Specific programme: LIFE Action Grants (LIFE-2022-CET)
UPV/EHU Partner Status: Beneficiary
UPV/EHU PI: Rufino Javier Hernandez
Project start: 01/09/2023
Project end:   31/08/2026

Brief description: The private residential building renovation journey is a complex path where financial, administrative, technical, and social unexpected problems can arise. Moreover, the building renovation sector is fragmented with frequent coordination problems. Overcoming these
barriers –often inter-related- requires a systemic innovation approach, where the input of a variety of agents (public institutions, industry,
civil society, etc.) needs to be put together to find creative, durable, inclusive, and replicable solutions. The objective of BIRTUOSS is to
upgrade and expand the Opengela service for integrated home renovation, including a wider target of homeowners, creating collaborations
with local stakeholders, defining a governance structure with a sustainable business model, and extending the service to the whole
Basque Region. Aiming renovation of multi-family buildings and energy performance improvements, BIRTUOSS will depart from the
HIROSS4all project experience to improve the Opengela service acting on lessons learnt and a co-creation process and expand it to
several municipalities across the Basque Region. BIRTUOSS will implement a pilot (living lab) to test the model and will be extended to
9 additional OSS during the scope of the project, covering 4,800 inhabitants and 2,102 dwellings. This will be reflected in primary energy
savings of 62.83% (11,41 GWh/year) and a reduction of greenhouse gases emissions of 13,028.54 tCO2/year. During the 5 years after
the project ending, it aims to achieve 10 more, with a total 6,350 inhabitants and 2,744 dwellings. The BIRTUOSS consortium (led by
the Basque Government) will address properly the LIFE-CET-HOMERENO topic requirements and will adapt to the regional scenario
in which the project is to be carried out and then replicated at European level. It comprises 14 partners covering the whole renovation
value chain. Additional entities have been included with an advisory role to fulfil the needs to achieve the ambitious goals.