ALL NEWS AND EVENTS

NEWS ARCHIVE

08.03.2021 - SHARING THE SUCCESSFUL RESULTS OF ECENTRAL PROJECT
February 2021 marks the end of three and half years of eCentral project which shares successful results, including the testing of innovative financing, tools and trainings to support public authorities, and strategic roadmaps to reach nZEB standards in public buildings…
- English

26.02.2021 – FINAL CONFERENCE RESULTS - EVENT
The event was the opportunity to present the main project's results, but also to spark debate on innovative financing methods in different European countries...
- English

08.02.2021 - SUCCESSFUL FINISH OF THREE PILOT ACTIONS IN CROATIA
Three pilot actions in Croatia are all coming to their successful close. Public-private partnership was tested for construction of public buildings in Sveta Nedelja, Stupnik and Marija Bistrica…
- Croatian

04.02.2021 - THE NZEB LIVING LAB: A USER-CENTRED, WEB-BASED KNOWLEDGE-SHARING PLATFORM
The nZEB Living Lab integrates eCentral broad research on nZEB standard, innovative financing schemes and legislation. It presents a centered and concentrated information hub for reaching nZEB standard in buildings as well as direct insight into experiences gained from our concrete pilot actions…
- English

02.02.2021 - VELENJE MUNICIPALITY'S TEST WITH CROWDFUNDING
Velenje is one of the leading municipalities in Slovenia as far as sustainability is concerned. The renovation of the Lifelong learning University is a step towards improving energy efficiency in all publicly owned buildings. In implementing the renovation project, Velenje tested a new method of financing: crowdfunding…
- English
- Slovenian

26.01.2021 – THE STEP BY STEP GUIDE AND A DECISION SUPPORT TOOL FOR FINANCING THE RENOVATION OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS
The eCentral project has developed a guide for the renovation of public buildings and a decision support tool to identify the right financial scheme. The guide aims to boost the investments in a standardized process managed by the public know-how
- English

26.01.2021 – HOW TO REACH THE NZEB TARGET IN PUBLIC BUILDINGS WITH PUBLIC PROCUREMENT AND INNOVATIVE FINANCING
The eCentral project has developed a guideline which public authorities can follow to renovate public buildings to reach the nZEB target. Five different guides have been developed referring to the respective national public procurement frameworks
- Italian

26.01.2021 – FINAL CONFERENCE - EVENT
Save the date! The eCentral partners are delighted to present the results of their project and share insights and experiences about innovative financing for the renovation of public buildings…
- English

22.01.2020 - EXPERIENCES WITH ENERGY PERFORMANCE CONTRACTING IN HUNGARY
Budapest XVIII. District Municipality has joined eCentral project to gain practical experience in the field of nZEB building renovations by energy performance contracting. However, the renovation of Vackor Kindergarten encountered unexpected obstacles…
- English
Hungarian

22.01.2020 - ‘LIVING EPC TOOL’- AN ONLINE APPLICATION FOR ANALYZING THE POTENTIAL OF ACHIEVING NZEB STANDARDS IN BUILDING RENOVATION
The Living EPC Tool is a web-based application to estimate different combinations of energy efficiency and renewable measures for reaching nZEB requirements while aligning the requested parameters according to national nZEB framework…
English

20.01.2021 - POLICY ASSESSMENT FOR INNOVATIVE FINANCING SCHEMES IN ECENTRAL PROJECT COUNTRIES
The report provides an overview on the European situation of innovative financing schemes, namely PPP, EPC and CF. In addition, the current legal situation of innovative financing in eCentral project countries Austria, Croatia, Hungary, Italy and Slovenia was assessed into detail and compared with 2018...
English

20.01.2021 - STEP BY STEP GUIDE ON “HOW TO TURN PUBLIC BUILDINGS INTO NZEB” IN AUSTRIA
The guide aims to support public authorities to identify and manage the renovation process, with a particular focus on eCentral project countries. The guide identifies the main important phases of the renovation process, from the early stage of the project development, through the design and construction phase, up to the service life of the buildings. The guide is available in five national versions, with specific regulations of the project partners countries: Austria, Croatia, Hungary, Italy and Slovenia...
German

21.12.2020 - THE STEP BY STEP GUIDE FOR PUBLIC AUTHORITIES TO REACH THE NZEB STANDARDS
The Step by step guide on how to turn public buildings into nZEB standard aims to support public authorities to identify and manage the renovation process with a particular focus on eCentral project's countries (Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary and Italy)…
English 

03.07.2020 - COVID-19 AND THE INTRODUCTION OF NZEB STANDARD IN CROATIA
Although there was an increased interest for nZEB in Croatia in 2020, further development of all activities in the construction sector was halted or delayed due to global pandemic COVID-19. Recovery is expected to come through new investment cycle in accordance with the European Green Deal...
- Croatian

26.06.2020 - OPERATION AND USE OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS AFTER THE COVID-19 EPIDEMIC
While the basic principles of social distancing, surface cleaning, disinfection, hand washing and good hygiene in general are still the most important, this is not enough to prevent the transmission of infection. The COVID-19 virus can also be transmitted through the air. To prevent the transmission of infection, action is needed particularly in regard to room ventilation...
- Slovenian 

24.06.2020 - ANNUAL BILLION INVESTMENT IN CLIMATE PROTECTION AND RENEWABLES IN AUSTRIA UNTIL 2022
Climate protection and the creation of green jobs offer the best economic stimulus in the face of the current economic crisis. As a result, an additional billion will be invested in climate funding in Austria in 2021 and 2022…
German

19.06.2020 - IT CAN BE WORSE: THE SITUATION OF THE HUNGARIAN BUILDING SECTOR IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC
Hungarian building sector shows decline due to the pandemic, however compared to other industries it has not been hit as hard. The segment of the family houses even can grow a bit....
- Hungarian 

17.06.2020 - INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN DEEP RENOVATION IN EUROPE
BPIE has carried out an analysis of the investment opportunity for Europe’s building sector, which could help mitigate the damage of the COVID-19 pandemic, and should be considered as Europe defines its economic Recovery Package. The total investment opportunity for deep renovation of Europe’s buildings is estimated at €243 billion per year…
English 

12.06.2020 - EIB AND UNIÓN DE CRÉDITOS INMOBILIARIOS JOIN FORCES TO BOOST ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROJECTS IN SPAIN AND PORTUGAL
The European Investment Bank (EIB) and Unión de Créditos Inmobiliarios (UCI) have agreed on implementing green investments, such as mortgages and loans, for the refurbishment of properties and new constructions of NZEB in Spain and Portugal…
English 

03.06.2020 - CURA PODS PROJECT BY ARCHITECT RATTI TO DEFEAT COVID-19
Architect Carlo Ratti and a group of international experts have jointly developed a modular hospital, called CuraPod, for COVID-19 patients needing of intensive care. The first prototype has been installed in Turin...
- Italian

27.05.2020 - COVID-19 GUIDANCE FROM REHVA
REHVA have developed a list of recommendations to operate and use building services to prevent the spread of COVID-19.  The recommendations are referred to HVAC and plumbing systems…
English 

20.12.2019 - ENERGY RENOVATION AND NZEB TARGET IN EU COUNTRIES, THE STATE OF THE ART SUMMARIZED IN A EUROPEAN REPORT
The “Comprehensive study of building energy renovation activities and the uptake of nearly zero-energy buildings in the EU” defines a comprehensive analysis of the renovation activities and nZEB uptake in the EU from 2012 to 2016…
- English 

16.12.2019 - UPDATES ON THE HUNGARIAN PILOT ACTIONS
Beside the Feasibility Study of Vackor kindergarten, the municipality can make feasibility studies for 2 additional large buildings in the eCentral project: the Park swimming pool and the swimming pool of Vilmos Endre Sport Center...
- Hungarian 

13.12.2019 - THE LIFELONG LEARNING UNIVERSITY IN VELENJE RENOVATED WITH THE SUPPORT OF CROWDFUNDING
The Lifelong Learning University has played a key role in shaping City of Velenje, and today, with a diverse programme, it enables lifelong learning for all generations. It is time to restore the splendour of the building, which will reflect the achievements and successes of its 60 years long existence…
- English 

09.12.2019 - ENERGY EFFICIENT BUILDINGS IN CENTRAL EUROPE
eCentral project aims to support public authorities to increase their capacity on nZEB target implementation and development. In order to identify the state of the art of the nZEB target implementation in the renovation processes of existing buildings Eurac Research, together with the other project partners, organized a survey for building experts...
- Italian 

06.12.2019 - NEW NZEB PILOT ACTIONS IN CROATIA BECOME A PART OF THE ECENTRAL PROJECT
Construction of three nZEB public buildings are now part of the pilot action for testing of PPP model in North-West Croatia. Procurement of construction works in Sveta Nedelja is underway while development of PPP documentation for two primary schools has been initiated by REGEA...
- Croatian 

04.12.2019 - NZEB ESTIMATION METHOD OF THE LIVING EPC TOOL
The Living EPC Tool is a web-based application consisting of data from collected energy performance certificates and accompanying reports, updated with technical and financial parameters describing the status of each building…
- English

02.12.2019 - MORE EFFECTIVE USE OF THE 2021-2027 COHESION FUNDS FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN THE V4 COUNTRIES
An IVF analysis concludes that in the V4 countries, energy renovations of the residential building stock is insufficient considering both the volumen and the quality of the technical results. They concluded 15 recommendations to change this trend in the next programming period…
- English 

25.11.2019 - WORKING TOWARDS MORE INNOVATIVE AND COMPETITIVE NATIONAL ENERGY AND CLIMATE PLANS – ANALYSIS OF FIRST DRAFTS OF NATIONAL ENERGY AND CLIMATE PLANS
According to the European Clean Energy Package member states are required to establish 10-year national energy and climate plans, which shall contribute to achieving the objectives of the energy union. The Commission assessed the first drafts, handed in by the member states by the end of 2019…
- English  

18.11.2019 - COST AND PROCESS OPTIMISATION IN THE LIFE CYCLE OF LOW-ENERGY AND PLUS-ENERGY BUILDINGS
As research and demonstration projects prove, it is possible to realize cost optimal nearly-zero and plus-energy buildings. This statement can now be confirmed with the present study of seven example buildings with different forms of use, as well as new construction and renovation…
- German

02.07.2019 - INNOVATIVE FINANCING SCHEMES FOR ENERGY EFFICIENT PUBLIC BUILDINGS
On 13.6.2019 a symposium on innovative financing schemes for public buildings took place in Graz. The symposium was organised in the course of the Interreg Central Europe funded project eCentral…
- English 

03.06.2019 - NZEB IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS IN EXISTING BUILDINGS, LIMITS AND BENEFITS
eCentral project has involved public authorities, energy experts or building experts to think about the nZEB target and its penetration limits in building markets. Results are presented in the “Position paper on nZEB policies in CE countries”…
- English 

27.05.2019 - LIVING EPC TOOL FOR NZEB INVESTMENTS CALCULATION
eCentral project is focused on increasing the capacity of public sector for complying with nZEB regulations. Therefore, the Living Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Tool purpose is to identify potentials for making cost-effective nZEB investments...
- English 

24.05.2019 - NZEB TRAININGS HAVE BEEN LAUNCHED
eCentral team find crucial to provide support to local public authorities to increase nZEB refurbishment rate in CE countries. As a tool for capacity building, a training curriculum has been developed and its implementation has been started in May...
- Hungarian 

23.05.2019 - NZEB TRAININGS HAVE BEEN LAUNCHED
eCentral team find crucial to provide support to local public authorities to increase nZEB refurbishment rate in CE countries. As a tool for capacity building, a training curriculum has been developed and its implementation has been started in May...
- Slovenian 

22.05.2019 - NZEB TRAININGS HAVE BEEN LAUNCHED
eCentral team find crucial to provide support to local public authorities to increase nZEB refurbishment rate in CE countries. As a tool for capacity building, a training curriculum has been developed and its implementation has been started in May...
- Croatian

20.05.2019 - INNOVATIVE FINANCING SCHEMES FOR ENERGY EFFICIENT PUBLIC BUILDINGS - SYMPOSIUM
On 13th June 2019, a symposium on innovative financing schemes for energy efficient public buildings will take place in Graz (Nikolaiplatz 4). The acquired top-level speakers will introduce their practical experiences on alternative financing approaches. Participation is free!
- German

20.05.2019 - INNOVATIVE FINANCING SCHEMES FOR ENERGY EFFICIENT PUBLIC BUILDINGS - SYMPOSIUM
On 13th June 2019, a symposium on innovative financing schemes for energy efficient public buildings will take place in Graz (Nikolaiplatz 4). The acquired top-level speakers will introduce their practical experiences on alternative financing approaches. Participation is free!
- English

10.05.2019 - SYMPOSIUM IN GRAZ - EVENT
Register to the eCentral Symposium on innovative financing schemes for energy efficient public buildings. Top-level speakers will introduce their practical experiences, lessons learned and provide recommendations for public authorities on how to make best use of alternative financing instruments…
- English

06.05.2019 - NZEB TRAININGS HAVE BEEN LAUNCHED
eCentral team find crucial to provide support to local public authorities to increase nZEB refurbishment rate in CE countries. As a tool for capacity building, a training curriculum has been developed and its implementation has been started in May...
- English

15.04.2019 - FINAL WORKSHOP OF TOGETHER PROJECT IN ITALY-TREVISO
The final workshop of Interreg CE project TOGETHER was organized in Treviso. The project objective was to sensitize the tenants on a sustainable energy use and favouring energy savings approaches. In Italy, TOGETHER supported 10 local municipalities to develop energy saving strategies in educational buildings...
- Italian 

07.01.2019 - nZEB AS A CONCRETE AND AFFORDABLE SOLUTION FOR PUBLIC BUILDINGS
Are you a public authority? Do you need support to achieve the nZEB target in your buildings? eCentral project, financed by Interreg Central Europe programme, offers several opportunities to support you to implement nZEBs…
- English 

10.12.2018 - SHARING GOALS WITH BOOSTEE-CE PROJECT: WORKING ON PUBLIC BUILDINGS IN VELENJE
BOOSTEE-CE project, financed by Interreg Central Europe programme, develops and implements technical solutions, strategies, management approaches & financing schemes to achieve higher Energy Efficiency (EE) in public buildings…
- English 

03.12.2018 - POLICY ASSESSMENT FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF NEW FINANCING SCHEMES IN SLOVENIA 
In Slovenia, the environment for the introduction of new financing schemes is still developing. Legislation in the areas of public-private partnership, energy contracting and crowdfunding remains insufficient, ambiguous and does not create an incentive environment…
- Slovenian 

26.11.2018 - ALTERNATIVE PROCUREMENT MODELS FOR PUBLIC BUILDINGS
Public Authorities often do not allow new debts, and alternative procurement models become increasingly frequent forms in projects of construction and renovation of buildings, mostly financed by the private party to guarantee the contracted level of standard…
- Croatian

19.11.2018 - GREEN PUBLIC PROCUREMENT IN ITALY
Green Public Procurement (GPP) in Italy is regulated by the Department of Environment. The National Action Plan on Green Public Procurement (GPP NAP) sets rules and requirements as well as goals for public procurement in Italy…
- Italian 

12.11.2018 - COFFEES WITH MAYORS IN HUNGARY TO PROMOTE ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Many settlements already have strategic goals for raising energy efficiency, but most municipalities need support in funding and investment decisions. The eCentral project seeks to overcome these shortcomings and directly learn about the needs of local governments through ‘Coffees with Mayors’…
- Hungarian

5.11.2018 - GREEN PUBLIC PROCUREMENT (GPP) IN EUROPE
Europe's public authorities are major consumers. By using their purchasing power to choose environmentally friendly goods, services and works, they can make an important contribution to sustainable consumption and production. This is called Green Public Procurement (GPP) or green purchasing…
- English 

29.10.2018 - SUSTAINABLE PUBLIC PROCUREMENT IN AUSTRIA
In 2018, the Austrian Ministry for Sustainability and Tourism announced to update the national green procurement action plan, firstly developed in 2010. The action plan will be extended and modernized (e.g. inclusion of e-mobility)…
- German

18.06.2018 - PPP: AN ALTERNATIVE FINANCING SCHEME
Public Private Partnership (PPP) is an alternative financing scheme which will be used in the renovation process of public buildings within the eCentral project in Croatia, financed by Interreg CENTRAL EUROPE programme...
- English 

11.06.2018 - EPC: AN ALTERNATIVE FINANCING SCHEME
Energy Performance Contracting (EPC) is an alternative financing scheme for capital improvement, which allows funding energy upgrades from cost reductions. Under an EPC arrangement, an external organization (ESCO) implements a project…
- English

04.06.2018 - 3° ECN CROWDCAMP, 28-29 JUNE 2018, BOLOGNA
The 3rd edition of CrowdCamp will take place in Bologna at the Library of the National Research Council (CNR) and will focus exclusively on the renewable energy sector. Experiences and real applications of Crowdfunding will be presented, its applicability, replicability and potential, as well as invited platforms and relevant stakeholders in the selected sector...
- Italian

28.05.2018 - ASSESSMENT TOOLS FOR COST-EFFECTIVE REFURBISHMENT
This report provides an overview of 13 used tools for assessing cost-effective refurbishments of buildings. For the analysis, a survey was created by Energy Agency of Styria. The project partners of eCentral evaluated two to four tools according to the survey...
- German

21.05.2018 - A FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR THE UNIVERSITY FOR LIFELONG LEARNING BUILDING
Following the prepared feasibility study, Municipality of Velenje and the energy agency KSSENA (Slovenia) agree on investment measures for renovation of the building used by University for lifelong learning. In the next few months, we will test the crowdfunding model as well...
- Slovenian 

14.05.2018 - PILOT NZEB INVESTMENT IN BUDAPEST 18TH DISTRICT
Deep refurbishment of a small kindergarten is possible with ESCO-model – shows the feasibility study developed in the frame of eCentral project. The Vackor kindergarten in Budapest could achieve BB-AA+ instead of G energy performance classification after renovation...
- Hungarian

07.05.2018 - CROWDFUNDING: AN ALTERNATIVE FINANCING SCHEME
Crowdfunding approach is an alternative method, used within eCentral project, to support key stakeholders to realize benefits of nZEB financing the energy performance renovation of one pilot case study...
- English

30.04.2018 - THE  CROATIAN PILOT ACTION IN SVETA NEDELJA
Pilot action for the construction of new kindergarten building in Sveta Nedelja will test feasibility of Public-Private Partnership model and will also analyse different technical configurations for reaching nZEB...
- Croatian

20.03.2018 - THIRD LAUNCH CONFERENCE IN SVETA NEDELJA - EVENT
On the 20th March 2018 the City of Sveta Nedelja with REGEA is hosting the launch conference of the district's pilot action within eCentral project...
- English

01.02.2018 - SECOND LAUNCH CONFERENCE IN BUDAPEST - EVENT
This Thursday, on 1st February 2018, the Municipality of 18th District of Budapest together with Energiaklub is hosting the launch conference of the district’s pilot action within eCentral project...
- English

18.01.2018 - FIRST LAUNCH CONFERENCE IN VELENJE - EVENT
On 18 of January 2018, Municipality of Velenje and the KSSENA will organise the First Launch Conference to inform the public about the project and to communicate the possibilities to get involved in eCentral project through Regional Working Groups...
- English

18.12.2017 - FINANCING THE ENERGY RENOVATION OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS THROUGH INTERNAL CONTRACTING
The project INFINITE studies the Internal Contracting, which is an innovative financial scheme for implementing energy efficiency measures in public buildings. The scheme allows financing energy savings measures without the external figure of an ESCO...
- English

11.12.2017 - EPB STANDARDS: PAST AND FUTURE
The Energy Performance of Buildings standards, approved in January 2017, have been prepared and revised by 5 Technical Committees. These standards may be useful for professionals of the energy market, would be a key driver for technological innovation and would support EU in achieving energy efficient building stock...
- English

04.12.2017 - TOWARDS NZEBS IN EUROPE: A FOCUS ON RETROFIT IN NON-RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS 
Aim of the recent published paper of the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, Institute for Energy, Transport and Climate is to provide an overview of the status of implementation of nZEBs in Europe with a focus on retrofit...
- English

27.11.2017 - LAUNCH OF THE  CROATIAN PILOT ACTION IN SVETA NEDELJA
Local launch event with a peer review workshop will take place in Sveta Nedelja on 20th March 2018. The event will be used to openly discuss results of nZEB feasibility studies and to make a decision on the optimal technical solution of the investment...
- Croatian

20.11.2017 - LAUNCH OF THE  SLOVENIAN PILOT ACTION IN VELENJE
Energy Agency of Savinjska, Šaleška and Koroška Region (KSSENA) and Municipality of Velenje will renovate the building used by University for lifelong learning as part of the nZEB pilot project within the eCentral project. Local peer review workshop will be organized in Velenje on the 18th January 2018...
- Slovenian

13.11.2017 - KLIMAAKTIV-BUILDING STANDARD FOR NZEB BUILDINGS IN AUSTRIA
Klimaaktiv is the Austrian climate protection initiative and part of the Austrian Climate Strategy. The klimaaktiv-building standard is comparable to the international European nZEB-standard and since more than 10 years very successful...
- German

06.11.2017 - LAUNCH OF THE  HUNGARIAN PILOT ACTION IN BUDAPEST
The ‘Energy Efficient Public Buildings in Central Europe (eCentral)’ project has started; its Hungarian implementing partners kindly invite all stakeholders interested to the launch conference in Budapest, on the 1st February 2018...
- Hungarian

30.10.2017 - PREPAC FUNDING: GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS RENOVATION
The Ministerial Decree of 16th September 2016, called PREPAC (Program for the energy requalification of buildings of the Central Public Administration) is a strategic program, that aims to finance the energy renovation of public buildings...
- Italian