PREFABRICATED SYSTEMS FOR
RETROFITS OF RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
For a better, and more sustainable future, we need to change the way we design new homes and renovate existing ones. The current landscape points to an unsettling reality: within the European Union, the built environment alone accounts for a staggering 40% of total energy consumption. Moreover, the energy intricately woven into the very fabric of buildings constitutes as much as 60% of their overall energy usage across their lifespan, inevitably accompanied by a substantial carbon footprint.
Compounding these concerns is the startling revelation that a substantial portion, ranging from 25% to 30%, of the waste streams generated within the EU originate from the construction and demolition sectors. These statistics are a poignant reminder of the persistently unsustainable trajectory defined by the outdated linear model of “take, make, waste.”
The urgency for transformation is undeniable. A paradigm shift is crucial. This commitment finds its bedrock in initiatives such as the EU Green Deal and the Renovation Wave, both set to play pivotal roles in realizing the environmental aspirations in the years ahead. A useful summary of construction and renovation based on the circular economy
BENEFITS OF SERIAL RENOVATION
Energy efficicency Year-round implementation Factory-produced insulated wall elements allow renovations to continue year-round, even in winter, ensuring uninterrupted progress. Faster completion Industrial methods cut renovation time 50%.
Heating energy consumption drops by 50–60%, reducing costs.
Minimal disruption No scaffolding needed, allowing residents to stay in their homes.
WHY CHOOSE PREFABRICATED SOLUTION?
Modernized appearance and added features boost property worth. Using factory-built reconstruction elements reduces facade maintenance costs by 2-3 times over a building's lifetime.
Windows and facade finishing
Ventilation pipes
The DRIVE 0 concept is based on developing circular deep renovation solutions and supporting consumer centered business models for 7 specific study and demonstration cases as real environments. The Estonian project was led by Timbeco in collaboration with Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech). Industrial serial renovation optimizes efficiency by utilizing factory-produced, lightweight wooden 2D elements to insulate the building envelope, including walls and roofs. These prefabricated panels integrate insulation, windows, ventilation ducts, and exterior cladding, making them ideal for upgrading apartment buildings up to nine stories high.
Beyond accelerating the renovation process and ensuring high-quality construction by eliminating weather-related disruptions, this approach also advances sustainability. The durable 2D panels are designed for long-term use and can be repurposed as whole elements, supporting the circular economy. For example, panels initially used to insulate an apartment building can, after 50 years, be reused in constructing a new residential structure. This adaptability maximizes resource efficiency and further reduces the built environment’s carbon footprint. Solar panels on the facade
Project period: 2019 - 2024 Link to research Ventilation pipes are pre-installed within these elements, ensuring seamless connection between units and to a central ventilation system. This approach enhances energy efficiency, reduces on-site labor, and accelerates installation while maintaining a clean, modern facade. DRASTIC stands for demonstrating real and affordable sustainable building solutions with Top-level whole life cycle performance and Improved Circularity. Working with 23 partners across eight European countries, Drastic is a four-year project which is supported by the European Union under grant number 101123330. Drastic’s Estonian Demonstrator is led by Timbeco in collaboration with the Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech). Project period: 2024 - 2028 Project period: 2024 - 2028 Solar panels can be seamlessly integrated into these elements, either as part of the external cladding or mounted onto pre-installed fixings. This approach enhances energy efficiency, reduces on-site labor, and accelerates installation while maintaining a sleek, modern appearance. By combining insulation, ventilation, and renewable energy systems within the facade, serial renovation maximizes sustainability and building performance.
CARBON FOOTPRINT ACROSS A BUILDING´S LIFECYCLE
RENOMIZE aims to leverage know-how and engineering innovations from industry and academia to make steady strides for more sustainable and efficient building renovation processes. This includes, but is not limited to, the use of novel building materials, pre-fabricated element production optimisations and innovative robotics solutions. Renomize Estonian demonstrator is Timbeco.
PROCESS DESCRIPTION
Increase property value The built environment accounts for nearly 40% of global carbon emissions, making sustainable construction essential. A building’s carbon footprint comes from materials, energy use, and land impact.
Renovation is far more resource-efficient than new construction, preserving existing materials, energy, and labor while avoiding emissions from demolition and rebuilding. It reduces raw material use, construction waste, and embodied carbon.
Energy-efficient renovations, with improved insulation, ventilation, and renewable energy, lower emissions and enhance sustainability, making them the climate-friendly alternative to new construction. The existing building is scanned in 3D using ground-based equipment and drones, creating a highly detailed point cloud that accurately captures its dimensions and features.
TIMBECO ROLE IN EU CIRCULAR RENOVATION RESEARCH PROJECTS
Project: Kuuma 4, Saue Drive0 pilot project
Source: nZEB Research Group, TalTech
Laser scanning Modeling & design
REFERENCE: KUUMA 4, SAUE, ESTONIA
In 2021, we renovated an apartment building in Saue, Estonia following circular economy principles. As part of the Drive0 innovation initiative, the project provided valuable insights into sustainable renovation.
Our goal was to complete the work efficiently while ensuring materials could be reused at the building’s end of life. We prioritized locally sourced materials, such as Estonian-made facade elements and windows, and maximized material reuse.
Before construction, a laser scan generated a point cloud of the facade and surroundings, used to create a precise 3D model in Autodesk Revit.
The renovation included replacing heating, water, and sewage systems, installing intake-exhaust ventilation with heat recovery, and partially reconstructing the electrical system to improve efficiency and sustainability.
A precise BIM model is generated from the 3D scan, enabling engineers to analyze and accommodate any structural deviations.
Production of wall elements
High-quality prefabricated elements are manufactured in a controlled factory environment, ensuring precision, sustainability, and consistent quality.
Transport and installation
Prefabricated elements are transported to the site and installed swiftly, minimizing disruption for occupants and significantly reducing the renovation timeline.
www.drive0.eu
www.drasticproject.eu
PREFABRICATED TIMBER FRAME ELEMENTS
Prefabricated timber frame elements combine insulation, structure, and finishes into a single system for fast, high-quality construction with minimal on-site work. Factory production ensures precision, reduces waste, and speeds up installation. Lightweight and easy to transport, timber lowers emissions and fuel use. Advanced fireproofing enables safe use in buildings up to nine stories. Designed for recyclability and modern aesthetics, these elements offer sustainable and visually appealing solutions. SEE MORE
ADDITIONAL FLOORS IN EXISTING APARTMENT BLOCK
Adding additional floors to old apartment blocks is an efficient way to increase housing supply, enhance building value, and support sustainable urban growth. By utilizing the existing structure, this approach maximizes land use while minimizing demolition waste and the carbon footprint associated with new construction.
Lightweight, factory-produced elements and wooden modules are commonly used to add extra floors, ensuring structural feasibility and speeding up installation with minimal disruption to residents. In many cases, foundation or load-bearing reinforcements are unnecessary, but this is determined through expert evaluation.
In addition to creating new living spaces, rooftop extensions provide an opportunity for energy-efficient upgrades, including improved insulation, modernized HVAC systems, and the integration of solar panels. These enhancements contribute to better energy performance and long-term sustainability.
Overall, vertical extensions offer a cost-effective and eco-friendly way to revitalize aging apartment buildings, increasing density without consuming additional land.
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