International Conference on Energy Efficient Renovation in Residential Areas

Eco-renovation by STACCATO: Saving energy the sustainable way. Organisers STACCATO and Concerto+ are proud to announce the successful completion of a two day international conference on energy efficient refurbishment projects in pre-existing residential areas.

The meeting between 28 and 29 June 2010 in Budapest, opened by the EU’s Representative in Hungary: Mr Tamás Szücs, consisted of plenary sessions, insightful workshops and pragmatic site visits. Mr. Szücs commented that STACCATO is an excellent example of cooperation over the creation of sustainable energy and that the conference has been a great opportunity to exchange experiences and learn how challenges have been met within both STACCATO and other energy efficient renovation projects. STACCATO is a European co-funded project (Concerto; FP6) in which three pre-existing residential areas in three of Europe’s capital cities have been renovated or are on the way to renovation with the use of eco-building measures and with the introduction of sustainable energy.

Ada Amon of Energiaklub heralded the completion of the STACCATO demonstration site (Faluhaz) in Hungary as a first-class example of energy efficient refurbishment.Wietze Fabriek, emphasising the focus on energy efficiency said: ‘Our planet can do without us, but we cannot do without our planet and its resources’.

‘Governments need to provide the right conditions’ said Tudor Constantinescu of BPIE. Masha Tarle of the Sustainable Energy Campaign pointed that their campaign provides a platform for the discussion and exchange of best practices for pioneering projects.

Thomas Schumann of Adhoco explained that their own experiences within the holistic-project suggested that, with automation; an energy saving of 25% can be achieved.

Gabor Kiss of the EBRD, Marie-Odile Zanders of DIGH and Monika Schonerklee-Grasser of the Central Europe Programme spoke of opportunities using intellectual project financing and the Central Europe Programme. Eric Berman of Sun Energy Baltic presented their strategy on energy refurbishment of houses in Latvia announcing that Sun Energy Baltic propose to invest in eco-building measures and energy supply measures on a 20 year basis.

Laurent Lhuillery, City of Chartres presented the Frescos Bel Air Project, an example of refurbishment where energy saving measures, location upgrades and popular wall paintings combine. The catalyst: tenants’ involvement where tenant behaviour and communication with tenants is the key. Alan Watt of CEU within STACCATO concurs: ‘The level of owner/tenant satisfaction ultimately gives the go ahead to and maintains the progress of your project’. Doris Osterreicher of the Austrian Institute of Technology confirmed this view based upon the monitoring of all Concerto projects. Wilfred van der Plas of Eneco underlined her confirmation concluding that one of the keys to the success of refurbishment is an emphasis on clear and consistent two-way communication with tenants.

On the second day of the Conference a total of eight workshops were held, topics included: results of training programs, courses on energy efficient reconstructions, best practice projects on blockhouse reconstruction, sustainable energy services, refurbishment and working with the community and the facilitation of cooperation. The conference ended with a site visit to the Faluhaz building and REC Conference Centre.

For more information about STACCATO and the conference please visit our website www.concerto-staccato.eu or subscribe for future updates to the STACCATO’s newsletter on the website.
For more information concerning this press release contact Wilfred van der Plas, [email protected] / +31 – 6 - 52 39 01 31 or take a look at www.concerto-staccato.eu