idw – Informationsdienst Wissenschaft
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
Horizon Europe projects SIRCULAR and INBUILT hosted a joint workshop on the decarbonisation of the building sector at the Institute of Construction Technology of Catalonia (ITeC) in Barcelona. The workshop featured interactive and collaborative sessions that helped refine a shared vision for sustainable, circular practices in the building sector.
The Workshop on Concrete Solutions to the Challenges of Building Decarbonisation in the Construction Sector was a session that brought together institutions, experts, and companies to address practical strategies for a more sustainable industry.
The event, organised by the Catalan Housing Agency (AHC), Leitat Technological Center, and ITeC within the framework of the SIRCULAR and INBUILT projects, highlighted the need to advance housing policies that integrate sustainability, energy renovation, and eco-efficiency in the use and management of resources to achieve building decarbonisation goals by 2050.
During the session, participants analysed the European and Catalan regulatory frameworks that will shape the immediate future of construction: the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, the latest updates to the Spanish Technical Building Code, the Construction Products Regulation, and circular economy and waste management policies in the construction field.
Discussions focused on priority strategies to reduce both operational and embodied carbon in buildings, emphasizing the need for stronger collaboration among stakeholders, capacity building in the sector, revision of existing regulations, and the development of experience banks and resources to facilitate implementation. Concrete solutions presented within these strategies included:
• Digital platforms to evaluate and improve sustainability (Sircular Platform), to facilitate the implementation of innovative products (MEDZEroE), for auditing and certification of deconstruction products (PEMD Platform), or to collect and locate salvage material suppliers (Opalis.eu).
• Innovative construction solutions such as prefabricated concrete panels with low-carbon insulation for façade renovation (Sircular Solution), circular wood solutions (Woodcircles), façade solutions using recycled glass, or construction solutions based on 3D printing (AdditiveSPACES).
The participants highlighted the importance of the workshop that helped to strengthen new alliances between institutions, companies, and research centres to drive decarbonisation in the sector and pool efforts, reinforcing the housing sector’s commitment to the green transition.
About the SIRCULAR project
SIRCULAR is a Horizon European project supported by the European Commission under grant agreement No 101147412. It is coordinated by RINA-C and combines the expertise of 22 partners from six European countries, including universities, SMEs, NGOs, and industries. During three-and-a-half years, SIRCULAR aims to transform the building sector into a circular and sustainable industry, aligned with the Built4People partnership principles. SIRCULAR tests and demonstrates innovative technologies and services across four regional clusters: initially in Estonia and Spain, followed by Germany and Greece. These clusters engage construction companies, housing companies, universities, and local administrative entities, focusing on buildings owned or occupied by vulnerable population groups, in line with the SIRCULAR just and affordable transition approach.
As a partner in the SIRCULAR project, Steinbeis Europa Zentrum is responsible for leading communication, dissemination, and exploitation activities. This includes developing strategies and tools to increase the project's visibility, communicate its objectives and outcomes, and support the uptake and sustainable use of its results. Steinbeis Europa Zentrum also supports knowledge transfer and the management of intellectual property rights.
Project coordinator
Margherita Fabbri, RINA-C
margherita.fabbri@rina.org
Main Press Contact
Luise Sanders, Steinbeis Europa Zentrum
luise.sanders@steinbeis-europa.de
Margherita Fabbri, RINA-C
margherita.fabbri@rina.org
https://sircularproject.eu SIRCULAR website
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