Events

On September 25, 2024, the launch will be given for a series of inspiring conferences on the future of sustainable housing renovations in Belgium. This first conference on Wednesday, September 25, 2024, highlights the importance of facilitating access to quality information and advice for scaling up renovation efforts, in light of the various regional long-term renovation goals for 2050 in Belgium. This conference offers policymakers, professionals, and experts from different sectors and regions the opportunity to collectively reflect on the challenges and opportunities of sustainable renovations with a view to the long-term renovation strategy for 2050. The conference is part of the LIFE IP BE REEL project and will allow the project partners to present their concrete approaches and results during the event.

The event will kick off with a keynote speech by Kate Raworth on "Doughnut Economics" and its relevance to the renovation sector.

Following this, a European representative will present the new EU guidelines for achieving emission-free homes by 2050, after which policymakers from Flanders, Wallonia, and Brussels will discuss the long-term renovation strategies for their respective regions.

The program includes several presentations on regional initiatives designed to enhance access to high-quality renovation advice and information, such as the Flemish Woningpas and the Walloon renovation tools. The city of Mechelen will present its research on using energy bills as a tool to motivate citizens to take action.

Practical examples of both individual and collective approaches will be shared by project leaders from energy agencies and cities like Antwerp, Mechelen, and Mouscron, illustrating how collaboration can lead to a more sustainable future.

rédéric Deborsu will moderate the conference, which will be held at the beautiful KBR in Brussels. Simultaneous translation will be available in Dutch, French, and English. There will be dedicated time for questions and discussion. Participation is free of charge.

All conferences are free and will be held at the KBR, Kunstberg/Mont des Arts 28, 1000 Brussels (near Central Station). Reserve your spot now! Space is limited, so be sure to register.  

 

Don’t miss this opportunity to contribute to the future of sustainable and emission-free housing renovations in Belgium. 

This is the third conference in the series, which will focus on establishing renovation processes and activities on the local level within a comprehensive long-term strategy. The event will feature guidelines and lessons learned from the BE REEL pilot and demonstration projects, along with presentations from local authorities and other stakeholders. The aim is to formulate recommendations for government policies in Flanders, Wallonia, Brussels, and the EU.

The conference will consist of plenary sessions, working groups, and conclusive insights into sustainable housing renovation.

The goal of this conference is to deliver actionable outcomes by integrating sustainable renovation practices into long-term strategies. The first conference is also scheduled for September 25, 2024, with a focus on providing access to quality information and advice for scaling up renovation works aligned with regional long-term renovation goals in Belgium. It will emphasize communication and incentive measures to enable informed decision-making and active participation in renovation works. The second conference, scheduled for October 30, will focus on collective policy challenges, the apartment sector, and vulnerable people.

The importance of a good narrative with an attractive and unifying vision of the future, supported by insights from behavioral psychology, communication sciences, and examples of how various sectors of society can engage.

Reflecting on an ideal image of housing in 2050 and the questions we need to ask. What and how will housing be in 2050? In both urban and more rural environments. What can we expect? What will be more necessary, what less? Considering demographic dynamics. Will there be changes in housing needs, and how does this translate into programmatic and spatial requirements? Are we implementing housing policies in cities and municipalities?

In this session, Miechel De Paep from SWECO/Buur and Jan Custers from Planrr will present the blueprint for developing a local long-term renovation strategy for the private housing market, aimed at making the housing stock more sustainable by 2050. This strategy is essential to achieve climate goals and make the built environment more energy-efficient. You will gain insight into the process through which local governments, municipalities, and other stakeholders can shape their renovation strategies, including the role of data analysis. The session will offer practical tools for creating a future-proof policy. Followed by a Q&A.

The session features presentations and a panel discussion with representatives from cities and municipalities, offering insights and sharing testimonials on developing local, long-term renovation strategies for the private housing market. This will be followed by an interactive Q&A session with conference participants.

Presentation Topics:

• Stad Turnhout: From Theory to Practice – Establishing a comprehensive renovation strategy.

• West-Vlaamse Intercommunale: The Role of Local Governments – The critical importance of a strategic approach.

• Stad Menen: Addressing Vulnerable Target Groups – Special challenges require tailored measures.

• Stad Gent: Cross-Domain Cooperation – How collaboration across policy domains is key to strategy development and implementation.

The climate transition impacts not only the environment but also the labor market. In this presentation, Lukas Theunis, an energy and climate consultant at Climact, will discuss the effects of this transition on employment, required skills, and education in Belgium, with a particular focus on the renovation sector. Discover the new opportunities and challenges the climate transition presents for workers and businesses, and learn which skills are essential to successfully support this transition.

Roundtable with the theme: How can the construction sector accelerate its offerings for more and deeper renovations in response to the 2050 climate ambitions? How can the sector ensure a sufficient and high-quality offering (skills & capacity) for renovations so that the building stock meets the 2050 goals and, in the short term, meets future obligations for minimum energy performance? Regional and local initiatives strengthening supply and demand will be covered, along with specific business-level opportunities.

 

Presentations on how sustainability and technology are transforming the real estate sector during the session "Sustainable Approaches in Real Estate Investments." Experts such as Sophie Slabbinck (DUSS) and Charlotte van de Water (Agoria) share their knowledge on the renovation sector and the role of technology in real estate innovation. Discover how future-proof investments can contribute to both environmental benefits and economic value. Aline Branders (a2m-architects) will present several inspiring examples of renovation projects.