Buildings are responsible for about 40% of the EU’s energy consumption, and 36% of greenhouse gas emissions from energy. But only 1% of buildings undergo energy efficient renovation every year, so effective action is crucial to making Europe climate-neutral by 2050.
By 2030, 35 million buildings could be renovated and up to 160,000 additional green jobs created in the construction sector.
The Renovation Wave Strategy by the European Commission aims to at least double renovation rates in the next ten years and make sure renovations lead to higher energy and resource efficiency. These efforts will enhance the quality of life for people living in and using the buildings, reduce Europe’s greenhouse gas emissions, foster digitalisation and improve the reuse and recycling of materials.
The building sector presents a unique opportunity to help Canada reach net-zero by 2050. To achieve this, the sector and its workforce must evolve to meet the demands for energy efficiency within new and existing commercial, institutional, and multi-unit residential buildings. This session focuses on the capacity of the building sector’s current workforce and the gaps that need to be filled as Canada’s buildings transition to becoming more energy efficient.
MyHEAT collects large-scale thermal imagery of homes and uses it to map heat loss occurring from rooftops for entire cities. Saint John Energy recently partnered with MyHEAT to help engage customers for their new Home Heat Saver program. Join us to learn how the platform was used and hear feedback from the citizens of Saint John.
This presentation will explore the interplay between policy and data in facilitating the design and effectiveness of climate interventions at scale. Brenda Scott Castro from the City of Vancouver will provide a policy example in Vancouver’s zero emissions retrofit strategy, while Donovan Woollard from OPEN Technologies will discuss how cities around BC are working to build data collection and interpretation pathways through the Building Benchmark BC pilot.
