A multi risk-based framework for climate-resilient building renovation

Building renovation is a key pillar of the European strategy for achieving climate neutrality by 2050. However, while current retrofit approaches primarily focus on energy efficiency and decarbonization, the increasing frequency of climate-related hazards underscores the need to prioritize resilience and long-term building performance. This paper proposes a multi-risk-based framework to support climate-resilient building renovation and inform decision-making by key actors throughout the renovation process, including building owners, project and design teams, contractors, and relevant local authorities. Developed within the Horizon Europe RE-SKIN project, the framework integrates multi-hazard assessment, vulnerability analysis, and impact assessment to identify how climate-related and technological hazards can affect renovated building systems and components. The approach is applied to the RE-SKIN pilot case study in Milan, considering building-envelope technologies, renewable-energy systems, storage solutions, Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) equipment, and smart-control platforms. The study delivers two main outcomes: (i) a methodology linking hazard exposure, vulnerabilities, and renovation decision-making; (ii) a set of mitigation and adaptation Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for assessing the resilience of renovated building systems. The results show that the resilience of renovated buildings depends not only on the robustness of individual components but also on the interactions among interconnected systems exposed to multiple hazards. Rather than providing a resilience rating, the proposed framework identifies the key indicators to consider when evaluating climate-resilient renovation strategies. These indicators constitute the main outcome of the research and provide a basis for future testing and validation activities. Future work will implement them quantitatively using monitoring data, climate scenarios, and performance simulations, starting with the Milan pilot case study.