Guidance Tool

Answer a few short questions and find the tools in the EXCEL4HOUSING 4.0 Toolbox that match your role, your project stage and your needs. For every tool you see why it fits and which data you need to use it.

Go to the Toolbox

Introduction of the guidance tool

The EXCEL4Housing Guidance Tool was designed to promote the reflection and optimize decision-making processes regarding the selection, capacity building, and practical application of the resources available into the EXCEL4Housing toolbox.

Acting as a structured guide, the tool leads users through a reflective analysis of their strategic objectives and operational needs, facilitating the identification of the tools best suited to their specific context and needs. Based on each resource's profile, the tool provides an overview of the required inputs and expected outputs, allowing for an evaluation of the tools' suitability prior to implementation.

In this way, the Guidance Tool serves an essential dual purpose: it acts as a catalyst for skill development (training and capacity building) and provides practical support in the direct execution of projects in the construction sector.

Connection with the EXCEL4Housing toolbox

The Guidance tool does not replace the Toolbox. It provides a structured pathway that guides users towards relevant tools according to their profile, selected project stage and specific needs.

Remark: The Guidance Tool and its content are built directly on the outcomes of the EXCEL4Housing project, incorporating identified learning profiles, user needs, and core project objectives and activities.

As a living resource, the tool's content will continuously evolve throughout the project lifecycle. The information, learning pathways, and recommended tools are subject to ongoing review and updates as new tools, project findings, and user feedback emerge.

Go to the Toolbox (opens in a new tab)

Training areas

A wide array of tools currently exists across the construction value chain to support problem-solving, opportunity identification, monitoring, and decision-making. To harness these resources effectively, the EXCEL4Housing 4.0 Toolbox provides a systematic framework tailored to the project's core objectives.

Adopting a full life-cycle perspective, the toolbox integrates sustainability, efficiency, and digitalization to drive innovation in energy efficiency and the circular economy. It is specifically designed to build capacity and develop competencies aligned with the target learning profiles identified in the project. In order to organize the tools in a systematic way that promotes the use and application of these resources, the toolbox structure features 6 main groups/areas that allow for a comprehensive approach encompassing the diverse needs of the users. The six areas reflect the main activity and support stages addressed by EXCEL4Housing. Select one area that match your objectives, your selection will guide you to specific needs and relevant tool recommendations in the next steps.

.e4h-gd .e4h-gd-panel[hidden],.e4h-gd .e4h-gd-area[hidden],.e4h-gd .e4h-gd-need__panel[hidden]{display:block!important}.e4h-gd .e4h-gd-steps,.e4h-gd .e4h-gd-actions,.e4h-gd .e4h-gd-switch{display:none!important}

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.

Contact

Coordinator of the Design Together Project:
EVBB

Julian Francisco Juberias Olmos
Project Manager

julian.juberias@evbb.eu

Guidance Tool

Introduction of the guidance tool

Connection with the EXCEL4Housing toolbox

Define yourself or your team

Training areas

Identify your needs

You selected Strategy. What do you need?

To develop a circular strategy or explore sustainable business models If you want to define how circular-economy principles can be integrated into your organisation, project or business model and explore possible strategic approaches 2 tools

To learn from existing projects, case studies and good practice If you want to see how other organisations or construction projects have applied circular, sustainable or low-carbon solutions and use these examples as inspiration. 1 tool

To understand sustainability compliance and green-finance requirements If you need to understand whether a project or activity meets European sustainability criteria and how these criteria relate to sustainable investment and finance. 1 tool

To plan for climate adaptation and resilience If you want to understand climate risks and vulnerabilities and identify suitable adaptation actions to improve resilience and support strategic planning. 1 tool

To understand carbon reduction and identify areas for action If you want to understand the main sources of embodied and operational carbon and determine where strategic action can support carbon reduction. 3 tools

To identify key stakeholders and plan collaboration If you need to identify the organisations and actors involved in your project, understand their roles and relationships, and plan how to engage them. 1 tool

To identify and prioritise suitable tools for your next steps If you already understand your main needs and want to narrow down the available tools according to your priorities and project requirements. 1 tool

You selected Planning and Design. What do you need?

To integrate circular and low-carbon principles into design decisions If you want to explore design alternatives that improve circularity, material choices and the environmental performance of your product, service or building solution. 2 tools

To improve the energy efficiency of a building design If you want to test how design choices such as envelope, glazing, orientation, HVAC or ventilation can influence building energy performance. 4 tools

To explore and compare early-stage site layouts and building massing options If you want to test different site and building concepts and understand their environmental performance before beginning detailed design. 1 tool

To plan and evaluate a building retrofit If you want to model an existing building, develop renovation alternatives and assess how proposed design changes could improve its performance. 3 tools

To assess sustainability during project planning and design If you want to evaluate whether your design choices contribute to wider environmental, social and economic sustainability objectives. 5 tools

To create BIM models and coordinate design information If you need a digital building model to organise project information, develop the design and coordinate inputs from different disciplines. 2 tools

To compare materials and products based on EPD and embodied-carbon information If you want to compare alternative construction products or materials and understand how their selection can influence embodied carbon. 2 tools

To identify and coordinate stakeholders during the planning and design process If you need to identify the key people and organisations involved in the project, understand their roles and relationships, and support effective collaboration and engagement throughout planning and design. 1 tool

To integrate climate resilience into planning and renovation decisions If you want to consider climate risks when developing urban, housing or renovation plans and identify suitable adaptation measures. 1 tool

To support modelling, quantities and design-related calculations If you need digital tools to develop the building model, obtain quantities or perform calculations that support early design and planning decisions. 3 tools

To perform detailed building energy and indoor-environment calculations If you need to calculate or simulate energy use, heating and cooling demand, or indoor environmental conditions to compare design alternatives. 3 tools

To assess solar energy potential and support photovoltaic system planning If you want to estimate the solar radiation available at a site, evaluate potential PV electricity production, or compare different PV system configurations during early design. 1 tool

To identify and prioritise suitable tools for your next steps If you already understand your main needs and want to narrow down the available tools according to your priorities and project requirements. 1 tool

You selected Construction. What do you need?

To create and use material passports If you want to record information about building materials and components to support traceability, maintenance, reuse, recycling and future circularity. 1 tool

To assess and verify building-envelope and energy performance during construction If you want to check whether construction assemblies, materials and installed systems are consistent with the expected thermal and energy performance. 2 tools

To plan and implement retrofit strategies If you want to organise retrofit interventions, consider site constraints and quality requirements, and support effective implementation and handover.

To assess the impacts of green and digital construction practices If you want to understand the benefits, challenges and results of introducing greener or more digital approaches into construction activities.

To identify and prioritise suitable tools for your next steps If you already understand your main needs and want to narrow down the available tools according to your priorities and project requirements. 1 tool

You selected Operation and Use. What do you need?

To evaluate the impact of energy-efficiency measures If you want to understand how operational actions, system adjustments or efficiency measures influence building energy use and overall performance.

To assess the operational carbon footprint of a building If you want to calculate and track carbon emissions associated with building energy use and compare performance against decarbonisation targets or pathways. 2 tools

To monitor building performance over time If you want to track energy consumption and other operational data, identify unusual performance or inefficiencies, and understand how the building performs during use. 1 tool

To improve building performance through maintenance and operational actions If you want to identify maintenance or operational measures that can improve energy performance, system efficiency, comfort and long-term building operation.

To identify and prioritise suitable tools for your next steps If you already understand your main needs and want to narrow down the available tools according to your priorities and project requirements. 1 tool

You selected End-of-life. What do you need?

To assess carbon footprint and circularity performance If you want to understand the environmental and carbon impacts of the building and explore how circular strategies could improve its performance. 2 tools

To assess life-cycle impacts and identify environmental hotspots If you want to calculate impacts across the building life cycle and identify which materials, stages or activities contribute most to the overall environmental impact. 2 tools

To perform an alternative building life-cycle assessment If you want to evaluate the environmental performance of a building using another LCA approach and compare impacts across different life-cycle stages. 1 tool

To assess the impacts of reuse, recycling and material recovery If you want to understand the potential environmental benefits and impacts of reusing components, recycling materials, recovering resources or avoiding disposal.

To improve resource efficiency at end-of-life If you want to evaluate how materials and resources can be retained, reused, recycled or recovered to reduce waste and the demand for new raw materials.

To identify and prioritise suitable tools for your next steps If you already understand your main needs and want to narrow down the available tools according to your priorities and project requirements 1 tool

You selected Education support. What do you need?

To support collaboration and co-creation If you want to work with others, share ideas, organise workshops and support collaborative decision-making through interactive digital spaces. 2 tools

Mural

To support creativity and idea development If you want to brainstorm, develop concepts, organise ideas and work collaboratively to generate or refine solutions. 3 tools

Mural

To visualize and communicate information effectively If you want to transform information, data or ideas into clear charts, diagrams, maps, dashboards or visual stories for easier understanding and communication. 2 tools

To support technical learning and evidence-based decision-making If you want to use relevant knowledge, guidance or practical calculations to support learning and professional decisions. 4 tools

To identify and prioritise suitable tools for your next steps If you already understand your main needs and want to narrow down the available tools according to your priorities and project requirements. 1 tool

Going Sustainable – Further exploitation tools

Going sustainable in buildings – Strategy

Going sustainable in buildings – Planning and Design

Going sustainable in buildings – Construction

Going sustainable in buildings – Operation and Use

Going sustainable in buildings – End-of-Life

Contact