Energy and Seismic Affordable Renovation Solutions: Methods and Outcomes of the e-SAFE Project

A large share of the existing building stock in European seismic regions faces a dual critical vulnerability, namely, poor energy performance and high seismic risk, largely due to previous construction practices that ignored modern energy-efficiency standards and earthquake-resistant design. Addressing this urgent need for deep renovation, the Horizon 2020 e-SAFE project aimed to develop innovative retrofit technologies for reinforced concrete-framed buildings that synergistically achieve earthquake safety, energy saving, architectural renewal, economic feasibility, and social welfare. The e-SAFE solutions feature an integrated approach combining novel envelope technologies (prefabricated timber-based panels and three-dimensional steel trusses) and high-performance thermal systems for domestic hot water, space heating, and space cooling. This paper outlines the main multidisciplinary research methodologies—integrating theoretical and experimental investigation, numerical modeling, industrial prototyping, and participatory design—that guided the design and development of these technologies. The full e-SAFE package was subsequently applied to three diverse pilot buildings in Italy and Romania for comprehensive demonstration and validation; the paper discusses the full-scale results, including the validation of structural and energy performance, the effectiveness of the construction process, and the lessons learned from the demonstration activities. These findings highlight both the significant potential of the integrated retrofit package and specific constructive and operational limitations encountered, thereby providing critical data to inform future research and standardization efforts in integrated seismic-energy building renovation.