PROJECTS

MOTIVATION AND SCOPE

Complex infrastructures, such as heated swimming pools, sports facilities, hotels, group/nursing homes, hospitals, schools and shopping centres, are responsible for large amounts of energy and water consumption. However, specialized technical knowledge in the design, construction, management and maintenance of this type of infrastructures is still lacking. There is a high degree of technical complexity associated with the systems installed and there are many factors and disciplines that affect energy and water efficiency. Also, there are many technical areas involved in constructing and maintaining a building throughout its lifecycle. Furthermore, the training of employees and the informing of users of these facilities, which directly act on energy and water consumption, is not widely implemented. In this context, there is a need for promoting energy and water efficiency through the increasing of the specialization of small to medium-sized companies that intervene in the construction, maintenance and retrofitting of complex infrastructures. The project, with duration of 24 months, started in December 2017 and is promoted by Itecons (R&D entity).

MAIN GOALS

• Contribute to increasing the specialization of small and medium-sized companies involved in the construction, management, maintenance and retrofitting of complex infrastructures
• Define strategies for rationalization of energy and water consumption, adjusted to several climatic regions of Portugal
• Collectively promote energy and water efficiency for complex infrastructures
• Establish measures with high potential for reducing energy and water consumption that can be replicated in other complex infrastructures
• Establish measures to improve indoor air quality, hygrothermal comfort and the safety of complex infrastructures
• Enhance the competitiveness of the Portuguese business fabric in the face of international standards

PROJECT ACTIVITIES AND EXPECTED RESULTS

The development of the Expert A+ project will be divided into the following main activities:

• Survey and diagnosis;
• Identification of intervention measures and good practices;
• Creation of the visual identity of the project;
• Conception and promotion of the Expert A+ Platform;
• Dissemination of results;
• Monitoring of indicators;
• Technical management.

In the context of the Expert A+ project, rationalization strategies and measures to improve indoor air quality, hygrothermal comfort and safety will be systematically defined for a set of infrastructures, looking for transferability of such measures in regards to other complex infrastructures with high potential for reducing energy and water consumption. For this purpose, the Expert A+ platform will be created. The platform aims at transferring scientific knowledge to companies, as well as at disseminating innovative technical solutions resulting from theoretical and applied research work and technological surveillance actions, both during and after the project. It is intended that this platform asserts itself as a communication interface with manufacturers, designers, managing entities and users of this type of infrastructures. In addition, the platform will serve to support the dissemination of the project and results and to provide calculation tools and technical documents, with generic information and awareness aimed at workers and users of the infrastructures.