LIFE SBE4LCHCB

NEW LIFE SBE4LCHCB project fiche

Building smarter: LIFE project promotes affordable, low-carbon timber construction across the EU

The building sector is responsible for over 40% of final energy consumption and more than 36% of greenhouse gas emissions across EU Member States. New construction will account for a third of Europe’s building stock by 2050, making it crucial to ensure these new buildings are both energy-efficient and low-carbon. However, cost remains a major barrier to the widespread adoption of green building technologies.

About the project

LIFE SBE4LCHCB was launched to offer a scalable, universal, and affordable solution to this challenge. Developed by French SME Ecoxia, the project builds on an integrated “Smart Building Envelope” (SBE) system. The SBE is designed as a complete system that incorporates, among other things, natural materials (e.g., timber frame), with high-performance insulation, solar panels, and a smart panel to control all key components for energy efficiency.
 

The project team will demonstrate an innovative low-carbon building concept that includes delivery and construction through to maintenance, which can be adopted by any professional in the building industry. The SBE is designed for flexibility and can be installed on any type of foundation, integrated into any architectural style, finished with any desired materials, and supports rapid off-site construction.
 

The project aligns with key EU targets for climate neutrality, including the 2030 Climate & Energy Framework and the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. It also supports adaptation by helping cities mitigate urban heat island effects through low-carbon design.

Driving environmental and market impact

LIFE SBE4LCHCB aims to build 20 dwellings across 10 different programmes. The buildings are expected to consume less than 30 kWh of primary energy per square metre annually, cutting energy use by 40% compared to new builds, and by 88% versus the EU average.
The project also targets:
➢30% reduction in lifecycle carbon emissions over 50 years
➢CO₂ emissions capped at 80 tonnes over that period
➢15% cost decrease
➢Growth in Ecoxia’s turnover from €200,000 in 2018 to €6 million by the end of the project (2025)
➢Creation of 8 new direct jobs.

Quote from the Coordinating Beneficiary

Olivier Riscala, Managing Director 

"The C2M experts helped us to reach the right market and to focus on the public sector, where we see long-term growth. Every innovator in Europe should try to join the LIFE Programme and, if you are a LIFE beneficiary, cooperating with the C2M experts is a smart move”.