TalTech partners recently highlighted the benefits of the EBENTO project for energy-efficient building renovations at two major conferences in Estonia.

On October 8, the annual “Teadmistepõhine ehitus” (“Knowledge-based Construction”) conference was held in Tallinn, Estonia. The event brought together experts, policymakers, researchers, and industry leaders to discuss the construction sector’s critical role in the green transition and climate responsibility. The agenda highlighted critical topics, including the construction sector’s responsibility in mitigating climate change impacts, advancements and obstacles in the renovation wave, implications of new green transition legislation, results from large-scale, factory-based renovation projects, and evolving requirements for shelters

TalTech delivered three impactful presentations focused on advancing innovation in renovation strategies:

• Shifting the Renovation Perspective: Assistant Professor Ergo Pikas addressed the pressing need to rethink conventional renovation approaches. His presentation highlighted key barriers, such as low renovation rates, and proposed strategies to accelerate and scale up renovation activities, especially to meet sustainability targets.
• Neighborhood and Multi-Building Renovation: Kädi-Riin Vendel presented research on the renovation of neighborhoods or clusters of similar buildings. Her findings emphasized the benefits of streamlining renovation processes to reduce project lead times, costs, and CO2 emissions, underscoring the efficiency of collective renovations.
• Enhancing Data Quality from National Registries: Elisa Iliste discussed the importance of utilizing and improving data from national registries for renovation planning. She focused on methods to capture, refine, and enrich existing data, addressing critical gaps to support informed decision-making in energy-efficient renovation strategies.

These presentations sparked discussions on sustainable building practices and showcased TalTech’s commitment to driving innovative solutions for a more climate-responsible construction sector in Estonia and beyond.

Three days later, the EBENTO project was featured at the annual forum organized by the Estonian Union of Co-operative Housing Associations in Tallinn. This year’s conference theme was “Renovation Capacity of Apartment Associations and Its Influencing Factors.”

The forum aimed to explore the latest developments in Estonian housing policy and examine the factors influencing the renovation capacity of apartment associations. Key topics included:

• Economic viability of various multi-family residential buildings.
• Implications of new support regulations for apartment building reconstructions.
• Insights from pilot projects on industrialized reconstruction.
• The significance of neighborhood-level renovations in achieving efficient outcomes.

Participants also discussed the role of construction guides in navigating the legal framework of building projects and considered the potential impacts of waste reform on apartment associations. Legal issues relevant to apartment associations were addressed, providing a comprehensive understanding of the regulatory landscape.

Overall, the forum fostered collaboration and the exchange of best practices in housing and renovation, contributing to the enhancement of renovation capabilities within Estonia’s apartment associations.

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