On 23-24 October 2024, REHVA participated in the GCP Europe Summit, which brought together key industry players, policymakers, and associations to discuss critical areas in Green & Digital Skills for Building Smartness and Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ). Panels included discussions on the growing need for digital and green competencies, with attention to new standards in building health, safety, and efficiency.

Panel Highlights

The summit covered a range of themes essential to the future of the HVACR and building sectors, notably through two focused panels:

  • Green & Digital Skills Panel: Exploring “Skills for Sustainability and Building Smartness,” this panel highlighted the critical gap in green and digital skills within Europe. Representatives from the European Commission’s DG ENER and DG EMPL offered policy insights on aligning education with sustainability needs.
  • Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) Panel: This session delved into the intersection of health, safety, and energy efficiency in buildings, a priority area for REHVA’s mission of sustainable, occupant-focused building standards.

REHVA’s Contributions to Skills and IEQ Discussions

In the Green & Digital Skills Panel, Francesco Robimarga, REHVA’s Policy and Advocacy Officer, underscored the urgent need to bridge skill gaps to support sustainable buildings. He highlighted REHVA's active role in the Engineers for Europe (E4E) project, a flagship initiative aimed at aligning educational frameworks with the demands of the HVACR and construction industries. German and Portuguese REHVA members are involved in this project, which targets digital, green, resilient, and entrepreneurial skills through competency frameworks like GreenComp and DigComp. Robimarga noted that REHVA’s Education and Training Committee (ETC) offers continuous development opportunities, such as a Smart Readiness Virtual Training Centre, soon to be available free of charge, and a Life Cycle Global Warming Potential (LCGWP) Course, addressing sustainability metrics under EPBD Annex III.

Indoor Environmental Quality: Coordinated Action for Health and Efficiency

In the IEQ panel, Robimarga emphasized REHVA’s commitment to creating healthier, more efficient indoor environments. He presented three key documents central to REHVA’s vision:

  1. IAQ Manifesto – Signed as part of the IAQ Task Force Joint Coalition, this document advocates for a coordinated IAQ standardisation across the sector.
  2. REHVA Manifesto – REHVA’s commitment to promoting sustainable building practices.
  3. Call for Coherent and Coordinated Actions on Indoor Environmental Quality – Presented at the 11 October President’s Lunch within the framework of the IEQ Informal Gathering, this call underscores the need for an integrated approach to energy and health in buildings.

Addressing the potential conflict between energy efficiency and IAQ, Robimarga reiterated that the trade-off is often exaggerated. Instead, REHVA advocates a holistic approach that ensures both health and efficiency without compromise, an objective also aligned with REHVA’s IEQ standards and guidelines.

GCP Europe Summit Participation

With a strong turnout of GCP Europe members and representatives, the summit provided a valuable platform for REHVA to underscore its leading role in skills development and sustainable indoor environmental practices.

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