The European Union (EU) energy policy encourages member states to start converting building stock into nearly Zero-Energy Buildings (nZEB) and public authorities to adopt exemplary actions. nZEB are achieved by combining high energy efficiency and renewable energy sources. Low energy buildings are becoming the standard for new buildings in North-Centre European countries. However, there are several barriers that hinder school buildings’ renovation from achieving nZEB levels in Mediterranean climates, for instance:
- Insufficient knowledge about existing technologies that can be used to renovate buildings up to nZEB in Mediterranean climate.
- Inefficient tools for public sector to achieve the nZEB renovation.
In addition, Mediterranean zones are characterized by high diversity climatic conditions (on the coast, with high population density, winters are mild and summers are relatively hot and humid, while inner areas are generally drier and less temperate), so they need a specific approach, different from those used for colder climates.
For this reason, ZEMedS’s actions are mainly addressed to involve and commit 2 target groups, school policy makers and building designers, by providing technical and financial assistance on the nZEB renovation of schools in Mediterranean climates, and giving support in succeeding in implementing school renovation with the nZEB goals.