Energy renovation of buildings in the European Union would lead to considerable energy savings and a 26% reduction in energy consumption. Despite this and the programmes implemented to promote it in the residential environment in Europe and the United States, the barriers that homes, contractors, and finance companies face to undertake these processes have slowed down the results. The emergence of one-stop-shops (OSSs), promoted by European directives, as integrated management entities to promote the energy renovation of dwellings seems to be a central element in the development of future strategies. This paper looks at experiences of implementing OSSs in Europe, tries to identify the main factors of success, and proposes lines of action to strengthen OSS operation in the long term. To achieve this, documents, regulations, and data on the context were studied, and active cases of OSSs were analysed. Experiences of OSSs that are no longer operating were identified to determine why they had closed down. The results suggested that a lack of structural funding is one reason why activities terminated and that the most successful cases applied an ‘all inclusive’ model and supported families in the entire process.

Assessment regarding the impact of Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) on the residential market is largely inconclusive; while the majority of hedonic analyses have found EPC ratings to be correlated with prices, opinion-based research has found a negligible impact on prices and other marketing variables. Using the opinion of qualified real estate agents, this paper explores whether, in Spain, EPC labels play any role in housing marketing, as well as the policy changes required to foster efficient dwellings. The results reveal a large misunderstanding of the EPC labels, since they are seen as a global home-quality indicator, while their impact on residential marketing is quite poor. Apparently, both supply and demand place a small interest in energy performance, although it is slightly larger for sellers/buyers in relation to lenders/tenants. In any case, EPC labels are far from blurring the energy information asymmetry, since most of the buyers/tenants are informed of the EPC rating after having selected their home. Overall, the EPC scheme has a poor reputation exacerbated by inaccuracies, unintelligible units to express the financial and environmental implications of energy efficiency, and an apparent weak supervision. These findings stress the need to improve the scheme; in doing so, realtors suggest the need for some companion policies.

Within the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive information symmetry regarding financial and environmental benefits, coming from real estate performance, is a key element in the promotion of efficient buildings. However, the link between energy efficiency and its perceived co-benefits is far from perfect in EU countries with a short trajectory in the promotion of such residential attributes, endangering the efficacy of information-symmetry policies. Using a large survey applied to sellers, buyers, lessors and tenants this paper explores, in Spain, the perceived co-benefits in terms of energy savings and thermal comfort of efficient homes and whether such perception correlates to current living conditions, housing tenure and sociodemographic profile of respondents. Results suggest that in general such co-benefits are present in the mind of the main agents of the housing market. However, their perception is far from being homogeneous, it is clearer in the case of households whose current home is poorly insulated or inadequately serviced in terms of thermal active systems. Sociodemographic conditions also play a role in co-benefits perceptions: Elder, wealthier and landlords, irrespective of whether they act as sellers, buyers or lessors, do perceive to a larger extent the co-benefits of efficient homes. Such findings signal clear paths for the improvement of energy and housing policy.

A pesar de las incontestables ventajas de la rehabilitación energética la tasa de renovación residencial es preocupantemente baja, en tanto las barreras para los hogares son infranqueables. Posiblemente se ha sobrevalorado la capacidad de éstos para emprender un proceso muy complejo que requiere conocimientos técnicos, financieros y de gestión. Así, recientemente han aparecido en la escena internacional One-Stop-Shops (OSS) para asistir de forma integral a la rehabilitación residencial. Este artículo estudia, mediante un análisis documental y entrevistas en profundidad, el panorama de las cuatro experiencias pioneras españolas. Los resultados destacan el importante papel que juegan las administraciones y los proyectos europeos como fuente de financiación y, sobre todo, de conocimiento específico; así como los obstáculos que se han superado para implementarlas y los de resolución pendiente. Estas iniciativas se vislumbran como instrumentos indispensables delante del arribo de los fondos Next Generation European Union (EU).

This research presents a new intervention methodology on arches and vaults of a Renaissance factory in the Colegio Santo Domingo de Orihuela (16th century) using 3D software LIDAR technology that verifies the execution process of the works studying the different charges states and structure behavior. This document aims to explain a working methodology in the monitoring of structural repair interventions in the architectural heritage, in the specific case of the replacement of traditional one-way timber joist frame slabs on structures of former, splay and groin arches between vaults. This involves the compilation and processing of two types of data: on the one hand, the analysis of the different load states to which the intervention is exposed in its different phases: initial, dismantling of the different layers of traditional construction and replacement by the new structural system; and, on the other hand, the graphic information provided by the photogrammetry techniques used to dimension and define the spatial position of the structural elements that have historically resolved the covering of the architectural space in this type of Renaissance solution. The different layers and demolished materials have been verified by analysing their constructive disposition, thicknesses, and dimensions of the elements that formed part of the initial construction system and their own weights. In addition, the new construction systems used in the restoration project generate a state of loads similar to the existing one. The LIDAR technology used in the research process provides graphic data of the spatial position of the arches and vaults studied in the different states of the construction intervention. The point clouds obtained are analysed by taking as reference fixed points (considered unalterable and infinitely rigid) of the refectory and the coordinates of the initial and final states are compared. The results show minimal variations between the two positions, which justifies the goodness of the construction methods used and the structural safety obtained in the complex. This methodology applied to arches and vaults in heritage architecture guarantees the control and recording of the movements produced in the process.

La disciplina de la valoración, actualmente, no contempla en sus cálculos un indicador multidimensional de los materiales. Este problema, tiene una especial incidencia en su obtención al imposibilitar evaluar si la calidad “objetiva” de los materiales y la percepción “subjetiva” de esa calidad intrínseca determinan el valor de mercado de los inmuebles. Este artículo busca diseñar un indicador de calidad percibida que cuantifique la percepción o el grado de satisfacción del individuo, e incluya parámetros de medida de los materiales usados en aplicaciones de pavimentos y revestimientos para uso residencial. A tales efectos, se han diseñado dos encuestas para 400 usuarios y 35 expertos y, posteriormente, se han analizado los datos obtenidos y su congruencia. Los resultados muestran que en general existe un grupo de materiales versátiles percibidos desde el punto de vista de la calidad, tanto por usuarios como por expertos, para todas las aplicaciones y ubicaciones del material. Los hallazgos alcanzados son relevantes por obtener datos científicos que permiten medir la percepción subjetiva del individuo ante la calidad de los materiales empleados en la construcción de un inmueble. La disciplina de valoració, actualment, no contempla en els seus càlculs un indicador multidimensional dels materials. Aquest problema té una especial incidència en la seva obtenció a l’impossibilitar avaluar si la qualitat “objectiva” dels materials i la percepció “subjectiva” d’aquesta qualitat intrínseca determinen el valor de mercat dels immobles. Aquest article busca dissenyar un indicador de qualitat percebuda que quantifiqui la percepció o el grau de satisfacció de l’individu, i que inclogui paràmetres de mesura dels materials usats en aplicacions de paviments i revestiments per ús residencial. A tals efectes, s’han dissenyat dues enquestes per 400 usuaris i 35 experts i, posteriorment, s’han analitzat les dades obtingudes i la seva congruència. Els resultats mostren que en general existeix un grup de materials versàtils percebuts des del punt de vista de la qualitat, tant per usuaris com per experts, per totes les aplicacions i ubicacions del material. Les troballes aconseguides són rellevants per obtenir dades científiques que permetin mesurar la percepció subjectiva de l’individu front la qualitat dels materials utilitzats en la construcció d’un immoble. The discipline of the appraisal does not foresee at present a multidimensional indicator of the materials for its calculation. This fact has a special incidence in the obtaining of the market value of the real states, as it makes impossible to evaluate the objective quality of the materials and the subjective perception of that intrinsic quality. The aim of this article is to design a multidimensional indicator of perceived quality that quantifies perception or degree of satisfaction in the individual, including parameters of measure in materials used in pavement and coating for residential use. To such effects, two surveys have been designed for 400 users and 35 technicians. These surveys implement the obtained datum and analyse the congruence of them. The results reveal that in general there is a group of versatile materials that are perceived from the point of view of the quality by users as well as by technicians, no matter where the materials were proposed to be applied for or their location.