The different technical projects and drafting of optional technical specifications for the execution and implementation of the works will be developed.
OBLIGATORY ACTIONS
Action C.1. Preparation and drafting of the Pilot Buildings
BaselineIt will collect the environmental, social and economic challenges that are to be faced with the actions proposed in the project, the indicators that will measure the impact of the actions and the metrics that have been considered appropriate for its evaluation.A study will be carried out to define the Baseline of buildings by installing humidity, temperature, mini-weather sensors in pilot and mirror buildings. In addition, a planning will be defined for the measurement of noise values, thermal images and radon gas.
Action C.2. Implementation of Nature-Based Solutions in pilot buildings. Execution of Works
The different Nature Based Solutions prototypes will be implemented in each pilot building. These actions consist of an analysis and selection of indigenous and sustainable plant species, the application of LEADSKIN system on exterior facades and load walls, creation of sustainable roofs and bioclimatic roofs through a novel system of pots or containers of simple integration on roofs and compatible with inverted coverage taxes, the implementation of sustainable and efficient green surfaces outside buildings , the development of action plans for the implementation of induced natural ventilation formulas and seasonal shading structures and the creation of “Living Pavement” permeable surfaces in car parks and common areas of buildings.
These Nature-Based Solutions will be used for the first time in education and social services centers, for this reason, the impact of them will be evaluated as tools of climate adaptation and improvement of well-being. In addition, the results of the evaluation will be taken into account in LEVEL (common standards of sustainable building in Europe).
Action C.3. Monitoring and Evaluation of Nature-Based Solutions as climate adaptation measures in pilot buildings
The monitoring of the established variables will be carried out for a minimum of two years during the execution of the project and after the completion of the project (minimum 5 years), with the information collected, the impacts that have occurred taking into account the defined baseline will be evaluated. In addition, surveys will be carried out on the risk groups (children, the elderly and the disabled) with the aim of assessing the welfare status after the interventions carried out.
Action C.4. Governance for the active adaptation of Climate Change in Education and Social Services Buildings.
The state of heritage, the management and maintenance of schools and social buildings have different competitive status in terms of the responsibility and actions of public administrations. In this sense, the project will work with different administrations that have different level of competence (national, regional and local) and that are responsible for these buildings.
It is therefore necessary that the development of this action allows consensus, synergies, teamwork, positive flow of institutions and governance to centralize and incorporate the climate problem of these buildings into the agenda of politicians and decision-makers.
The prototypes and actions based on the nature to be implemented in this project have a multidisciplinary character. This allows for continuous interaction with different public administrations and enabling the participation of target groups and stakeholders.
Information will be collected from the administrations responsible for the centres and key actors will be identified to support the pillars of governance within and outside the geographical context of the project. Governance tools will be developed to generate positive flow of teamwork with all administrations. Territorial agreements will be created to promote synergies between communities, municipalities and institutions in the territories. The implementation of open spaces for dialogue and the creation of participatory and negotiation processes will be facilitated. The “adaptive governance” methodology developed in different climate change adaptation projects will be used. Different forms of institutional dialogue and governance and management teams will be working to facilitate the integration of Nature Based Solutions into policies and implementing regulations.
Action C.5. Integration and transferability at local, national and European level
Tools will be developed to enable the transfer of results, replication and scaling of actions implemented in other EU buildings and to demonstrate their economic, social and environmental viability in the different education and social services buildings in the four EU climate regions. Reference models will be created for the selection of buildings, tools for the application of NBS in EU buildings, NBS projects will be designed for implementation in EU buildings, a Replicability and Financial Plan will be carried out.
Expert meetings will be organized to discuss the experiences and results of actions implemented at local, national and European levels.
Action C.6. Action Plan to Strengthen Adaptability in Current and Future Buildings
Simple, realistic and demonstrative information on the implementation of nature-based actions for adapting buildings in Europe’s cities and towns to climate change will be provided to decision-makers and policy makers. A Nature-Based Solutions training package will be created for Climate Adaptation of Buildings.
MONITORING ACTIONS
Action D.1. Monitoring the impact of project indicators
Monitoring of the effects by the project’s actions and the effectiveness of technical actions to measure the impact of the project on the objective environmental problem is therefore what will be undertaken with the work in this action, ensuring its evaluation on a regular basis and allowing both the reporting of indicators and the establishment of the project baseline for effective comparative monitoring of the progress and results of all actions. To carry out this action, specific indicators have already been identified in advance to measure the impact of the project, consistent with the environmental and climate problem addressed and with the type of nature-based solutions.
Action D.2. Monitoring the socio-economic impact of project actions
NBS has great potential in Mediterranean climates such as the one represented in the project, as they can save between 20 and 50% of the energy consumption required for the cooling of a building. The application of NBS on the roofs of buildings reduces the temperature with respect to a conventional flat roof up to a maximum of 21ºC, ensuring optimal insulation in both summer and winter. The implementation of NBS in pilot buildings will greatly contribute to reducing sun warming and energy dispersion through the wind envelope. This involves reducing energy for heating and cooling and mitigating thermal conditions in external areas of the building environment (heat island).
To quantify and assess the impact of potential socio-economic benefits, a number of indicators and potential impacts have been selected that will be evaluated and monitored throughout the project, in order to obtain a comprehensive and complete picture of the consequences of the technical actions implemented in the buildings.
Acción D.3. Evaluación, Control y Seguimiento de los indicadores de rendimiento del proyecto. LIFE KPI Webtool
LIFE KPI WebtoolMonitoring, evaluation and monitoring of project indicators will be carried out, taking into account life programme performance indicators and indicators that measure compliance with each of the project actions. This action will help to report on the results achieved and/or deviations experienced compared to the initial project estimates. Information will be provided on the results obtained and the impact of them at the social, economic and environmental level.
COMMUNICATION AND DISSEMINATION ACTIONS
Proper dissemination is considered essential to achieve the objectives and communicate the results of the project. A communication strategy will be developed that will allow the development of this website, triptychs and information panels, project advertising material, press releases and news broadcasts on the project in audiovisual media.
Quality and revised information will be provided to the European Climate-Adapt Platform and OPPLA, as well as to national platforms such as Adaptecca. The connection, sending and publication of results with the CLIMA Network, REBECA Network, PARTENALIA Network will be facilitated.
Networking and clustering activities will be carried out to facilitate contact with the leaders of other European projects, facilitate the establishment of the Technical Committee of Experts.
Conferences and European Congress on the impact and functionality of Nature Based Solutions in cities will be organized. A Training Platform will be created to empower centre leaders on the importance of applying nature-based solutions as climate adaptation measures in schools and social care buildings.Roundtables and discussion forums with streaming communication will be organized to bring light, knowledge, awareness of Nature Based Solutions and their application in the building.
A traveling exhibition will be designed by the pilot buildings of the project to make known to the general public the value and impact of the installed actions. With this action it will connect with the local community to transmit the results of the project, improve awareness of climate change, its impacts and promote participation for the implementation of adaptation measures.
PROJECT COORDINATION AND MANAGEMENT
For the optimal development of the project, both CSIC, CARTIF, DIPBA, CIMAC and MP staff will be in constant communication to coordinate and manage the execution of the actions carried out in the LIFEmyBUILDINGisGREEN.
Administrative, economic and implementation management will be facilitated through the implementation of a teamwork platform. The Coordination team will receive support from a group of experts formed on the one hand in a Scientific Committee and on the other in a Monitoring Committee with representatives of the administrations responsible for the buildings.
