LocalRegen. Multi-criteria methodology for the evaluation of local renovation strategies of housing from the perspective of Life Cycle thinking (PID2019-104871RB)

Principal Investigator: Belinda López Mesa
Programme: Spanish National R&D Programme for Knowledge Generation and Research Challenges
Funding body: Spanish State Research Agency (AEI)
Duration: 1 June 2020 – 30 September 2023

Summary:
The completed coordinated research project LocalREGEN successfully developed a multi-criteria methodology based on a life-cycle perspective to evaluate and monitor local residential renovation strategies. Funded under the "Retos de Investigación" call by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, the project officially operated from June 1, 2020, to September 30, 2023.

Its coordinated structure integrated two main research subprojects: Subproject 1 (LocalREGEN-A), led by the Built4Life Lab of the University of Zaragoza (Grant: PID2019-104871RB-C21), which focused its localized validation on the region of Aragón; and Subproject 2 (LocalREGEN-E), led by the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) (Grant: PID2019-104871RB-C22), which centered its pilot case studies on the Basque Country.

The scientific contributions and operations of LocalREGEN-A were driven by three core research blocks:

• Block 1: Decarbonization Indicators & Data Availability: This block focused on studying indicators to monitor the decarbonization of the building stock across Europe, specifically targeting data quality and availability in Spain. This fundamental work was a highly coordinated effort between both subprojects, culminating in the open-access Springer book titled Assessing Progress in Decarbonizing Spain's Building Stock: Indicators and Data Availability, co-edited by Belinda López-Mesa and Xabat Oregi.


• Block 2: Advanced Data Enrichment (UBEM & DBL): This block explored innovative methodologies for data generation and management through two completely different analytical natures. 2.1. UBEM (Urban Building Energy Modeling): This approach aimed to maximize and improve the immediate utility of existing infrastructure. By developing scripts and automated models to cross-reference and process public, open-access datasets—such as the cadastre and official Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) databases—this framework succeeded in expanding the availability and quality of operational metrics required for regional sustainability indicators. 2.2. o DBL (Digital Building Logbook): In contrast to working with current data, this approach acted as a future-oriented conceptual model. Through a rigorous review of emerging frameworks, it established the structural blueprint for a comprehensive, long-term building repository. Rather than fixing current gaps, it designs a paradigm for a future digital ecosystem where multi-criteria building life-cycle information can flow natively and systematically.

• Block 3: Empirical Validation & Public Transfer (SensorEmmeline): This block introduced the SensorEmmeline initiative to capture real-world data, directly addressing a critical weak point identified in prior literature: the widespread lack of empirical tracking regarding the actual, on-site performance of building interventions. Developed in close partnership with the Municipal Housing Society, Zaragoza Vivienda, and in collaboration with the HowLAB research group, this initiative focused on the continuous IoT sensor-based monitoring of social rental units in the Emmeline de Pankhurst building (located in the Actur neighborhood of Zaragoza).