Deadline Date: December 01, 2026
The European Commission is offering to support sustainable, inclusive and affordable solutions to improve thermal comfort in buildings while reducing energy use and emissions.
The program focuses on thermal comfort in buildings, sustainable construction, energy efficiency, reduction of life cycle greenhouse gas emissions, cost reduction, vernacular knowledge, nature-based solutions, bioclimatic design, frugal innovation, climate resilience, urban heat island mitigation, building retrofitting, new building design, cultural heritage building adaptation, accessibility for vulnerable groups, affordability, and regulatory and scalability barriers.
The funding available for this initiative is €12,000,000, with an indicative amount of around €4,000,000 per project. Eligible applicants include any legal entity under national, EU, or international law, including organisations from non-associated third countries and international organisations, subject to Horizon Europe conditions.
The initiative addresses the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the built environment and limit dependence on energy-intensive cooling systems such as air conditioning. It highlights the importance of developing alternatives that are environmentally sustainable, economically affordable, and socially inclusive, particularly for vulnerable populations such as the elderly and low-income households.
Projects are expected to develop and demonstrate at least two solutions for achieving thermal comfort in buildings based on vernacular principles, nature-based solutions, bioclimatic design, or frugal innovation. These solutions must be tested in different climatic zones across at least two Member States or Associated Countries and include at least one cultural heritage building.
Proposals should assess reductions in life cycle greenhouse gas emissions and costs while demonstrating improved affordability compared to existing market solutions. They must also ensure accessibility for vulnerable groups and maintain strong aesthetic quality in the solutions developed.
The initiative requires identification of barriers to implementation, scalability, and replication, including regulatory challenges, and the development of recommendations to overcome these barriers and support wider adoption.
For more information, visit European Commission.
