The CPEA 2023 Summit successfully took place the 21st and 22nd of September in Brussels.

CPEA is an independent Think and Do Tank, committed to accelerate market transformation towards a sustainable, zero-carbon built environment, fully aligned with the Paris Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. CPEA Members are Green building councils from five European countries and REHVA. Johann Zirngibl, REHVA vice president, represented REHVA at the CPEA summit.

The theme of the 2023 summit was “Radical unlearning as a disruptor for market transformation”.

The first day was dedicated on how creating real social (and societal) value on projects. The second day focussed on biodiversity and circular economy, on integrated approach to ESG – challenges and opportunities. Representing the EU Commission, Stefan Moser, Head of the Energy Efficiency unit for Buildings and Products, recalled the EU building policy underlining the transversal links between Directives as EPBD, ErP (Ecodesign) and EED.

Topics like social values, biodiversity, sustainable finance (taxonomy), etc. may seem still be far from the daily work of HVAC professionals. However, they are key topics of the EU policy, aiming to transform Europe's economy into a resource-efficient and competitive one.  As the building sector is crucial for the successful transition to a low-carbon economy, HVAC professionals should not ignore these topics. HVAC professionals must communicate and interact more and more with other sectors (e.g. finance) and other professionals in a holistic, crosscutting approach. To inform and prepare HVAC professionals to these new challenges and opportunities is the reason for REHVA’s contribution to CPEA.