Press Release Kick-off
The kick-off meeting of SUREFIT Project “Sustainable solutions for affordable retrofit of domestic buildings” took place ONLINE on the 14th of September 2020 organized by the project coordinator ISQ from Portugal by the supervision of the Project Adviser Piotr Wais.
During the 1st launching meeting 9 partners form 8 different countries (Portugal, Greece, UK, Turkey, France, Germany, Spain, Finland) discussed, exchanged ideas and committed to the work to be done for SUREFIT Project. An overall presentation of the project was made and the expected impacts were identified. Objectives were set, a roadmap for the first months of the project was formulated and all partners had the opportunity to know each other. The consortium is made up by top professionals, researchers and universities.
SUREFIT Project will demonstrate fast-track renovation of existing domestic buildings by integrating innovative, cost-effective, and environmentally conscious prefabricated technologies. This is to reach target of near zero energy through reducing heat losses through building envelope, and energy consumption by heating, cooling, ventilation and lighting, while increasing the share of renewable energy in buildings. This will be achieved through a systematic approach involving key stakeholders (building owners/users, manufacturers, product/services developers) in space heating, cooling, domestic hot water, lighting and power generation, as well as a demonstration phase in 5 representative buildings in different European climates.
Buildings represent about 40% of the EU energy consumption, and 36% of the total CO2 emissions. A major part of these is due to heating and cooling, to maintain comfortable indoor conditions. In 2012, energy consumption for residential space heating in the EU was 200 Mtoe 2. The EU has committed to meet 20% of all energy demand through the use of renewable energy sources by 2020, and a further target of 100% by 2050 is already underway. Rational use of energy and integration of renewable energy technologies can substantially reduce the conventional energy demand in new and existing buildings and assist the EU in meeting the climate change objectives under the 2015 Paris Agreement.
At present, about 35% of the EU’s buildings are over 50 years old and almost 75% of the building stock is energy inefficient but only 0.4-1.2% of the building stock is renovated each year due to slow and costly renovation processes.
Systemic approaches for building renovation could address the key challenges facing the construction industry by minimising energy use and material waste, maximising the energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources for heating, cooling, power generation and lighting, and fast and affordable retrofitting through the use of prefabrication.
Note: This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 894511
Press and media contacts:
Project Coordinator: Ms Muriel C. Iten, Head of R&Di Unit ISQ, mciten@isq.pt, +351 214 228 100
Dissemination and Communication manager: Mr Themis Sarantaenas, Senior Marketing Consultant AMS, themis.sarantaenas@amsolutions.gr , +30 210 2842615
