HOUSEMET

The HOUSEMET project (HOUSEhold Microbial Electrochemical Technologies) addresses key challenges related to indoor air quality, microplastic
contamination in domestic greywater, and the need for low-carbon energy solutions in buildings. In line with emerging European regulations, such as the revised Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive and the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, HOUSEMET proposes a decentralized and
integrated approach to close water, air, and energy loops at building scale. HOUSEMET develops and validates modular microbial electrochemical technologies (METs) capable of: (i) treating domestic greywater through bioelectrocatalytic membrane reactors equipped with conductive carbon nanotube membranes to remove microplastics and plasticisers; (ii) capturing indoor CO2 via direct air capture (DAC) systems; and (iii) biologically converting the captured CO2 into renewable methane through microbial electromethanogenesis, simultaneously improving indoor air quality and producing usable energy. The project integrates advanced materials, electroactive microbiomes, and real-time digital control to ensure stable operation under realistic and fluctuating household conditions. Validation will be carried out in two real-use scenarios: an urban household and an elderly residence or multi-family apartment building, enabling performance, robustness, energy efficiency, and techno-economic feasibility to be assessed at TRL5. HOUSEMET will generate significant advances in applied bioelectrochemistry, decentralized water treatment, CO2 valorisation, and circular building technologies, establishing a scientific and technological foundation for next-generation sustainable, resilient, and low-emission residential systems.