Plenty of activity in the world of construction and architecture this summer, so lots of things to talk about in this edition of our monthly newsletter. New owners of non-residential buildings in Flanders will be forced to meet new EPC standards, hybrid generators lead the way to CO2 savings on construction sites, the Romanian rental home market is reviving, Nestlé HQ completed a spectacular renovation and the second edition of the Vienna Window Congress finally took place.
Renovation obligation for non-residential buildings in Belgium
In Belgium, the local Flemish government passed a bill that obliges new owners of non-residential buildings to invest in a renovation. The new legislation, which will come into effect on January 1st 2022, also introduces a non-residential energy performance certificate (EPC-NR).
The goal of this new law is obviously to minimize companies’ energy costs and reduce the carbon footprint of Belgium’s non-residential patrimony (mainly offices and commercial buildings, it’s not applicable to industry). The new owner will have five years to ensure that the building meets all proposed energy performance levels (roof insulation, glazing, heat generators and cooling installation). Small non-residential units will also have to obtain an energy performance label C or better. Larger buildings will additionally be forced to meet the requirement of 5% of renewable energy, starting from January 1st 2023. Read more here
New green generators could reduce construction site CO2 radically
It’s no secret that the construction sector still has a long way to go if it wants to become CO2 neutral. As the call for clean energy gets louder and louder, alternatives for traditional energy sources are slowly but surely finding their way to the construction sites. One of those alternatives is the Green Generator (de Groene Aggregaat), a hybrid generator developed by the Dutch company Maru Systems, which could reduce CO2 emissions at construction sites with up to 10,000 kilos per week.
The Green Generator is a new solution in the hybrid generator market, which not only protects the environment but can save up to 95% on fuel costs. In addition to a fuel engine, the generator has 20 solar panels and a built-in battery pack, incorporated in a mobile unit. With its 100kVA, it is Maru’s largest hybrid generator and an all-rounder for the heavier work. For large sites, this could mean a saving of more than € 200,000 and a CO2 reduction of more than 600,000 kilos on an annual basis. Read on here.
New SageGlass electrochromic glazing for Nestlé HQ
The Swiss multinational food and drink company Nestlé has renovated building B of its HQ, located in the city of Vevey on the shores of Lake Geneva. The building, which is a 24,000 m² extension of the iconic main building, was built in 1977. Its design was considered revolutionary in terms of energy-efficiency at the time.
Minimierung der CO2-Emissionen erforderlich ist, und diese Gebäude verfügen häufig über veraltete Heiz- und Kühlsysteme, die zu einem hohen Energieverbrauch führen. Die meisten denkmalgeschützten Gebäude müssen nachhaltig renoviert werden, um die Energieeffizienzstandards zu erfüllen und unseren ökologischen Fußabdruck zu verringern.
Contracting authority Brönnimann and Gottreux Architects SA and facade consultant Buri Müller Partner GmbH chose SageGlass electrochromic glazing, which provides both thermal and light control of the building. “The innovative technology made it possible to respect the aesthetics of the existing façade, while conforming the building to new energy standards”, says architect Joël Brönnimann. The renovation includes a total 4,400 m²of new glazing. Have a look and read the full story here.
Over 3,000 new rental homes completed in Bucharest
More than 3,000 new homes have been introduced to the Bucharest rental market over the last three and a half years, according to an analysis by real estate consultant SVN Romania. The current occupancy rate of these units is over 90%, with around 2,700 homes being rented to medium or long-term tenants. These results bring a sense of optimism to the Romanian rental market, which suffered a huge blow during the Covid-19 crisis. “The general climate is in a continuous improvement compared to last year”, says Gabriel Voicu, the vice-president SVN Romania. Read the full story here.
Keywords: Bucharest, rental homes
2 awards for Deceuninck at Vienna Window Congress
After several postponements, the second edition of the Vienna Window Congress was finally able to take place this summer. The participants followed the lectures of the various well-known speakers and listened to the announcement of the Vienna Window Awards in the categories Innovation, Sustainability and Best Website. The awards included two recognition awards for Deceuninck’s ThermoFibra glass fiber reinforcement. The next Vienna Window Congress is planned for June 23 and 24, 2022. Read more about the latest edition here.
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Catch up on the latest industry news, featuring a new renovation law for non-residential buildings in Belgium, the booming rental home market in Romania, a new green energy generator, the remarkable facade renovation of Nestlé’s iconic HQ and the announcement of the Vienna Window Awards.