CrAFt at the Budapest Real Estate Conference

On November 5, 2024, during the Budapest Real Estate Conference, Ana Veronica Martínez, Project and Technical Officer at UIPI, presented “Crafting the Future: How EU Policies Are Shaping Our Buildings”, highlighting how European policies are driving the transformation of the real estate stock towards a more sustainable, inclusive and beautiful future.

The presentation focused on the advances derived from the Energy Performance Directive for Buildings (EPBD), a fundamental framework to reduce energy consumption in a context where 75% of EU buildings have low energy performance. Martínez stressed the importance of flexibility and non-compulsory requirements of minimum energy performance standards (MEPS), with clear goals for residential and non-residential buildings, highlighting the adaptation to the needs of each Member States.

The presentation highlighted innovative tools such as Building Renovation Passports and One Stop Shops, which provide owners with access to information and assistance during energy renovations. In this regard, the role of homeowners as key players in the energy transition was emphasized, by encouraging their active participation in collaborative renovations and promoting informed decision-making.

Martínez launched reflective questions to inspire concrete actions: How can we motivate individual homeowners to lead sustainable renovations? and How can we boost collaboration between neighbors and co-owners to achieve common goals? These reflections seek to place homeowners at the center of the process, inspiring practical and effective solutions.

During the presentation, inspiring examples of successful renovations in Europe were shared, such as the Schwalbacher Strasse project in Germany, Energiesprong Longueau in France and Solanova in Hungary. These interventions managed to reduce energy consumption by up to 80% through innovative solutions such as prefabricated components, installation of sustainable energy systems and rapid implementation processes that minimize inconvenience for residents.

In addition to the environmental benefits, the increase in comfort, cost reduction and added value to renovated properties were highlighted, demonstrating the positive impact of these initiatives and their replicability in different contexts.

As part of the practical tools offered by the CrAFt project, Martínez presented the “CrAFt Cookbook“, an accessible guide with initiatives for owners and stakeholders interested in sustainable transformation, including energy renovation in buildings.

This resource details concrete steps to plan and implement successful projects, from identifying challenges and needs to creating work teams and defining clear action paths. The document is available on the project’s official website, offering adaptable and community-oriented solutions.

The presentation concluded with a call to action focused on the fundamental role of owners in the transition to more sustainable buildings. Martínez highlighted that energy renovation not only represents a key tool to reduce costs and emissions, but also an opportunity to improve quality of life and strengthen community collaboration. With initiatives like CrAFt, aligned with the principles of the New European Bauhaus, the path towards more sustainable, inclusive and beautiful cities begins with each renovated building.