How green roofs can help cut emissions from buildings, save energy and benefit householders | Webinar

How green roofs can help cut emissions from buildings, save energy and benefit householders | Webinar

The Renovation Wave strategy adopted by the European Commission in October 2020 requires the EU building stock to reduce its emissions by 60% and its final energy consumption by 14% by 2030. Urban green infrastructure is listed among the seven key principles for building renovation, while in the conclusions the Commission outlines its vision to turn the building stock “from a carbon source into a carbon sink”.

This webinar, part of the EU Sustainable Energy Week Extended Programme, provided insights on the benefits of green infrastructure in terms of energy efficiency, water management, and citizens’ wellbeing and discuss their role in the decarbonisation of the EU building stock.

The session also addressed the upcoming revision of related EU policies, starting from the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), and assessed the opportunity of integrating green infrastructure in the EU legislative framework.

Date and time: Tuesday 19 October 2021, 10:30 – 12:00

AGENDA

Welcome and moderation Katarzyna Wardal, EU Public Affairs Manager, Knauf Insulation

Setting the scene: green infrastructure and buildings in the EU policy framework Brigitte Jacquemont, Policy Officer, Energy Efficiency: Buildings & Products, DG Energy, European Commission

Bio-solar roofs: how green roofs can save energy and increase solar PV performance – download the slides Thomas GretschmannGeneral Application Engineer, Optigruen

Save energy and costs for municipalities by retaining and detaining storm water Stephan Beerends, Director Trade, Sempergreen

Greener and healthier buildings to benefit households João Gonçalves, Director of Innovation, Housing Europe

Q&A

Concluding remarks Marta Weber SiwirskaPresident, Polish Green Roofs Association; Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Science

The EU Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) is the main EU policy conference on clean energy. It brings together public authorities, private companies, NGOs and consumers to promote initiatives to save energy and move towards renewables for clean, secure and efficient power.

Follow us on our social channels.

Follow us on the channel that best suits you to receive our latest updates!

NEW

LATEST POSTS

Save the date: World Green Infrastructure Congress 2026

Join us at: World Green Infrastructure Congress BARCELONA 2026 October 27–29: CCIB – Parc del Fòrum, Barcelona (Spain) October 30: University of Lleida – Catalunya (Spain) Organized by: University of Lleida Co-organized by the World Green Infrastructure Network (WGIN). Visit WGIC26.Barcelona

WGIC26 – Closing the gap between communities of practice for green infrastructure and health

  WGIN’s mission statement is “The World Green Infrastructure Network advocates for optimal use of green infrastructure in the urban built environment for the health and well-being of people and the planet.” WGIN has in recent years acknowledged a gap in the attention we’ve given to the human health and well-being benefits of urban green infrastructure. The next World Green Infrastructure Congress, WGIC26, in Barcelona in October 2026 will address this gap by dedicating one of its three thematic tracks to health and well-being. Our congress hosts, the University of Lleida, expect this track will contribute to increased focus on health and well-being within our community of practice, and will hopefully contribute to increased interdisciplinary collaboration with the health sector. WGIN members and stakeholders are encouraged to support and help distribute the soon to be published call for papers for WGIC26 through their websites, social media and personal networks and to assist in recruiting the health community to join us in Barcelona. Through stronger interdisciplinary collaboration we can foster greater recognition and support for urban and building integrated green infrastructure and its relevance in health research, policies and practices. The socioeconomic system seen through the One Health lens. Source

Green Street Standards – A Breakthrough in Urban Green and Blue Infrastructure (Wrocław, Poland)

Local stormwater management in a rain garden collecting runoff from S. Drabika Street, Wrocław (Poland). (Photo: J. Rubaszek). Planning and designing green and blue infrastructure (GBI) as an integral part of urban streets – as is widely recognised – requires support in terms of organisation, funding, legislation and social awareness. As demonstrated by the case of Wrocław – one of the fastest-growing cities in Poland – standards can serve as an effective tool for supporting the implementation of GBI. These standards include guidelines and model solutions that integrate spatial, technical, and environmental aspects. Before establishing these standards, introducing green and blue infrastructure to Wrocław’s streets – even in newly planned projects – posed significant challenges. The main obstacles included insufficient space, the location of underground utility networks in areas that could otherwise accommodate trees, and relatively low public awareness of the importance of creating proper conditions for vegetation, especially large street trees. Read the full article here.