GREENOV: stimulating sustainable renovation in in North West Europe
European buildings are responsible for a considerable part of the EU energy consumption (40%) and CO2 emissions (36%). In order to meet the Kyoto climate change commitments and the EU Climate & Energy objectives, energy efficiency of the built environment must be improved. Because of the low European replacement rate of the building stock (1% per year), retrofitting existing buildings provides the solution. This sustainable renovation shows more complexities than new eco-constructions, namely because new eco-constructions already incorporate more recent technical solutions, while existing buildings require different solutions adjusted to specific needs.
An integrated cluster approach:
In this context the GREENOV project has been created, a partnership consisting of 10 entities from 6 different EU member states. The GREENOV project aims to contribute to the development of the economic sector of sustainable renovation in existing buildings and urban infrastructure in North West Europe. To accomplish this, the innovation capacity of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in this field will be stimulated by adopting an integrated (economic) cluster approach. This approach has the following objectives:
- Gathering and structuring knowledge and resources of European partners and economic institutional and academic stakeholders;
- Enhancing SMEs competiveness;
- Ensuring a good match between offer and demand on the market;
- Implementing an integrated supply chain in the field of sustainable renovation and finding effective and transferable solutions for the development of energy efficient cities.
By creating local clusters interconnected through the GREENOV project stakeholders can provide an insight in technologies, know-how and best practices in the field of sustainable renovation.
Already demonstrated positive effects:
The retrofitting of existing buildings improves energy efficiency and has a direct positive effect on climate change, indoor air quality, recycling, safety and accessibility. Besides these gains other results are obtained as well:
- An expert database;
- A joint study on current policies and technologies in the sustainable renovation field;
- A joint study on energy efficient refurbishment at large scale;
- Nine thematic conferences;
- A transnational cluster;
- Job opportunities in the building sector on local level;
- Four training sessions for SMEs;
- Four demonstration investments to stimulate the market stakeholders and raise awareness among decision-makers and inhabitants;
- Publications for professionals and non-professionals.
50% European support:
The European Union has supported the GREENOV project financially by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) under the INTERREG IVB North West Europe Programme. This support is based on a co-financial system, in which the Commission provides 50% of the total costs. The budget for the GREENOV consist of a total amount of 7.500.000 euros.
Interconnected
through the GREENHOV project:
Stakeholders in the field of sustainable renovation coming from the area of the project partners can participate in the GREENOV project. Examples of stakeholders can be: SMEs, regional and local authorities, energy agencies, universities, laboratories or industry. The stakeholders can create local clusters interconnected through the GREENOV project.
Keywords:
Sustainable urban
environment, housing, energy efficiency housing quality
Publication date:
2010
Consulted resources: