Data Hub | GlobalABC

About the GlobalABC Data Hub

The GlobalABC Data Hub addresses information and data on buildings via the CAPSA digital building passport platform and other relevant data capture systems. The Hub has a strong focus on building data relevant to decarbonizing buildings over their life cycle.

The Hub’s key working hypothesis is that better data should typically lead to better decisions. Its theory of change accordingly is that providing the means for better data in the built environment ultimately promotes its decarbonisation. The Hub perceives digitisation as a key lever towards easier and more robust data generation and works towards a shift from analogue, fractured data towards digital, transparent, and processable data.

Via its members, the Data Hub generates buildings data and case studies for selected countries, demonstrates functionalities based on that data, publishes reports on countries building stock and supports other GlobalABC activities with data and advice.

Data Hub co-leads and members

Co-leads:

Climate Positive Europe Alliance (CPEA)
CUES Foundation (Stichting CUES)

Members:

The Data Hub has two types of member affiliations, contributors (actively doing work in the hub, typically via projects) and observers (not contributing with work, being invited to the webinars).

Contributors

Chamber of Engineering, Argentina (Argentina)
Hypoport Dr. Klein (Germany)
Leibniz-Institut für Evolutions- und Biodiversitätsforschung (Germany)
LippeStrom eG (Germany)
Offset Farm (India)
Siedlungsnatur (Switzerland)
TEP Energy (Switzerland)
Technical University Delft (TU Delft) (The Netherlands)
University College London (UCL) (United Kingdom)
University of Toronto (Canada)

Observers

Association for Energy Saving and for Environment (ALMEE) (Lebanon)
Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz (BMWK) (Germany)
Building Performance Institute Europe (BPIE) (Belgium)
Centre International de Droit Comparé de l'Environnement (CIDCE) (France)
Climate KIC (The Netherlands)
County Government of Kisumu (Kenya)
EcoTool (Switzerland)
Environmental Protection Agency – Ghana (Ghana)
Federated Hermes (United Kingdom)
High Performance Building Alliance (Ireland)
Hoare Lea (United Kingdom)
International Energy Agency (IEA) (France)
International Cooperation Agency Santa Fe (Chile)
Efficiency Canada (Canada)
Longevity Partners (United Kingdom)
Mahindra (India)
Mongol Basalt JCS (Mongolia)
Triodos Bank (Germany)
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) (France)
University of Edinburgh (Scotland)
UNU-Flores (Germany)
World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) (Switzerland)
2050 Materials (United Kingdom)

Activities

The Data hub focuses on two activities:

Building national building stock data sets with regional partners. This activity is structured in several layers, from general to granular. On its most basic level, it takes the form of a building typology registry with an example building for each typology. Later stages further develop typical envelope make-ups and technical systems to inform the CAPSA Digital Building Passport and make it operational in the respective country. The final stage is a statistically valid representation of buildings registered in CAPSA.
Evolving the CAPSA Digital Building Passport platform by adding functionalities and increasing the number of registered buildings. Functionalities are added in close cooperation with experts on the respective topic and typically take the form of (research) projects. The number of registered buildings is increased via projects with building portfolio owners, with the focus currently being on larger portfolios.

Finally, the Data Hub supports other GlobalABC activities, like the the Global Status Report and other hub activities related to building data.

2024-2025 Priorities

In 2024 and 2025 the Data Hub will focus on:

Increase the number of regional partners and build up a registry of local building stocks - work with local partners on the adaptation of the passport for their countries. Focus in 2024 and 2025 will be Argentina, Canada, Senegal, UK, France, The Netherlands and India.
Launch CAPSA2, taking into account the learnings from the projects in 2022 and 2023.
Evolve the CAPSA functionalities. Focus in 2024 and 2025 will be on whole-life carbon estimations, automated decarbonisation advice, biodiversity scoring and interfaces to regional energy planning.
Generate at least one demonstration with a city or energy cooperation.
Generate at least one demonstration with a bank.

Publications

Upcoming events

Soft launch of CAPSA2 in the dedicated webinar (11/2024)
Online workshop around the implementation of biodiversity in building passports (12/2024)
Online workshop around whole-life carbon estimations for buildings (02/2025)

Contact and how to join

Join if you are interested in improving data robustness and availability in the built environment and if you are interested in Digital Building Passports as a digital data vehicle for buildings.

The Data Hub differentiates between contributors and observers. Contributors are entities that deliver work to the hub's activities. They have access to the resources of the Data Hub and the CAPSA Building Passport. Observers do not contribute to work and do not have access to Data hub resources and CAPSA. Observers get invited to all webinars.

To register as an observer to the Data Hub, simply write to the GlobalABC secretariat or the Data Hub co-chairs.
To become a contributor to the Data Hub, please get in touch with the Data Hub co-chairs: Ursula Hartenberger [email protected] and York Ostermeyer [email protected]

The engagement of members typically takes one of two forms: regional expert for one or more countries and/ or content expert for a specific topic.

Regional partners are expected to work with the other members to build a building stock database and thereby enabling CAPSA for their country. Partners with ties to the government or a strong local reputation are preferred for this role as they are eventually seen to be acting as local contact points for CAPSA in their country.
Content experts are expected to help evolve the CAPSA Digital Building Passport in their area of expertise. This typically involved expanding the CAPSA functionalities or improving existing ones.