Energy retrofitting of buildings faces a twofold challenge: improving the efficiency and sustainability of the building stock and accelerating the digital transformation of a sector that remains highly fragmented. Technologies such as BIM, openBIM, and digital twins are opening up new possibilities for connecting data, materials, energy consumption, and decision-making throughout the entire life cycle of buildings.
From Brick to Data: How Digitalization and the Use of BIM Models Are Changing the Energy-Efficient and Circular Renovation of Buildings
The way we design, build, renovate, and manage buildings in Europe is changing… but not fast enough. The building sector remains responsible for nearly half of energy consumption and a large share of the materials and waste generated. Added to this is a less visible but equally important problem: low productivity, fragmentation within the sector, and difficulty in adopting new technologies—especially among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the sector.
It is against this backdrop that DTERBIM (Driving the Transformation toward Energy-efficient and Circular Renovation through BIM) was launched—a European project coordinated by CARTIF that began in October 2025 with a clear objective: to accelerate the transition toward energy-efficient and circular building renovation by leveraging open, interoperable, and user-friendly digital tools.
Fragmentation and Low Digitalization in the Construction Industry
The building sector is a cornerstone of the European Green Deal and initiatives such as the Renovation Wave and the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). However, the AEC/FM (Architecture, Engineering, Construction, and Facility Management) sector faces very clear structural challenges.
An initiative by the European Commission to at least double the rate of building renovation in the European Union by 2030, with the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions through measures such as the decarbonization of heating and cooling systems, energy retrofits of public buildings such as hospitals and schools, and efforts to combat energy poverty in less-efficient buildings.
On the one hand, fragmentation: 99% of companies in the sector are SMEs, which use different tools, have poorly coordinated processes, and rely on disconnected information flows. This leads to errors, rework, cost overruns, and data loss throughout the building’s life cycle.
On the other hand, there is a lack of digital interoperability. Although the use of BIM (Building Information Modeling) is growing, many tools do not “communicate” with one another. Data is duplicated, lost, or arrives late, making it difficult to make informed decisions. International studies estimate that this lack of interoperability costs billions of euros each year.
Added to all this is the challenge of integrating sustainability and circularity into current digital processes. Most tools focus on the design phase and energy efficiency, but they overlook key aspects such as the reuse of materials, deconstruction planning, and tracking environmental impacts throughout the entire life cycle.
From “linear” buildings to circular and digital buildings
DTERBIM is based on a simple yet powerful idea: it’s not enough to simply digitize what we already do; we must change the way we work. The project proposes moving from a linear model (design–build–use–demolish) to a circular, digital, and collaborative model, where the principles of Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle guide the building from its conception through its potential dismantling and reuse.
The circular economy and sustainability are, therefore, central pillars of DTERBIM. From this perspective, circularity is present in all stages of a building’s life cycle (design, construction, operation, and deconstruction) through the development of tools to:
- Design buildings intended to be adaptable, dismantled, and reused.
- Create Material Passports, which provide information on what materials are in a building, their condition, and how they can be reused.
- Standardize the handover and documentation process through the Digital Building Logbook, eliminating mountains of paper and facilitating future building management..
Thanks to these solutions, circularity is no longer just a theoretical concept but has become an integral part of day-to-day project work.
To this end, DTERBIM combines three main pillars:
1. An open and interoperable BIM process based on openBIM standards.
2. A suite of 12 digital tools and smart services that are easy to use and designed for large, medium, and small businesses.
3. Two digital twins that link digital models to real building data.
All of this is integrated into a shared ecosystem, without forcing companies to abandon the tools they already use.
openBIM: Interoperability to Improve Building Renovation
One of the major challenges addressed by DTERBIM is the rigidity of traditional BIM approaches, which are based on a single, centralized “source of truth.” This approach tends to work well in large organizations, but it excludes many small and medium-sized enterprises due to its cost and complexity.
DTERBIM is committed to an open, flexible, and federated model, where each stakeholder can continue to use their usual tools, provided they comply with open standards such as IFC, BCF, IDS, or bSDD. In this way, architects, engineering firms, construction companies, building managers, and government agencies can share information without technical barriers or vendor lock-in.
This openBIM approach not only improves collaboration, but also reduces errors, saves time, and improves data quality—all of which are essential for making sustainable decisions from the earliest stages of the project.
Digital Twins to Improve Energy Efficiency in Buildings
Another major advancement in DTERBIM is the integration of Digital Twins. While BIM represents the building in a static manner, Digital Twins incorporate real-time data from sensors, management systems, and digital platforms.
DTERBIM develops two types of digital twins:
- Digital Construction Twin, which helps plan, monitor, and manage construction projects, improving quality and reducing delays.
- Digital Twin of the Building in Operation, which helps optimize energy consumption, comfort, and maintenance over time.
The big news is that these twins aren’t limited to energy; they also incorporate sustainability and circularity criteria, such as emissions, materials, reuse, and life-cycle costs.
Accessible Digitalization for Construction SMEs
One of the aspects that most sets DTERBIM apart is its clear focus on small businesses, which account for 99% of the entities involved in the construction sector. The project not only develops technology but also works closely with industry stakeholders through participatory methodologies, training, and real-world pilot projects in Spain, Poland, and Greece.
The goal is clear: to lower barriers to entry, facilitate learning, and demonstrate that digitalization and circularity are not a cost, but rather an opportunity to improve competitiveness.
Another step toward the rehabilitation of the future
DTERBIM does not promise magic solutions, but it does propose a profound and realistic change in the way building renovation and construction are approached in Europe. By embracing open standards, accessible tools, and a full life-cycle approach, the project lays the groundwork for a more efficient, sustainable, and inclusive sector.
In the coming years, DTERBIM’s results will be validated through real-world projects and will serve as a benchmark for future policies, regulations, and business models. Because transforming the construction industry is not just a matter of technology—it is a matter of collaboration, long-term vision, and a commitment to a more sustainable future.
More on energy-efficient building retrofits….
- Energy-Efficient and Circular Building Renovation: BIM, Digitalization, and Digital Twins - 14 August 2026
- Energy efficiency based on data: interoperable platforms for buildings and industry - 6 February 2026
- Overcoming the Digital Tower of Babel: Interoperability, a key element for the obtention of Intelligent and Connected Buildings - 4 October 2024