CEPA-Energy facade system

The CEPA® energy façade marks a paradigm shift in the building renovation market. The energy-efficient refurbishment of existing buildings is complex, expensive, and socially disruptive. Conventional solutions separate the building envelope and building services, require long renovation periods, involve interventions in buildings during operation, and often necessitate the temporary relocation of occupants. CEPA® solves this problem through an integrated, energy-active façade that combines insulation, heating, and cooling in a single renovation step that can be implemented entirely from the outside.

Initial Situation / Challenge
Public existing buildings face growing challenges due to heatwaves, rising energy costs, renovation backlogs, and limited budgets. At the same time, architectural quality, regional building culture, and economic feasibility must be preserved—especially during ongoing operation and without invasive interventions.

Solution: CEPA® – the Energy Façade
Depending on requirements, CEPA® can be used either as a holistic, serially prefabricated façade system or installed on-site. It upgrades both the building envelope and the heat distribution and emission system to new-build standards. Through its integral approach, existing buildings are comprehensively enhanced in terms of energy performance, climate resilience, and functionality. The façade is mounted externally, does not interfere with the primary structure, and is therefore particularly suitable for renovation and revitalization.

The system combines highly effective summer and winter thermal protection (against heat and cold).
Energy demand is significantly reduced, the existing building is made usable for many more years, and at the same time the structural condition and quality of use of public buildings are sustainably improved.

Climate Impact & Measurability
The impact of CEPA® is quantifiable:

• Reduction of heating and cooling energy demand and CO₂-equivalent emissions by up to 80% in implemented projects

• Reduction of operating costs by up to 82%

• 50% lower OI3 score compared to replacement new construction

• 30% lower GWP in production and operation compared to refurbishment with EPS

• CEPA® focuses on material sufficiency, dismantlability, and reusability

• Improved summer thermal protection (reduction of temperature peaks by up to 7 Kelvin through cooling via the building envelope)

• Energy flexibility through thermal activation of existing walls

• Fire tests for GK4–5 according to ÖNORM B 3800-5 and DIN 4102-20 available for various configurations

Project Process / Implementation

1. Detailed analysis of the existing building (energy, façade, usage)

2. Modular system configuration tailored to architecture and regional building culture

3. Prefabrication with local partner companies

4. Installation possible during ongoing operation

5. Monitoring and evaluation of energy and climate performance

CEPA® is scalable, cost-effective, and transferable to various building types (schools, kindergartens, factories, hospitals, administrative buildings, care facilities).

Added Value
CEPA® offers public clients a concrete, immediately implementable solution to renovate existing buildings in a climate-resilient, sustainable, and economically viable way—without new construction and without noticeable disruption to ongoing operations.

Minimally invasive renovation: CEPA® heats and cools buildings from the outside as the sole heat emission system via the existing wall. No interior intervention is required—continuous operation and use are ensured.

Comfort: Large heat transfer surfaces provide a high level of comfort—both during the heating season and with increasing cooling demand.

Energy efficiency: Low system temperatures and thermal activation of building components enable efficient and sustainable system operation.

Serial renovation with CEPA®:

• Significant time savings

• Improved quality assurance

• Predictable processes in controlled environments

• Weather-independent

• Clearly defined interfaces between trades

• High scalability

On-site installation with CEPA®:

• Flexible application even for unstructured buildings

• Clear separation of trades

Partner network: CEPA® relies on partnerships along the value chain and enables broad economic participation—from local craftsmen to general contractors.

CEPA® combines climate protection, climate adaptation, and economic efficiency in an integrated façade system and directly addresses the objective of the IÖB Challenge: making public existing buildings sustainable, resilient, and future-proof.