Air Cleaning for Sustainable and Resilient Buildings

Overview

This Annex builds on the work of IEA EBC Annex 78, expanding the focus from gas-phase air cleaning to a broader integration of particulate and gaseous air cleaning technologies that support energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and resilience in buildings. It will provide researchers, industry stakeholders, and policy makers with a comprehensive framework of concepts, metrics, and evidence to support the implementation of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) across the European Union.

The Annex will address the energy performance and real-life applicability of advanced air cleaning technologies—such as mechanical filtration, activated carbon, photocatalysis, UV disinfection, and hybrid systems—and explore how they can be effectively combined with ventilation systems. The work will also develop standardized performance indicators, including the Clean Air Delivery Rate per kilowatt-hour (CADR/kWh), to evaluate energy efficiency and pollutant removal effectiveness.

In addition, the Annex will examine the role of air cleaning in building resilience, focusing on challenges such as wildfire smoke, overheating, and infection control, where conventional ventilation may be limited or inefficient. Outcomes will include guidelines for design and operation, testing protocols, and case studies demonstrating practical implementation in different European climates.

The Annex will deliver valuable outputs for a wide range of audiences. Building designers, operators, and manufacturers will benefit from independent guidance on integrating air cleaning into EPBD compliant building systems. Policy makers and standardization bodies will gain evidence and tools to inform regulation and certification. The Annex will actively disseminate its findings through reports, technical papers, workshops, and an online knowledge platform, supporting the transition toward a sustainable, resilient, and health-centered built environment in Europe.