ZEBAI is a European project developing an AI-powered tool and methodology to support the design of zero-emission and cost-effective buildings.

The project aims to help architects, engineers and building professionals optimise design choices from the earliest stages of a project, when decisions have the greatest impact on energy performance, environmental footprint, indoor comfort and costs.

Why ZEBAI matters

The construction sector plays a major role in global environmental challenges. It accounts for around 25% of global CO₂ emissions, while buildings are responsible for 40% of global energy use.

Despite this, building design processes are still often fragmented and time-consuming. Professionals must compare many options, materials and technical solutions, while trying to balance performance, comfort, environmental impact and affordability.

This makes the transition towards zero-emission buildings difficult to achieve at scale.

An AI-powered solution for better design decisions

ZEBAI addresses this challenge by using artificial intelligence to evaluate building design options in a more holistic and simultaneous way.

The tool being developed will help professionals assess and optimise several key criteria at the same time, including:

• energy performance;
• environmental impact across the building life cycle;
• indoor comfort and air quality;
• cost-effectiveness.

By generating and comparing different design alternatives, ZEBAI will support faster, more informed decision-making. Instead of relying on slow trial-and-error processes, architects and engineers will be able to explore optimised options earlier and more efficiently.

ZEBAI stands out by combining several design criteria within one integrated system. The project brings together artificial intelligence, improved material data and insights from real-world building performance to support complex decisions.

This approach can help building professionals better understand the consequences of their design choices and identify solutions that are not only environmentally ambitious, but also technically realistic and economically viable.

Expected impact

By improving the way building designs are evaluated and optimised, ZEBAI aims to contribute to:

• faster and more efficient design processes;
• lower emissions from the building sector;
• reduced energy use;
• more affordable sustainable buildings;
• better support for professionals working towards zero-emission construction.

To ensure that the ZEBAI methodology and tool respond to real-world needs, the project will be demonstrated through real building demonstrators located across different climates in the UK, the Netherlands, Spain and Ukraine.

These demonstrations will help test and validate the project’s approach in varied contexts, supporting the wider adoption of zero-emission building design solutions.

Towards more sustainable buildings

ZEBAI reflects a growing need to transform the way buildings are designed. By supporting architects and engineers with AI-based decision-making tools, the project aims to make zero-emission buildings easier to design, more cost-effective and more achievable at scale.

Through this work, ZEBAI contributes to the broader transition towards a more sustainable, energy-efficient and low-carbon built environment.