15 May 2024 - Brussels, Belgium
BuiltHub, the pioneering Horizon 2020 initiative dedicated to transforming the European building stock into sustainable hubs of innovation and efficiency, marked a significant milestone on 14 May with the kickoff of its final event. The event commenced with a dynamic walking tour, offering participants an immersive journey through the past, present, and future of sustainable building in Brussels
Led by industry experts and accompanied by the expert architects of the B612 and CONIX RDBM firms, participants explored iconic landmarks of sustainable development, including the Place Fontainas and MULTI Brussels. These sites exemplify the transformational power of sustainable architecture, repurposing former industrial spaces into vibrant, carbon-neutral communities with a focus on circularity and green spaces.
Inside the event venue at the ICLEI Europe Offices, discussions delved into the current state of the European building stock, highlighting the impact of recent regulatory changes such as the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) recast, and the Building Stock Observatory (BSO). BuiltHub's role in navigating this evolving landscape was emphasized, with a focus on the platform's achievements in fostering collaboration and facilitating data-driven decision-making.
Project Coordinator Ulrich Filippi from EURAC mentioned that:
"The BuiltHub project team has diligently and innovatively worked to accelerate the transition to a more sustainable building stock across Europe. As we celebrate the culmination of this project, we are thrilled to reflect on the progress made over the past four years and to explore the opportunities that lie ahead."
"The BuiltHub project team has diligently and innovatively worked to accelerate the transition to a more sustainable building stock across Europe. As we celebrate the culmination of this project, we are thrilled to reflect on the progress made over the past four years and to explore the opportunities that lie ahead."
Sylvain Robert from CINEA, the European Climate, Environment and Infrastructure Executive Agency, reflected on the positive impact that the BuiltHub project will have on efforts to shift the European building landscape, specifically on the Building Stock Observatory (BSO), adding that:
"This project has strong links with the BSO and is bound to contribute to the success of the Observatory".
"This project has strong links with the BSO and is bound to contribute to the success of the Observatory".
In March 2024, the European Commission launched a new version that offers an improved user interface and more data availability, and BuiltHub is part of a wider development effort to ensure the BSO becomes Europe’s central hub for reliable data on buildings.
Speakers at the event included representatives from project partners spanning the building, research, and private sectors, as well as notable figures from the European Commission. Participants included organizations such as BPIE (Buildings Performance Institute Europe), REHVA (Representatives of European Heating and Ventilation Associations), EBC (European Builders Confederation), and the Green Building Council, among others.
Looking towards the future, BuiltHub is actively exploring business models and seeking partners to ensure the continued success and longevity of the platform. With a shared commitment to sustainability and innovation, BuiltHub remains dedicated to shaping the future of European building practices.
For more information on the event, please visit the BuiltHub website.
About BuiltHub
The overall aim of the Horizon 2020 BuiltHub project is to define a roadmap and vision for a durable (FAIR - Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) dataflow and collection enabling to characterise the EU building stock. The project aims to do so by developing a robust and resilient web-based IT Infrastructure (platform) that allows for collecting and extracting building performance and characteristics related data. BuiltHub will support transforming the data into information and knowledge by offering dedicated uses and services for platform users and beneficiaries, such as policy makers (EU, national and local authorities).
The overall aim of the Horizon 2020 BuiltHub project is to define a roadmap and vision for a durable (FAIR - Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) dataflow and collection enabling to characterise the EU building stock. The project aims to do so by developing a robust and resilient web-based IT Infrastructure (platform) that allows for collecting and extracting building performance and characteristics related data. BuiltHub will support transforming the data into information and knowledge by offering dedicated uses and services for platform users and beneficiaries, such as policy makers (EU, national and local authorities).
Photo by Patrick C. Freyer on Unsplash
Event pictures by Laura Schubert (ICLEI Europe)
Event pictures by Laura Schubert (ICLEI Europe)
