New EU requirements approach, researchers propose tool for assessing digital building models

Researchers at Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) are proposing a way to check whether digital building models contain enough information to support European Union whole-life carbon calculations and circularity assessments. The work comes as the EU moves toward a zero-emission, energy-efficient building stock by 2050. Under the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, whole-life carbon footprints must be calculated for new buildings over 1,000 square meters starting in 2028 and for all new buildings starting in 2030, feeding into energy performance certificates. Led by Ph.D. student Manvydas Mikulėnas with professor Lina Šeduikytė, the team published a prototype in Buildings that identifies data gaps in BIM.