Towards decarbonisation in the built environment: A comparative analysis of conventional vs. industrialised façades in nearly zero-energy building renovations

Achieving a climate-neutral European Union requires overcoming challenges in Nearly Zero-Energy Building (NZEB) renovations, including labour shortages and time-intensive traditional methods. Industrialised façade systems offer a promising solution, but their life-cycle impacts remain insufficiently studied.

This research uses life-cycle assessment to compare conventional and industrialised façade systems for renovating a representative residential building typology. Renovation scenarios integrating passive, active and renewable measures were analysed to assess embodied (A1–A5, B4) and operational (B6) carbon emissions. Results show that façade renovations can reduce total carbon emissions by 44 % (industrialised) and 58 % (conventional systems) compared to the current state. Additionally, large pre-fabricated panels significantly reduce construction waste, while modular façades with integrated photovoltaic panels exhibit the highest circular economy potential.

The findings of this study enhance the understanding of industrialised façade systems across their life cycle, highlighting their potential to accelerate NZEB renovations while addressing key barriers to scaling decarbonisation efforts across Europe.