#PrioritisePeople #AccelerateRenovation

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#RenovateHungary: Renovate for people and for a competitive Europe

The Renovate Europe Day conference took place on the 9th of October in Budapest, together with a national Renovate Hungary Day.

This year Renovate Europe Day is held under the patronage of the Hungarian Minister of Energy, Mr. Csaba Lantos, and is an official partner of the Hungarian Council Presidency events programme.

It was an insightful day dedicated to energy renovation, featuring distinguished speakers and industry leaders, high-level discussions, and a visit to an exemplary renovation project.

Co-organisers:

The Renovate Europe Campaign (REC)
Hungarian Energy Efficiency Institute (MEHI) – the national partner of REC

Highlights:

European and Hungarian perspectives on energy renovation
Plenary sessions on building renovation policies, financing and affordability, competitiveness and multiple benefits of renovation
Deep dives on residential, public, and commercial building renovations and on raising public awareness
Youth sessions and site visit to the renovated Ménesi Campus of Corvinus University of Budapest

Agenda

#RenovateHungary: Renovate for people and for a competitive Europe

09:00 Plenary Session I: European Perspective: policy uptake (energy renovation and climate objectives)

Welcoming remarks:
Adrian Joyce (Moderator), Director of the Renovate Europe Campaign

High-level opening statements

Ditte Juul-Jorgensen – video address, Director General for Energy, European Commission (video message)
Viktor Horváth, Deputy State Secretary, Ministry of Energy, Hungary

Keynote address: International policy framework of Energy Efficiency
Barbara Botos, Climate Ambassador for Hungary

Roundtable discussion and Q&A: Delivering ambitious building policies and programmes

Viktor Horváth, Deputy State Secretary, Ministry of Energy, Hungary
Noemi Ritea, Market Director for VELUX Hungary and Romania
Radek Bedrna, Managing Director for Knauf Insulation Eastern Europe and Middle East

10:45 Coffee break (30 minutes)

11:15 Plenary Session II: Hungarian Perspective (energy renovation and competitiveness, multiple benefits)

Adrian Joyce (Moderator), Director of the Renovate Europe Campaign

Welcoming remarks:
Anikó Pálffy, Hungarian Energy Efficiency Institute (MEHI)

High-level opening statements

Tatiana Bosteels, Senior Economist at the European Investment Bank (EIB)
Renáta Határ, Deputy State Secretary of Ministry of Construction and Investment, Hungary

Roundtable discussion and Q&A: Financing, Competitiveness, Affordability

Tatiana Bosteels, Senior Economist at the European Investment Bank (EIB)
Radovan Jelasity, Chairman and CEO, Hungarian Banking Association
Mario Giordano, Global Head of Public & Government Affairs, Signify
Andrzej Kielar, Managing Director, Central and Eastern Europe, Rockwool

Closing and practical remarks:
Anikó Pálffy, Hungarian Energy Efficiency Institute (MEHI)

13:00 Buffet lunch (60 minutes)

During the lunch break, participants will have the opportunity to visit the “Projects Corner” where examples of best practices in energy renovation will be displayed.

14:00 Parallel discussions on Hungarian Perspective (in Hungarian, translated to English) - in person only

14:00-15:10

Led by MEHI, this discussion will seek to identify the best tools to be deployed in Hungary for the energy renovation of the residential building stock. The discussion will centre on financing, mandatory approaches, and fossil fuel phase out.

Speakers:

Opening: Julien Tami, Policy Officer, DG Energy, European Commission
Áron Horváth (moderator, MEHI)
Viktor Horváth (Deputy State Secretary, Ministry of Energy)
Dávid Tibor (Head of Évosz-HET)
Roland Papp (Head of Division, Ministry of National Economy)
Zsuzsanna Koritár (Policy Lead, Habitat Hungary)
András Pásztor, Fundamenta Home Savings Fund (value chain operations manager)

Led by Equilibrium Institute (EI), this discussion will centre around the challenges that face the Hungarian State to achieve EU targets for the energy renovation of public buildings. Looking at the roles of municipalities and governance structures will inform the debate.

Speakers

Dóra Csernus (moderator, Equilibrium Institute)
Lajos Vass (Director for Development, ÉMI)
Örs Ringhoffer (Head of Energy Efficiency Unit, Ministry of Energy)
László Csőzik (Érd City Mayor)
Gergely Turbucz (Elektro-Kamleithner Ltd.)

Starting with contributions of: Benjamin Benkő from the Corvinus University, Andra Kruna Ramsay from Croatia, and Mette Lundgaard from Denmark who will each share their vision on energy renovation and the climate change challenge.

These presentations will be followed by a guided tour of the renovated University Buildings. The site visit will be the opportunity to see first-hand how much can be achieved through ambitious action and will be the opportunity to ask any questions that participants may have.

COFFEE BREAK (30 minutes)

15:40-16:50

Led by Éva Beleznay, in partnership with the Hungarian Green Building Council, this discussion will inform the participants of the latest steps being taken in policy and in the market to achieve a real decarbonisation of buildings before the climate-neutral target year of 2050, with a focus on commercial buildings.

Speakers:

Opening: Nelli Tóth (MN6, HuGBC) and Céline Carré (Saint-Gobain)
Éva Beleznay (moderator)
Pál Baross (Greenbors, HuGBC)
János Kocsány (Graphisoft Park, HuGBC)
Tamás Kovács (WING, HuGBC)
Miklós Szebenyi (Generali Real Estate Ltd.)

Led by MEHI, this discussion will bring knowledge on how to finance the renovation of the building stock, with a focus on the energy efficiency obligation scheme.

Speakers:

Opening: Dávid Tibor (Head of ÉVOSZ-HÉT Masterplast Plc., President CEO)
Anikó Pálffy (moderator)
Gyula Szalai (Head of Energy Efficiency Office at MVM)
Peter Vedres (Head of Sustainable Development Dept at Hungarian Energy and Public Utility Regulatory Authority)
Zoltán Czinege (Alfaped Ltd, Director of R&D)
Zoltán Uzonyi, dr. (ista Hungary Ltd. CEO)