WE4Build

Who is the project aimed at

Professionals in the construction, urban planning and sustainability sectors, public administrations, policymakers and municipal technical staff, as well as researchers and organisations involved in the energy transition, food security, water management and the fight against climate change. It also targets citizens as direct beneficiaries of more sustainable and resilient cities.

Project objective

To enhance the climate resilience of buildings through the implementation of integrated solutions based on the water-energy-food nexus (WEF) on building rooftops, addressing both climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Project description

Climate change is causing serious problems worldwide, including rising temperatures, heatwaves and decreasing water availability, with a direct impact on buildings and urban ecosystems. To address these challenges, WEF4Build proposes transforming building rooftops into multifunctional spaces that combine:

Photovoltaic panels installed on rooftops

• • Basic hydroponic growing systems using different substrates
  • Photovoltaic panels partially covering the growing systems
  • Advanced greenhouse systems integrated into building rooftops
  • Greenhouses integrated into rooftops and constructed using semi-transparent photovoltaic panels or photovoltaic glass.

These solutions will be analysed using future climate projections specific to Catalonia to simulate the energy and water performance of buildings and explore synergies between solar energy, food production and water reuse. The project is based on a co-creation process and will assess the feasibility, scalability and social acceptance of the proposed strategies, with the ultimate aim of contributing to the development of more sustainable, circular and liveable cities.

Project funded by: