The refurbishment of the existing housing stock has a twofold aim: to decrease consumption of fossil fuels and to reduce the CO2 emissions. The main focus of the presented paper is the evaluation of the integrated design approach applied in scenarios for refurbishment of the prefabricated residential multi-apartment building. The criteria used in searching for the best approach to the RES integrated refurbishment were minimized energy loads, minimized CO2 emissions and improved indoor environment quality, health and comfort. After in-depth environmental analysis, a series of EEI (energy efficiency improvement) measures were implemented, as a comprehensive optimization of the building’s envelope structure, natural and mixed ventilation and source energy delivery. The building’s dynamic behaviour and energy efficiency have been analyzed and optimized by the Building Performance Simulation and PV panels’ integration for the Typical Meteorological Year of Belgrade, Serbia. Energy refurbishment should be approached in an organized, pragmatic and interdisciplinary way. Hence, the focus should be not only on the latest leading-edge technology, but on the synergy of different practices and principles in order to ensure the path to sustainable development and achieving desired objectives.

Peer Reviewed