Opportunities and Innovation: Dutch and Romanian Solutions for Sustainable Buildings

June 30, 2011 at 12:55 pm | Posted in Events, General | Leave a comment
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The Romania Green Building Council in partnership with the Dutch Green Building Council and with the support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Netherlands Chamber of Commerce organized a half a day workshop where we discussed topics like:

  • The Sustainable construction market in Romania;
  • The Sustainable construction market in the Netherlands;
  • The Green Building Solution showcase;
  • The BREAAM rating tool;

With over 50 participants the event was a success, receiving an introduction speech from Mrs. H.E. Tanya Van Gool, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

RoGBC member companies: Hunter Douglas, Thermaflex, Schneider Electric and Katja Perrey delivered presentations within the “Green Building Solution showcase”.

Mark Spetter and Maarten Dansen from Dutch GBC shared with the attendees their international experience with the BREEAM green building certification method.


How to solve the integration of RES in buildings in Romania? ..and some other issues

June 29, 2011 at 8:33 pm | Posted in Legislative Outreach | Leave a comment
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One big step forward would be ….  applying the existing EU Directives and improving the national regulations. The Ministry of Economy, Commerce and Business Environment published for  public debate the draft “Elements of Energy Strategy for 2011-2035”. More information on the measures that are currently included can be found here.

Unfortunately there are no big news for the building sector if you are to look over the draft…and considering that  the EPBD Directive (Directive 2010/31/EC) and the RES Directive (2009/28/EC)  are setting clear timelines and directions for increasing level of energy efficiency and the uptake of RES in buildings – one would expect to find more in a Strategy that is supposed to cover the next 25 years. Luckly it is just a working document.

RoGBC put together a list with basic recommendations that should be included in the Energy Strategy 2011-2035. They relate mostly to facilitating the uptake of RES in buildings and encouraging the new developments/deep refurbishments that achieve a high level of energy performance (class A). The letter was sent to the Ministry of Economy and our points of view will be discussed in the event from the 30th of June organised by the Ministry of Economy. Special thanks to Luiza Manolea, lawyer and RoGBC member of the Legislative Task Force for her involvement in this initiative!

 

Anca Bieru

Financial Mechanisms for encouraging energy efficiency in buildings – initiative of the Legislative Outreach Task Force

June 29, 2011 at 7:17 pm | Posted in Legislative Outreach | Leave a comment
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In the context of:

  • the need for Member States to draft and submit their new National Energy Efficiency Action Plans to the European Commission by 30 of June 2011
  • the need for Member States to submit  to the European Commission a List with measures, including those of financial nature, for supporting the implementation of the objectives of  the EPBD2 Directive (Directive 2010/31/CE) regarding energy performance of buildings – by 30 of June 2011

The RoGBC organized on the 12th of May 2011 a half day workshop to discuss existing financial measures for supporting sustainability in construction (with a focus on energy efficiency in buildings, from the private sector perspective).  The discussions were also organized around new financial mechanisms that could be considered.  Participants at the event included representatives from the banking sector, investors and real estate developers, academia, public authorities and providers of materials and solutions for buildings.  The discussions were organized in two working group:  A). Existing financial measures and B) New mechanisms that could be considered

The results of this feedback are structured in the following report as follows:

  • Financial Mechanisms for encouraging energy efficiency in buildings in Romania – includes the conclusions of the workshop RoGBC organized on the 12th of May
  •   Annex 1 with more information on the Green Mortgage financial mechanism proposed and developed by RoGBC
  •   Annex 2 includes a review of the existing financial instruments implemented in different countries in Europe. The material was created by the World GBC Europe Network based on the information gathered from the Green Building Councils active in Europe including Romania.

The documents were submitted to the representatives of relevant public institutions: Ministry of Economy, Commerce and Business Environment, Ministry of  Regional Development and Tourism, Ministry of Environement and Forestry, National Bank of Romania, Commission of Public Administration and Environment from the Chamber of Deputies from the Romanian Parliament.

RoGBC thanks to all the participants in the workshop for their inputs and contributions. We will keep you updated with any developments on this!

Anca Bieru

LEED green building rating tool course organized by the RoGBC

June 29, 2011 at 12:26 pm | Posted in Events | Leave a comment
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Romania Green Building Council in partnership with Triple Green Building Group organized on June 28 the 3rd training course this year about the internationally recognized LEED (Leadership in Energy  and Environmental Design) building rating system created by the U.S. Green Building Council.

The event was organized with the help of our founding member Epstein Global, who were very kind to host us in their conference room. Epstein is one of the largest and oldest architecture, interiors, engineering and construction firms in the world.

Mrs. Vessela Vatcheva-McGee, LEED AP, delivered the course on LEED ‘BD+C 251: Understanding the Building Design + Construction LEED Rating Systems’. The course objectives were to identify LEED BD+C minimum program requirements, to recognize the unique aspects and differences between each LEED BD+C rating systems and to plan for key considerations and requirements for the LEED certification process. This course provided the participants with coursework critical to professionals interested in taking the LEED Green Associate exam.

The participants were from various fields of activity and companies: members of the RoGBC team, Epstein Global, Bluehouse Capital, Build Green Romania, architects and independent building evaluators.

“Lighting & Landscape” workshop held in Cluj-Napoca

June 24, 2011 at 10:00 am | Posted in Events, General | Leave a comment
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RoGBC Transilvania and the Research Laboratory for Lighting was pleased to announce the “LIGHT & LANDSCAPE” workshop.

The two day summer school was opened to all students, architects and landscape designers and discussed about the key elements for landscape design and lighting controls. The course was both in Romanian and in English and was held by Ms. Katja Perrey (landscape design) and Dr. Dorin Beu (lighting). The workshop discussed landscape design concepts and studied the principles of exterior lighting design.

The schedule for each day included two modules: theory and practice (following the examples of guerilla lighting on a study case). For the first part, all activities took place in CFDP building and the second part was held in an urban environment (Cetatuia).

News from members – Athenee Palace Hilton Bucharest wins competition for exceptional commitment to sustainability

June 14, 2011 at 1:27 pm | Posted in General | 1 Comment

Team members at Athenee Palace Hilton have been rewarded for their contribution towards reducing Hilton Worldwide’s energy consumption in the European region for the second year in a row. As this is the second consecutive year the hotel has come out on top for its commitment to sustainability, with hotel Team Member’s all receiving mountain bikes for their efforts in 2010, this year, each Team Member has received an iPod Nano.

The so-called ‘Win a Bike’ competition is part of the company’s sustainability drive and places more than 150 hotels across Europe in a league table, with the top performing hotels of each sub-region receiving a mountain bike for every permanent team member. Athenee Palace Hilton Bucharest received its delivery of iPod Nanos on 23rd of May 2011 following their impressive 17% reduction in energy per room and 12,5% reduction in water consumption. In total, over a two year period between 2009 and 2010, the hotel has achieved a 36% reduction in energy and 40% reduction in water. The hotel has actively been using Hilton Worldwide’s LightStay programme to audit its operational efficiency and to identify areas within their operation for environmental improvement. LightStay takes into account energy and water use as well as the
waste and carbon outputs associated with the hotel’s operations and services. The system measures indicators across 200 operational practices including housekeeping, paper product use, food waste, air quality and transportation. The reductions that earned the hotel its prize included simple initiatives such as the ‘oneflush’ policy for guest room toilet cleaning, reducing toilet cistern volumes and installing energy saving lighting in public areas.

Linda Griffin, general manager, Athenee Palace Hilton Bucharest, said, “We’re delighted to be one of the sustainability competition winners. The iPod Nanos are a great reward for the hotel Team Members who are passionate about making a
difference to the environment. It’s fantastic to have their efforts recognised for a second year in a row.”

Over the past five years, Hilton Worldwide’s portfolio of hotels in Europe have saved 136,000 tonnes of CO2, the equivalent to removing 13,000 cars off the road a year, and enough water to fill 340 Olympic swimming pools (or 70 pools a year). Simon Vincent, area president, Europe, Hilton Worldwide, said, “Hilton Worldwide is the first major multi-brand hospitality company in the industry to make sustainability measurement a brand standard. We are committed to constantly working to improve our environmental performance and the results of our hotels, especially those finishing top of our energy league tables, really showcase the steps we are taking as a company. I am very proud to see the efforts of our team members and the crucial role they play in order for us to operate in a sustainable way.” Hilton Worldwide’s global sustainability target is to reduce its CO2 emissions, energy consumption and output of waste by 20% and water consumption by 10% by 2014.

The RoGBC would like to congratulate Athenee Palace Hilton for their initiatives!

Read the full press release here.

Vila Piatra Soimului, Member of the RoGBC, received the European Ecolabel

June 14, 2011 at 1:16 pm | Posted in Certification, News from Members | 1 Comment
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Vila Piatra Soimului, Sinaia received at the end of May the European Ecolabel, becoming the third touristic operator that has this distinction and the first on Prahova Valley.  The villa, situated in Cumpatu neighborhood  is currently under a renovation process and will open its doors to the tourists shortly . You are invited to spend your holiday ava in a brand new restaurant with 100 seats, a wonderful 1200 sm park available d 15 rooms.  The idea of applying for the Ecolabel started from the  concern expressed by the owner for a more sustainable environment and also at the recommendation of the Romania Green Building Council.

Congratulations!

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