"BUILD UP Newsletter" Newsletter Issues

Join our community! (05/04/2024)

This newsletter summarises, amongst many other items, the latest and most relevant content published in the BUILD UP portal on March’s Topic of the Month: 'Sustainable energy skills’ in the building sector, specially curated by us to keep you up to date on this key topic. In April, we are featuring content related to ‘Affordable, inclusive, and energy efficient buildings’, addressing topics such as housing affordability for citizens, the revised EPBD with minimum energy performance standards, financing mechanisms for low-income households, and many more closely related subjects. Explore our overview article below and if you want to share content on that scope, including articles, papers, case studies, webinars... get in touch now and we will help to promote it!

Video series – BUILD UP Skills Initiative (05/04/2024)

In the frame of the European Year of Skills, BUILD UP has developed a video series featuring various experts of the BUILD UP Skills initiative, who share best national examples related to skills in the construction sector.

Overview Article – Skills development in the EU building sector (05/04/2024)

How is Europe investing in education, training, and professional development to create a workforce that is equipped to tackle the decarbonisation of the building stock? This article delves into the multifaceted realm of skills development in Europe's construction and building sector, exploring the critical role it plays in shaping the industry's future.

Publication: iBRoad2EPC training material for construction professionals (05/04/2024)

Organised into eight topics, the iBRoad2EPC project has prepared a report with training materials for staged renovation design and construction.

Meet the awardees of the New European Bauhaus Prizes (16/04/2024)

How can the New European Bauhaus concept be implemented towards a sustainable, beautiful, and inclusive built environment? BUILD UP hosts this webinar that presents the experience of Xifré, ERDEN Pure Walls and De Korenbloem, three representative projects winners of NEB Prizes.

Technical article – Human-centric innovation and skills for safety in construction (05/04/2024)

Wearables, exoskeletons, and AI are redefining industry standards, fostering efficiency and well-being. Explore the transformative journey of BEEYONDERS and HumanTech in the construction sector, with a focus on human-centric innovation and safety.

European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) 2024 (11/06/2024)

Join for Europe’s biggest conference on sustainable energy and energy efficiency. EUSEW will take place in a hybrid format, on 11-13 June. With the theme ‘Net-zero energy solutions for a competitive Europe’, the European Sustainable Energy Week consists of a 3-day Policy Conference, the European Sustainable Energy Awards Ceremony, the Energy Fair and the fifth edition of the European Youth Energy Day. It is the perfect opportunity to meet stakeholders promoting energy efficiency and renewable energies, learn about successful actions and policies, showcase your work and inspire innovation towards meeting the EU’s energy and climate goals.

Tool: Open innovation digital platform for Zero Energy Buildings (05/04/2024)

MEZeroE project has recently released its Digital Innovation Platform, to accelerate the digital transition in the building sector.

CircularB Stakeholder Webinar Series 1 – Academia and Research (18/04/2024)

The COST Action 21103 (CircularB) presents 'Implementation of Circular Economy in the Built Environment' through a Stakeholder webinar series hosted by the BUILD UP portal.

Webinar: Understanding skills for a sustainable future: skills mapping (05/04/2024)

What is the role of skills mapping in the decarbonisation of buildings? Several experts shared the insights and experience of four projects: BuildUpSkills Netherlands, Train4Sustain, Arise and BUS-Go Circular. Check the video!

Expert Talk – Seamus Hoyne (05/04/2024)

We talked about Sustainable skills in the construction sector with Seamus Hoyne, Dean of Flexible and Work Place Learning and director of Industry Engagement at the Technological University of Shannon: Midlands Midwest (Ireland).

Case study: Deep renovation of historical office building in Madrid (05/04/2024)

An impressive EnerPHit deep renovation of an office building has achieved good airtightness and it is certified EnerPHit Standard.

Technical article – Skills as a currency in the construction sector (05/04/2024)

The construction industry is increasingly realising the profound significance of a skilled workforce. Beyond being just a means for employment, skills form the very essence of our being, shaping every aspect of our lives. This article, authored by the ARISE team, marks the beginning of a series spotlighting seven key metrics that delve into the essence of skills within the construction sector.

Energy efficiency and affordability for households (05/04/2024)

Housing represents a cornerstone of human well-being. Ensuring accessibility and efficiency not only enhances quality of life but also paves the way for economic resilience and social cohesion. The European Union has set policies, initiatives, and financial instruments to reach these goals.

Technical article – Developing the Italian roadmap towards the skills needed for a sustainable built environment (05/04/2024)

The RES2 project is developing the Italian roadmap to performing qualitative and quantitative analyses of the gap in skills needed to reach a carbon-neutral building environment.

Addressing the construction skills shortage in Europe (05/04/2024)

There is an unprecedented labour shortage for construction workers across Europe that is impeding economic growth, prompting industry leaders to confront these issues. How can it be solved?

Building conversations up with… Jan Cromwijk (05/04/2024)

As an educational scientist, Jan Cromwijk is working on connecting skills data with learning offers available in the learning ecosystems, through the BUILD UP Skills advisor App. Learn more about the skills needed to sustain the built environment.

Technology as a key driver for the transformation of construction workforce (05/04/2024)

The construction industry is in the midst of a deep transformation led by the development of new technologies which are eventually changing workforce dynamics.

The revolution of the building sector. Construction 4.0: most popular content (06/03/2024)

This newsletter summarises, amongst many other items, the latest and most relevant content published in the BUILD UP portal on February's Topic of the Month: 'The revolution of the building sector: Construction 4.0', specially curated by us to keep you up to date on this key topic. In March, we are featuring content related to ‘Sustainable energy skills’ in the building sector. If you wish to promote and share your content, including articles, papers, case studies, webinars... get in touch with us now!

Overview Article – The digital transformation of the built environment and Construction 4.0 (06/03/2024)

Digital technologies represent a huge untapped potential to revolutionise the building and construction industry. Buildings are evolving into intelligent and interconnected structures, adapting to the changing needs of occupants while also optimising energy efficiency. How is Europe addressing this digital shift, and how are building professionals changing the way they work?

Technical Article – Integrating human-centric design with emerging technologies in construction (06/03/2024)

The impact of digital technologies on the construction value chain is profound, reshaping traditional practices and workflows. Integrating human-centric design with BIM, IoT, Digital Twins, and additive manufacturing marks a transformative era in construction, enhancing efficiency, sustainability, and adaptability. The article delves into how the fusion of these technologies with human expertise redefines building design, construction, and management, facing challenges in data management and interoperability.

Expert Talk – Fernando Sigchos Jiménez (06/03/2024)

What are the challenges related to the adoption of digital technologies for SMEs in the construction industry? How are they implementing digital twins and AI? We talk about it with the Secretary General at the European Builders Confederation (EBC).

Building conversations up with… Pieter Staelens (06/03/2024)

BUILD UP delves into the topic of digitalisation in the construction sector and its relation to achieving the sustainability and renovation goals of the European Building stock with Pieter Staelens, Policy Officer at DG GROW, Construction Unit.

3D-printed nanocellulose as a green architectural material (06/03/2024)

Researchers from Sweden have discovered a 3D-printed nanocellulose and algae which can become part of greener architecture.

What is behind the increase of digital technologies in the building industry? (06/03/2024)

The Building Design+Construction magazine explores the factors driving the AEC industry's shift toward digitalisation.

The role of BUILD UP in exchanging knowledge in energy efficiency and renewable energy in buildings (06/03/2024)

Relevant voices representing industry and academia talk in this video about how the BUILD UP portal exchanges and fosters knowledge related to energy efficiency and renewable energy in the construction sector.

Publication - Building automation and control systems to meet user needs (06/03/2024)

A recent paper by Federico Garzia, Stijn Verbeke, Cristian Pozza, and Amaryllis Audenaert, from EURAC Research, Antwerp University and VITO, analyses the benefits of Building Automation and Control Systems in meeting user needs in office buildings.

Case study - Cross-laminated timber building in Norway (06/03/2024)

This groundbreaking residential project, designed by Oslotre in Kristiansand, Norway, exemplifies Scandinavia's innovation in mass timber construction.

Tool - Interactive map of local and regional energy agencies (06/03/2024)

ManagEnergy has developed a map featuring over 300 energy agencies in the EU. Recognised by the revised European Energy Efficiency Directive, these agencies facilitate long-term planning and collaboration, establishing renovation one-stop shops.

Webinar - Smart solutions to accelerate the digital transformation of buildings (06/03/2024)

Hosted by BUILD UP, in this webinar project partners from BuildON and SMARTeeSTORY shared their vision on the role of digitalisation in the decarbonisation of buildings.

LIFE Calls for Proposals 2024 (23/04/2024)

The LIFE Calls for Proposals 2024 are expected to be published on the Funding & tender opportunities portal on 18 April 2024. Virtual information sessions will be held from 23 to 26 April 2024 to guide potential applicants through these LIFE Calls for proposals.

Decarbonising on a massive scale through the deployment of heat pumps: what are the challenges and levers for speeding up deployment? (12/03/2024)

BUILD UP is hosting a webinar organised by BEUC (Bureau Européen des Unions de Consommateurs) and Ressorts that will delve into the role of heat pumps in decarbonisation, sharing the insights and experience of two partner projects, CLEAR HP and LIFE STREET HP.

Understanding skills for a sustainable future: skills mapping (21/03/2024)

This webinar will focus on the role of skills mapping in the decarbonisation of buildings, sharing the insights and experience of four projects: BuildUpSkills Netherlands, Train4Sustain, Arise and BUS-Go Circular.

Heat pump solutions for buildings: popular content (10/01/2024)

This newsletter summarises, amongst many other items, the latest and most relevant content on January's Topic of the Month: 'Heat pump solutions for buildings', especially curated by us to keep you up to date on this key topic. In February, we are featuring content related to 'The revolution of the building sector: Construction 4.0'. If you want to promote and share your content, including articles, papers, case studies, webinars... get in touch now!

Overview Article – Decarbonisation of buildings' heating systems with heat pump technologies: an overview of EU policies and projects (07/02/2024)

As the European Union strives to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions, heat pumps have emerged as key players in decarbonising our buildings. These technologies exploit renewable energy sources, offering a cleaner and more sustainable alternative to traditional heating systems. This article provides an overview on EU policies, financial instruments, and EU-funded projects to facilitate the adoption of heat pumps in buildings and to overcome the current barriers.

Technical development and use-case aspects of thermoacoustic heat pumps for existing houses (07/02/2024)

BlueHeart Energy (BHE) is a deep tech start-up and has developed a revolutionary thermoacoustic (TA) heat pump engine. This next generation of heat pump technology provides an alternative for vapour compression techniques and better meets the requirements of existing buildings that are not well met by today's technologies. BHE's TA engine will be supplied business to business to heat pump manufacturers in Europe and beyond.

Interview with Hans Rhein, Head of Unit (Life Energy and Life Climate), European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA), European Commission (07/02/2024)

Rhein elaborates on the role of BUILD UP in supporting the implementation of the EU’s climate and energy framework, and sets out the latest achievements of the portal and what can be expected from BUILD UP in the future.

Expert Talk – Jozefien Vanbecelaere (07/02/2024)

Head of EU Affairs at the European Heat Pump Association (EHPA), Vanbecelaere delves into the status of heat pump installations in EU buildings and explains how the recast of the EPBD, RED and EED addresses issues around heating systems in buildings.

Building conversations up with… Federica Sabbati (07/02/2024)

BUILD UP engages in a conversation about heat pumps with the Secretary General of the European Heating Industry, exploring aspects like the EU regulatory framework, benefits for homeowners, and their significance in meeting sustainable targets.

What is the future of fossil fuel boilers with the new EPBD? (07/02/2024)

Fossil fuel boilers are set to be fully phased out by 2040, with subsidies cut from 2025, as part of the recent political agreement between EU legislators.

Why are the sales of heat pumps falling? (07/02/2024)

EHPA data shows that the sale of heat pumps has shrunk over 2023, putting decarbonisation targets at risk.

Is your heat pump of the right size? (07/02/2024)

A joint study conducted by energy monitoring experts, including Build Test Solutions, Veritherm, and Elmhurst Energy, suggests that around 70% of homes with heat pumps have the wrong size installed.

Publication: The potential of space heating in buildings to reach EU's climate goals (07/02/2024)

Decarbonising space heating in buildings is crucial for reaching greenhouse gas neutrality in the EU by 2050. Electrification is key.

Case study: Morbihan Habitat – Social housing district renovation with reused materials (07/02/2024)

The main objectives of this renovation were to obtain a Nearly Zero renovation label and reuse demolition products and bio-sourced materials.

Tool: SolarCity Simulator (07/02/2024)

The SolarCity is a web-based simulator application to evaluate the generation of electricity using rooftop-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) systems.

Webinar: ARISE e-learning platform on BIM and applied energy efficiency tools - A webinar for Trainees (07/02/2024)

Hosted by BUILD UP and organised by the Architects Council of Europe (ACE), this webinar aimed to inform the trainees about the ARISE e-learning platform, which provides gamified micro-learning modules on BIM and applied energy efficiency tools.

Smart solutions to accelerate the digital transformation of buildings (13/02/2024)

BuildON and SMARTeeSTORY are two Horizon Europe sister projects that work on smarter solutions to accelerate the digital transformation of buildings and improve their performance. Join this first webinar to learn more about their objectives and the common barriers they face.

27th International Passive House Conference (05/04/2024)

90 informative lectures to have a great overview of all the latest developments in the Passive House community. Interested? Check the programme for all the details!

Welcome 2024! (10/01/2024)

This will be a crucial year for policy-makers and civil servants involved in the transposition and implementation of the new Energy Performance of Buildings Directive as well as for all building professionals in the field. The new directive will soon be adopted and published. It will set more ambitious energy performance requirements for new and renovated buildings and push towards renovating the EU building stock. With targets set for all new buildings to be zero-emission by 2030 and the entire building stock by 2050, BUILD UP will be supporting stakeholders and industry participants in reaching these ambitious goals, not only by gathering all the latest information and trends but also by bringing the most pertinent voices that can guide our community in progressing in the right direction.

Paula Pinho – Director, DG Energy, European Commission (10/01/2024)

With the European Year of Skills coming to an end, BUILD UP engages in a conversation with Paula Pinho, Director in DG Energy, who focussed on the crucial need for upskilling professionals in the building sector to achieve the energy and climate goals, and described the ways the EU is actively supporting Member States to that end.

Decarbonisation of buildings´ heating system with heat pump technologies: an overview of EU policies and projects (09/01/2024)

As the European Union strives to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions, heat pumps have emerged as key players in revolutionising our buildings. These technologies leverage renewable energy sources, offering a cleaner and more sustainable alternative to traditional heating systems. This article provides an overview of EU policies, financial instruments, and EU-funded projects to facilitate the adoption of heat pumps in buildings and to overcome the current barriers.

Overview Article – Smart buildings and smart technologies in Europe: state of play and perspectives (10/01/2024)

How is the EU specifically shaping the future of buildings and the way we interact with them? How can we make our buildings more intelligent and responsive to the environment? This article provides an overview of the state of play and perspectives of digital, smart buildings and technologies in the EU context.

Technical article – SmartUp Project: Preliminary lessons and provocations for design, operation and policy making of smart homes (10/01/2024)

This article explores preliminary findings on what happens to homes when they become smarter, considering how going digital affects the ways in which homes are imagined, planned, designed, and experienced on an everyday basis, provoking decision-makers to think widely about the contexts and consequences of their actions when implementing smart technologies to improve building performance.

Expert Talk – Paris Fokaides (10/01/2024)

Associated Professor at Frederick University, Fokaides delves into how the Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI) has been utilised to improve energy efficiency and sustainability of buildings, and about the priorities for further development of the SRI.

Building conversations up with… María Fernández Boneta (10/01/2024)

Senior Energy Efficiency Engineer at CENER (the National Renewable Energy Centre of Spain), BUILD UP talks with Fernández Boneta about the purpose of the SRI and how it assesses the integration of various smart technologies within a building.

Building conversations up with… Pablo Carnero Melero (10/01/2024)

‘When it comes to decarbonisation and smartness in buildings, the whole is more than the sum of the parts’. Carnero Melero, Technical and EU Project Officer in REHVA, delves into the role of smart buildings in decarbonising the EU building stock.

The potential of Artifical Intelligence (AI) to improve energy efficiency (10/01/2024)

The application of AI to heating and ventilation technology offers a solution to sources of energy inefficiencies in buildings.

Demand-controlled ventilation and smart technologies for efficient buildings (10/01/2024)

Approximately 80% of commercial buildings operate at a Class C energy efficiency level due to outdated construction regulations. How can we improve this?

2023 in… Key contents on BUILD UP in the past year (10/01/2024)

Last year has been very relevant and fruitful in terms of content and contributions from our community. Check out some of the most relevant articles, interesting webinars and conversations and interviews with the best experts!

Case – Passive low-tech office building in Weitnau, Germany (10/01/2024)

The main aim was to expand the office building by four high-quality workplaces and work further to become a climate-neutral company.

Tool - SRI Observatory to know more about SRI implementation in the EU (10/01/2024)

The Smart Square project has developed an online tool to learn more about SRI implementation in the EU.

Webinar – New training materials and methodologies for up-skilling in circular economy in construction for training centres (10/01/2024)

BUILD UP hosted the final webinar of the BUS-GoCircular project outcomes, which was specially designed for training centre managers and educational professionals. The video is now available!

Belgian renovation week: innovation in building renovations (15/01/2024)

This great event has a special focus on European policy-makers, recognising their pivotal role in shaping regulations and standards that can drive the renovation movement.

ARISE e-learning platform on BIM and applied energy efficiency tools (17/01/2024)

The EU-funded project ARISE has recently launched an e-learning platform on BIM and energy efficiency, that provides gamified micro-learning modules. This webinar is designed for trainees who want to discover the platform and the free content offered.

Boosting the deployment of smart energy services in buildings: challenges, opportunities and barriers (08/02/2024)

In this online workshop, smart building experts from the industry and domOS project partners will share their vision of smart buildings. The first session will be focussed on approaches and experiences to boost interoperability in heterogeneous buildings, and the second and third will present a cluster of smart services to better integrate buildings grids in energy grids and to increase the efficiency of heating.

The state of the art of smart buildings and smart technologies in Europe (18/12/2023)

Many EU policies, programmes and financial instruments support the shaping of the future of smart buildings to enhance energy efficiency, reduce emissions and energy consumption, and respond to occupants´ needs. Check this overview of smart buildings and smart technologies in the EU panorama.

Buildings as energy generators and Plus Energy Buildings (18/12/2023)

This newsletter summarises, amongst many other items, the latest and most relevant content on November's Topic of the Month: ‘Buildings as energy generators and Plus Energy Buildings’. These are especially curated by us to keep you up to date on this exciting topic!

Overview Article –Buildings as energy generators: EU initiatives and perspectives on Plus Energy Buildings (18/12/2023)

This article presents the overall framework for the definition of Plus Energy Buildings (PEB) and the latest results from projects in terms of technology solutions, multiple benefits analysis, and policy recommendations.

Technical article – Digitalisation in the built environment: Stimulating the demand for skills (18/12/2023)

This last article for the Arise series delves into how understanding and achieving the sustainable benefits deriving from digitalisation is a critical step in ensuring we deliver a skills-literate workforce capable of delivering green construction.

Technical article – EXCESS develops replicable solutions for flexible user-centric energy-positive buildings (18/12/2023)

The EXCESS project develops positive energy building solutions and demonstrates them in four European cities to prove that cost-competitive, positive-energy building solutions can be realised across different European climatic zones.

Technical article – District Energy Efficiency Subscriptions Project supports the degasification of Dutch districts (18/12/2023)

The DistrictEES project, funded under Horizon2020, implements a district-level renovation strategy in the Netherlands, fostering energy efficiency and sustainable energy investments at the district level to support the Dutch transition to be gas-free by 2050, achieving over 3000 house conversions and reducing CO2 emissions by at least 462 tonnes per year.

Expert Talk – Steinar Grynning (18/12/2023)

Grynning talks about what the main technologies behind PEBs are and how they contribute to sustainable energy-efficient buildings, besides giving his opinion about the evolution of future PEBs.

Building conversations up with… Maarten De Groote (18/12/2023)

With 20 years' experience in the energy transition of the built environment, BUILD UP talks with De Groote about Positive Energy Neighbourhoods (PENs), their benefits and how to encourage their development through national and European policies.

What is at stake in the energy efficiency in buildings and related sectors? (18/12/2023)

With the backdrop of the EPBD recast, BUILD UP organised an interesting panel discussion with key stakeholders to address and discuss challenges and solutions related to the sector.

Publication – Opportunities of Positive Energy Neighbourhoods (PENs) (18/12/2023)

Positive Energy Neighbourhoods have a great potential to boost climate neutrality, even though there are still barriers to overcome. Read about them in this publication of BPIE.

Case studies – Green Building Solutions Awards: Circular Economy (18/12/2023)

The recently concluded Green Building Solutions Awards, organized by Construction 21 with BUILD UP as a media partner, have just announced their winners. Check the selected finalists in the Circular Economy category.

Webinar – Unlocking the potential of SMEs: A holistic framework to train SME-workforce in Circular Construction (18/12/2023)

Co-organised by Centre for Energy Efficiency EnEffect and Circle Economy Foundation, BUILD UP hosted the second webinar of a 4 part webinar series aiming to present the BUS-GoCircular project’s outcomes to different audiences. Check the video!

Tool - eensight next-generation of machine learning tool (18/12/2023)

The eensight web platform contributes to the advancement of automated measurements and verification methods for energy efficiency.

2024 Smart Building Conference (30/01/2024)

Expert speakers from across the globe will join the programme to discuss how to transition towards net zero by achieving even better energy efficiency in smart buildings.

From NZEB to ZEB: the buildings of the next decades for a healthy and sustainable future (12/03/2024)

The 53rd AiCARR International Conference will present contributions of interest to the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning sector, relating to innovative design approaches, new monitoring and control systems, and new components and systems, with related insights into their impact on energy consumption, comfort (thermal-hygrometric, acoustic, visual, air quality) and on the healthiness of internal environments.

Fostering experiences from EU innovation projects to accelerate a sustainable built environment (15/11/2023)

EU representatives, participants from EU H2020 and LIFE projects, and Brussels based stakeholders from sectors such as policy, construction, architecture or energy, will all reflect on the profound impact of innovative construction and renovation solutions drawing insights from experiences on the ground. The event will explore emerging trends like prefabrication, circularity, off-site construction, modularisation, digitalisation, and industrialisation.

New Topic of the Month: Buildings as energy generators and Plus Energy Buildings. Promote your knowledge! (08/11/2023)

Every month, Build Up picks a hot topic concerning energy efficiency and renewable energy in buildings, naming it the 'Topic of the Month' and featuring various types of content associated with it. In November, our focus will be on 'Buildings as Energy Generators and Plus Energy Buildings.' If you have relevant content (including articles, news, case studies, publications, webinars, or similar) share it with us and join our community of contributors!

Publication – Tailoring building environments: climate-based thermal comfort (08/11/2023)

A recent study by the Ca' Foscari University of Venice analyses the Smart Controls and Thermal Comfort (SCATS) database, created from monitoring and surveys across five European countries.

Webinar – Building Renovation at District Level: Combining Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Sources (08/11/2023)

Hosted by BUILD UP, this webinar presented the main findings and recommendations from the IEA EBC Annex 75 project, showing the potential of district approaches for cost-effectively decarbonising the building sector. Check the video!

Spanish perspectives on the Renewable Heating and Cooling market (23/11/2023)

Part of the European Technology and Innovation Platform on Renewable Heating and Cooling (RHC-ETIP), this round table represents a series of national panel discussions and presentations involving market actors and other relevant stakeholders.

BUS-GoCircular webinar series: How to contribute to the transition to circularity in the construction sector (14/11/2023)

In order to highlight the importance of a green energy workforce within the construction sector, the BUS-GoCircular project has organised a series of 4 webinars to reskill and upskill the building sector workforce. Hosted by BUILD UP, ‘Unlocking the potential of SMEs: A holistic framework to train SME-workforce in Circular Construction’ and ‘Are architects ready for circular transition? Continuous Professional Development tools for Europe’ will be held on the 14th and the 28th of this month.

Case study – Passive detached single-family house in Zubieta (País Vasco, Spain) (08/11/2023)

This new residential building is Passivhaus certified and represents a good example of energy efficiency and renewable integrations.

Tool - Smart Readiness Indicator FAQ guide portal (08/11/2023)

Within the Smart Square project and in collaboration with REHVA, a new platform has been launched, working as a guide for answering a variety of questions about the Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI).

Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) (08/11/2023)

In this newsletter you can find, amongst other items, the most relevant and recent content on October’s Topic of the Month, Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ), and you can become up to date on this vital topic!

Overview Article – Ventilation performance analysis for buildings: an overview of methods and applications (08/11/2023)

Ventilation plays a pivotal role in delivering comfortable and healthy indoor conditions to buildings’ occupants since both thermal comfort and Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) are affected by ventilation. The article presents an overview of the metrics and the methods used to predict ventilation performance in buildings and of relevant EU policies and initiatives addressing the topic.

Technical article – An overview of post-occupancy evaluation in educational buildings (08/11/2023)

If we want to measure and evaluate indoor air quality, and thermal comfort, and assess the energy efficiency of buildings then Post-Occupancy Evaluation (POE) comes into play. How should this be implemented in schools to improve wellbeing and the building´s energy performance?

Technical article – Digitalisation in the built environment: implementation (08/11/2023)

Digitalising within the construction sector improves efficiency and productivity as well as the quality of your work. The ARISE project delves into the benefits of a digitally informed and empowered workforce in this new technical article of their series.

Building conversations up with… Gulben Calis (08/11/2023)

'IAQ standards can vary from country to country due to differences in environmental conditions, building practices, and health concerns': we talk with Gulben Calis, Associate Professor at Ege University, Türkiye.

Expert Talk – Niall Buckley (08/11/2023)

Senior Project Manager of Research and Development at IES Ltd, Niall Buckley answers our questions about Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) for more efficient homes, amongst other topics.

Take an active role in EUSEW 2024 (08/11/2023)

The European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) is coming back from 11-13 June 2024 in Brussels and online. The call for policy session organizers is open to clean energy experts. Attend the info session on November 15 at 11.00 for key details.

What is at stake in the energy efficiency in buildings and related sectors? (08/11/2023)

With the backdrop of the forthcoming EPBD recast expected for December, BUILD UP hosted a panel discussion where key stakeholders gathered to tackle sector challenges and solutions.

Health effects of a polluted indoor environment (08/11/2023)

Indoor pollution can have many impacts on the health and wellbeing of people. Combined with outdoor pollution, this problem results in 6.7 million premature deaths annually, according to the WHO.

Plural Project: Pre-monitoring of energy consumption and IAQ (08/11/2023)

This project has published an article about the pre-monitoring results of energy consumption and indoor air quality of the demonstration building in Kašava (Czechia).

New Topic of the Month: Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ). Promote your knowledge! (04/09/2023)

BUILD UP highlights content and publications that cover a specific topic each month, choosing it as the Topic of the Month. In October, we will focus on Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ), with fascinating subtopics, like the one deepened in the technical article highlighted below. We are ready and waiting to receive your articles, publications, etc. Please get in touch and become a contributor now!

Covenant of Mayors Investment Forum (25/10/2023)

Join the 2023 edition of the Covenant of Mayors Investment Forum - Energy Efficiency Finance Market Place, an event that will bring together cities, industry and financial institutions to exchange good practices and successful solutions to common challenges, and will also offer plenty of opportunities for networking. Save the date!

Post-occupancy evaluation in educational buildings: an overview (02/10/2023)

How important is the air we breathe indoors? Logically, it is extremely important, and even more when children are involved. If we want to measure and evaluate the indoor air quality (IAQ) and thermal comfort of buildings, post-occupancy evaluation comes into play. How should it be implemented in schools to improve wellbeing?

Tomorrow.Building World Congress (07/11/2023)

Held within the framework of Smart City Expo World Congress, the Tomorrow.Building World Congress aims to catalyse a positive change in the way we plan, construct, renovate, and operate buildings and urban infrastructures. Check all the details here!

Building Renovation at District Level (10/10/2023)

International experts will present the main findings and recommendations from the IEA EBC Annex 75 project in this webinar, showing the potential for district approaches for cost-effectively decarbonising the building sector.

Building performance assessment (04/10/2023)

In this newsletter you can find, amongst other items, the most relevant and recent content on September’s Topic of the Month, Building Performance Assessment, and you can become up to date on this vital topic!

Technical Article – Exploring the role of occupants in buildings' energy performance gap (04/10/2023)

This article explores the energy performance gap phenomenon in the context of building construction and retrofit projects and focuses on the often overlooked and complex role of occupants.

Technical article – Can you heat your house with district heating with a lower temperature supply? (04/10/2023)

This simulation-based approach assesses the readiness of dwellings to adopt lower-temperature heat from district heating systems as a means of a gas-free heating transition.

Expert Talk – Sarah Noyé (04/10/2023)

Researcher in Digitalisation and automation of construction at Tecnalia Research & Innovation, Noyé talks about how Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are used for energy performance assessment.

Building conversations up with... Leandro Madrazo Agudín (04/10/2023)

What are the advantages and disadvantages of implementing the Energy Performance Certification (EPC) in the European building stock? Professor Madrazo Agudín answers and delves into other aspects of EPC.

Building conversations up with… Olivia Guerra-Santin (04/10/2023)

Guerra-Santin, Assistant Professor of Smart Architectural Technologies, answers our questions related to the main benefits of building performance assessments, amongst other topics.

Building conversations up with... Pascal Torres (04/10/2023)

“Predictive maintenance is the best option to achieve a high level of building performance”. This is one of the headlines that Pascal Torres, CEO and co-founder of the French branch of R2M Solution, left in this interesting interview.

EU funding: New LIFE-CET projects: check them out and get involved (04/10/2023)

Six new projects addressing energy performance and the decarbonisation of buildings will kick off this autumn, following the LIFE Clean Energy Transition call in 2022. Will yours be next? Deadline: 16 November.

Help decide on the next generation of building certification (04/10/2023)

This important survey launched by the TIMEPAC project aims to find solutions for the next generation of building certification tools, methods, and training.

Is your BUILD UP account waiting to be activated? (04/10/2023)

The process of activating your account in the new portal needs to be done just once, and then you will be able to upload and promote your work and have access to a wealth of new content and topical developments.

Publication – European heat pump market soars: paving the way to energy-efficient buildings (04/10/2023)

Check the latest report "European Heat Pump Market and Statistics Report 2023" released by the European Heat Pump Association (EHPA), with updates and news related to energy-efficient buildings.

Case study – The renovation of convent Cnoc Na Gaoithe into a sustainable cultural centre (04/10/2023)

As part of BusGoCircular demo cases, this building’s renovation resulted in improved comfort and also reduced carbon emissions.

Tool - Toolkit for energy efficiency improvement of revitalisation and urban areas (04/10/2023)

Developed by the EUKI project EDINA, this toolkit aims at improving energy efficiency in revitalisation areas and is targeted to city and municipal offices supporting the renovation of buildings.

Webinar - Transposing and implementing the EPBD Recast: Next Generation Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) (04/10/2023)

If you are interested in how the recast of the EPBD is going to affect the Energy Performance Certificates do not miss this recent webinar, hosted by BUILD UP. Check out the video for more!

Webinar - Unlocking operation rating schemes: the synergetic added value of SmartLivingEPC and CHRONICLE (04/10/2023)

Hosted by BUILD UP and organised by SmartLivingEPC and CHRONICLE, this recent webinar explored the intricacies of operational rating schemes and the methodologies of both of these brilliant projects.

Sustainable cooling solutions (04/09/2023)

In this newsletter you can find, amongst others, the most relevant and recent content on last Topic of the Month ‘Sustainable cooling solutions’ and be up to date on the topic!

Overview Article - Space cooling technologies for buildings: Alternative solutions to conventional applications (04/09/2023)

With longer and more frequent heatwaves, the demand for space cooling is dramatically increasing globally. How can we make cooling systems more sustainable?

Technical article – Next generation of cooling systems: two case studies (04/09/2023)

This article provides two practical examples of sustainable space cooling technology, one implementing an active system and the second applying a passive solution using a simulation tool.

Article series – ‘Digitalisation in the built environment’: BIM basics and digital transformation (04/09/2023)

Continuing its series of articles about the different stages of digitalisation of the built environment, the ARISE project delves into the qualification framework needed for training and upskilling, and the challenges of digital training.

New funding opportunities: Increasing the number of skilled building and heat pump professionals under LIFE CET 2023 call for proposals is open! (05/09/2023)

The BUILDSKILLS topic aims to increase the number of skilled building professionals at all building levels, whilst the HEATPUMPS topic (Scope B) seeks to tackle the gaps in heat pump professionals in specific European markets. Participate!

Expert Talk – Coen Van de Sande (05/09/2023)

President of the association of refrigeration, air Conditioning and heat pump contractors (AREA), Van de Sande talks about the most promising solutions for providing sustainable cooling in the context of the energy efficiency first principle.

Building conversations up with... Simon Pezzutto (05/09/2023)

“There are many sustainable space cooling solutions, but they represent less than 1% of the solutions available on the market”. We talk with Simon Pezzutto, coordinator of the CoolLIFE project and Senior Researcher at EURAC Research.

Building conversations up with... Matthias Watzak-Helmer (05/09/2023)

BUILD UP talks with Matthias Watzak-Helmer, project manager at FEDARENE. His activities focus on supporting the implementation of regional solutions with respect to renewable energy communities, energy data management and climate adaptation.

Building conversations up with... Pär Johansson (05/09/2023)

Associate Professor at the Division of Building Technology, research team Building Physics Modelling, Johansson works with high-performance thermal insulation materials and status assessment of buildings using artificial intelligence (AI).

Activate your Build Up account in the new portal (05/09/2023)

If you had an account on the previous Build Up portal, you need to activate it again in the new one. The process is simple and just needs to be done once. Just one step for being able to promote your work, content and developments!

Help us improve BUILD UP! (05/09/2023)

As a valued user of the BUILD UP portal, we kindly ask you to collaborate in answering our web usage survey, which deadline is September 8th. It just takes 10 minutes and it will be very helpful for us.

Infographic - How we cool indoor spaces and sustainable alternatives we have (05/09/2023)

The infographic shows different existing types of technologies in the market, sustainable cooling opportunities in the cooling sector, and some EU-funded projects working on sustainable cooling technologies.

Publication - Against rising temperatures and heatwaves: sustainable cooling (05/09/2023)

‘Cooling buildings sustainably in Europe: exploring the links between climate change mitigation and adaptation, and their social impacts’, is the title of the briefing by the European Environmental Agency (EEA).

Webinar - The right steps to sustainable cooling (05/09/2023)

This webinar was recently hosted by Build Up and provides valuable insights into sustainable cooling solutions within the context of the Future of Cooling Programme at the University of Oxford. It is available here.

Tool - EMB3Rs platform to evaluate the reuse and trade of waste heat and cold (05/09/2023)

The EMB3Rs project has developed a platform that allows users to evaluate the reuse and trade of waste heat and cold, empowering industrial users and stakeholders to find out the economic potential of their investments.

Case study - The ‘Piazza dei Navigatori’ building project in Rome (05/09/2023)

The new building will host residential space, but also retail and office spaces, parking, and planted areas. Its design process has prioritised the environmental aspects, reducing the environmental impact.

Webinar - Unlocking Operational Rating Schemes (14/09/2023)

The joint webinar co-organized by SmartLivingEPC & CHRONICLE and hosted by BUILD UP, aims to shed light on the intricacies of operational rating schemes by bringing together technical experts, policymakers, and stakeholders in the field of building performance.

Tomorrow.Building World Congress (05/09/2023)

Within the framework of Smart City Expo World Congress, the Tomorrow.Building World Congress will take place in Barcelona (Spain). Check all the details here!

REVHA Brussels Summit 2023 (13/11/2023)

REHVA Brussels summit will take place in Brussels, and will discuss along two days about ‘IEQ skill in the decarbonisation of buildings’. The first one, in the Standing Committee Meeting and the second, featuring the yearly Policy Conference, which aims to bring together industry experts, policymakers, and professionals to discuss and explore the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities in the realm of sustainable buildings.

Building conversations up with... Carmen Sánchez-Guevara (05/07/2023)

Sánchez-Guevara belongs to the Sustainable Environment Research Group based at the Technical University of Madrid. Her research focuses on energy poverty from the perspective of the right to habitability and thermal comfort in housing.

EUR 123 million to make Bulgarian homes more energy efficient (05/07/2023)

Bulgarian households can apply for grants to install photovoltaic systems and solar collectors for their own consumption.

New BUILD UP survey (05/07/2023)

BUILD UP has recently revamped its portal, and your input can help us better understand how our community interacts with it, providing key insights and ideas to improve the user experience. It's less than 10 minutes, would you please help us?

Webinar - Book launch for Occupant Centric Simulation Aided Building Design (05/07/2023)

BUILD UP welcomed authors from a recently released book ‘Occupant-Centric Simulation-Aided Building Design’ in this webinar, whose objective was to provide a brief overview of the contents of the book and what to expect from it.

Transforming heating to be efficient, resilient, and clean for European households (05/07/2023)

In order to convince homeowners to renovate, the REPLACE project has used a heating system calculator and a heating matrix to make it clear just how much energy they currently use and how much they could potentially save.

Reducing energy bills: EU-funded research results (05/07/2023)

A new CORDIS result pack has been published with a collection of innovative EU-funded research results that aim to reduce energy bills, and to promote clean and energy-efficient solutions for households.

Why building renovation is important? (05/07/2023)

How can you make your home consume less energy? The infographic developed by the European Commission represents a tool for the general public to understand the importance of renovation of buildings easily.

Tomorrow.Building World Congress (07/11/2023)

The Tomorrow.Building event will take place at Fira de Barcelona, within the framework of Smart City Expo World Congress, and has BUILD UP as a collaborating organisation.

7th International Conference on Renewable Energy Sources and Energy Efficiency - Energy Security (RESEE2023) (12/10/2023)

The aim of the RESEE2023 is to bring together key stakeholders of renewable energy and energy efficiency to share and discuss advances, recent developments, and best practices.

Promote your knowledge (05/07/2023)

BUILD UP highlights content and publications that cover a specific topic each month, choosing it as the Topic of the Month. During July and August, we will be focusing on ‘Sustainable cooling solutions’. We are ready and waiting to receive your articles, publications, etc. Please get in touch and become a contributor now!

Increasing energy efficiency and affordability for households (05/07/2023)

In this newsletter you can find the most relevant content on last month’s Topic of the Month ‘Increasing energy efficiency and affordability for households’ and be up to date on the topic!

Overview Article – Promoting energy savings in residential buildings: National examples of projects from European countries (05/07/2023)

This article provides an overview of some national projects and initiatives from EU Member States to better understand how EU policies and financing are translated at the local level, and how they are linked to national and regional financing programmes.

Article series – Digitalisation of the built environment (05/07/2023)

The ARISE project presents a series of articles dedicated to the different stages of digitalisation of the built environment, taking the reader through the entire process. The first ones are dedicated to ‘Awareness’ and are now available.

Technical Article – REPLACE Project: Keeping the heat on in times of crisis (05/07/2023)

The REPLACE Project had a unique approach to bringing together key players at the local level to design and implement effective, tailor-made measures to support the clean heat transition in its pilot regions. This article summarises their efforts to transition from fossil fuel-based residential heating and cooling systems to clean alternatives.

LIFE call 2023 open: New funding opportunities for the building sector (05/07/2023)

The LIFE Clean Energy Transition call for proposals is open -deadline: 16 November 2023-, and a specific topic, ‘LIFE-2023-CET-BETTERRENO’ is addressing key areas to achieve the EU targets for the decarbonisation of the building stock.

Expert Talk – Davide Sabbadin (05/07/2023)

Deputy Policy Manager for Climate at European Environmental Bureau, Sabbadin talks about how heat pumps contribute to energy efficiency, and the number of skilled workers needed to meet the demand from European households for heat pump technology.

Sustainable Places 2023 (14/06/2023)

From 14 to 16 June, R2M Solution organise the 11th annual edition of Sustainable Places, a hybrid event with in-person sessions hosted in Madrid, Spain, and with BUILD UP as a media partner.

NEW BUILD UP (31/05/2023)

BUILD UP has revamped its digital look! The European portal for energy efficiency and renewable energy in buildings brings its users a new, modern, and more attractive portal. Our aim remains the same; to reap the benefits of Europe's collective intelligence on energy reduction and renewable energy in buildings for all relevant audiences. Check out all the fantastic new features!

Book launch for Occupant-Centric Simulation-Aided Building Design (20/06/2023)

This webinar will give an overview and lively discussion on the recent book ‘Occupant-Centric Simulation-Aided Building Design’, and will have Clarice Bleil, one of BUILD UP ambassadors, talking about Occupants in the building design decision-making process.

TOM JUNE (21/03/2023)

Each month, BUILD UP highlights content and publications that cover a specific topic, choosing it as the Topic of the Month. During June, we will focus on ‘Increasing energy efficiency and affordability for households'. We are eager to receive your discussion papers, news, and articles. Become a contributor now!

TOM Knowledge transfer (31/05/2023)

Interested in this topic? We have done the hard work and summed up the best articles, interviews, and content for you.

Be up-to-date in the topic! (23/03/2023)

In this newsletter you can find the most relevant content on last month's Topic of the Month ‘Building's Life cycle Assessment (LCA)’ and be up to date on the topic!

Technical Article – HOUSEFUL Project: BCM as a tool to increase building circularity (31/05/2023)

This great HOUSEFUL project proposes an innovative paradigm shift towards a circular economy for housing through an innovative methodology to assess the degree of circularity in building renovation projects.

Technical Article – Consolidating building data semantics for life cycle assessment (31/05/2023)

The SemanticLCA project outlines how various technologies, such as BIM models or DT systems, can feed into the Level(s) framework LCA and what ontologies are available to establish a common vocabulary for data consolidation.

Technical Article – DecarbonAIte: Advancing sustainable building renovation in Sweden through Artificial Intelligence (31/05/2023)

DecarbonAIte seeks to accelerate digitalisation in the built environment by providing data and tools using digital twins and AI. The project aims to promote renovations that save energy and contribute to reducing energy inequality on a large scale, and to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Expert Talk – Claudia Di Noi (31/05/2023)

Sustainability Consultant specialised in topics such as LCA, environment, and Life Cycle Thinking, Di Noi delves into LCA, answering questions related to its main challenges and highlighting the LCA skills that are lacking in the European workforce.

Building conversations up with... Kieran Morgan (31/05/2023)

Construction, Energy and International Arbitration Counsel and new BUILD UP ambassador, Kieran Morgan explores the EU regulatory framework in terms of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) in buildings, and other topics.

What to attend at EUSEW? (31/05/2023)

This year EUSEW presents a 3-day programme full of fascinating sessions that you will not want to miss. The BUILD UP Team has dug into the most relevant building-related sessions for you. Get ready to find out how to lower bills and increase skills!

‘Salvaging’: material reuse to rethink the buildings of the future (31/05/2023)

From second-hand dealers to circular materials directories, read about how some cooperatives, architects, and EU projects are revolutionising the way that construction works.

Nordic countries are working together to boost data gathering for LCA for buildings (31/05/2023)

This initiative, led by the Finnish Environmental Institute (SYKE), the Natural Resource Institute Finland (LUKE), and the Swedish Environmental Research Institute (IVL), aims to ensure interoperability across various LCA tools and services.

The current state of the circular economy in European cities - Circular Cities Declaration (31/05/2023)

This report of ICLEI identifies eight key trends for how circularity is being implemented in Europe’s urban areas, also providing a comprehensive overview of the current state of circularity in European cities.

Award for pavillon made with recycled materials in Germany (31/05/2023)

The Mehr.WERT.Pavillon has been built using recycled materials, and is an example of a sustainable and resilient building. The project has been awarded the Sustainable Infrastructure Grand Prize of the Green Solutions Awards 2020-2021.

Training materials to boost demand for circular construction skills (31/05/2023)

This useful tool aims to help public procurers and policymakers learning more about the topic and how to use public procurement to specifically enhance circular construction skills.

Webinar - Digital tools for Health & Safety on the construction site (31/05/2023)

BUILD UP hosted the 2nd of the ongoing COGITO webinar series on ‘Practical Tools for the Construction Sector in Digital Twin’, which aims to present the COGITO Digital Construction 4.0 toolbox and to gather feedback from the audience. Check it!