It's time for a green renovation in Croatia!
The seventh open dialogue of partners - "It's time for green renovation!" was held on March 27, 2024, at the Westin Hotel in Zagreb, in the Republic of Croatia, and concluded with the signing of the charter on the decarbonization of buildings.
The Ministry of Spatial Planning, Construction, and State Property has been organizing open partner dialogues since 2018. These open partner dialogues bring together representatives of state and local administration, the academic community, the professional public, the construction and energy sectors, and related industries for thematic workshops.
The goal of the Seventh Open Dialogue of Partners was to bring together eminent experts and stakeholders in renovation who, through three panel blocks with accompanying interesting discussions, presented topics related to current public calls for energy renovation of family houses and multi-apartment buildings, the state of renovation, green policies, and many future challenges in the construction sector.
The key premise of the Union's new direction is climate neutrality by 2050. The European Commission is making great efforts to achieve a 55 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, compared to 1990, and to achieve complete decarbonization of buildings by 2050, the meeting was opened by the Acting Head of the Representation of the European Commission in Croatia, Mrs. Andrea Cović Vidović.
In the first panel block, called "House of Honor! - Follow Up," we heard information about the call for energy renovation of family houses from March 13, 2024, and many experiences from the field.
The first panel block included Mrs. Diana Horvat, Head of Sector in the Ministry of Spatial Planning, Construction, and State Property, Mrs. Goranka Tropčić Zekan, an authorized certifier and designer from the company KLIMAPROING, Mr. Hrvoje Krapanić, General Manager for Environmental Impact Development Issues for Central Europe at Daikin Hrvatska, a manufacturer of renewable energy systems, Mladen Ilijević, Head of the Department for Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency, and Martina Brala, an authorized designer and owner of a renovated family house.
Presentations were given by Mladen Ilijević, who spoke about the call for family homes published on March 13, 2024, and by Martina Brala, who presented an example of good practice and her experience of renovating a family home.
In the second panel block, entitled "Good Savings Can Be Heard Far Away!" a new call for energy renovation of multi-apartment buildings was presented, along with some very interesting experiences from the field.
Participants in the panel included Mrs. Dolores Sorić, a member of the Management Board of LABIN STAN and also a representative of the building manager, Mrs. Marina Glokević, a representative of the co-owners of an apartment building under renovation, Mrs. Adrijana Mavretić Mujčinović, a representative of Zagrebačka banka and a leading specialist for product development and sales, Mrs. Katija Jaram, Head of Service at the Ministry of Spatial Planning, Construction, and State Property, and Mr. Toni Borković, an energy renovation designer from the Hrvoje Požar Energy Institute.
In this panel block, presentations were given by Katija Jaram, who presented a new call for energy renovation of multi-apartment buildings, and by Toni Borković, who presented certain green renovation measures.
The third panel block, entitled "We Raise the Dust!" discussed the state of renovation, green policies, and experiences from the construction sector in more detail. This panel block was introduced by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Spatial Planning, Construction, and State Property, Mr. Branko Bačić, and Mrs. Irena Križ Šelendić, Director of the Administration in the Ministry of Spatial Planning, Construction, and State Property, who presented news from European legislation and the National Recovery and Resilience Plan.
The Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, Mr. Damir Habijan, Director of the Fund for Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency, Mr. Luka Balen, and Director of the Construction Sector of the Croatian Chamber of Commerce, Ms. Katarina Sikavica, participated in the final panel block.
At the very end, a ceremonial signing of the Charter on cooperation with the goal of decarbonizing buildings by 2050 took place. So far, 84 signatories have signed the Charter, and today new signatories joined in. The content of the charter refers to the achievement of energy and climate goals at the national and EU level through the decarbonization of the building stock, renovation of buildings, and construction of nearly zero-energy buildings. All of this aims to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase the share of renewable energy sources, improve energy security, and introduce innovations and smart technologies.