Renovate Europe Day 2024 took place in Budapest together with a national Renovate Hungary Day, under the patronage of the Hungarian Minister of Energy, Csaba Lantos, and as an official partner of the Hungarian Council Presidency events programme.
#RenovateHungary: renovate for people and for a competitive Europe
It was a 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 and the Hungarian Energy Efficiency Institute (MEHI), the national partner of Renovate Europe.
Highlights
- European and Hungarian perspectives on energy renovation
- Plenary sessions on building renovation policies, financing and affordability, competitiveness and the multiple benefits of renovation
- Deep dives on residential, public and commercial building renovations and on raising public awareness
- Youth sessions and a site visit to the renovated Ménesi Campus of Corvinus University of Budapest
Agenda
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, 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
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
During the lunch break, participants could visit the “Projects Corner”, where examples of best practice in energy renovation were displayed.
14:00–15:10
Parallel discussion: renovation of residential buildings
In Hungarian, translated to English, in person only. Led by MEHI, this discussion sought to identify the best tools to be deployed in Hungary for the energy renovation of the residential building stock, centred on financing, mandatory approaches and fossil fuel phase-out.
- 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-HÉT)
- Roland Papp (Head of Division, Ministry of National Economy)
- Zsuzsanna Koritár (Policy Lead, Habitat Hungary)
- András Pásztor (value chain operations manager, Fundamenta Home Savings Fund)
14:00–15:10
Parallel discussion: public buildings
Led by the Equilibrium Institute (EI), this discussion centred on the challenges facing the Hungarian State in achieving EU targets for the energy renovation of public buildings, looking at the roles of municipalities and governance structures.
- Dóra Csernus (moderator, Equilibrium Institute)
- Lajos Vass (Director for Development, ÉMI)
- Örs Ringhoffer (Head of Energy Efficiency Unit, Ministry of Energy)
- László Csőzik (Mayor of Érd)
- Gergely Turbucz (Elektro-Kamleithner Ltd.)
14:00–16:50
Youth session and site visit
Contributions from Benjamin Benkő of Corvinus University, Andra Kruna Ramsay from Croatia and Mette Lundgaard from Denmark, who each shared their vision on energy renovation and the climate change challenge, followed by a guided tour of the renovated university buildings. Held in both afternoon slots.
15:10
Coffee break
15:40–16:50
Parallel discussion: decarbonisation of commercial buildings
Led by Éva Beleznay, in partnership with the Hungarian Green Building Council, on the latest steps being taken in policy and in the market to achieve a real decarbonisation of buildings before 2050, with a focus on commercial buildings.
- 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.)
15:40–16:50
Parallel discussion: financing
Led by MEHI, on how to finance the renovation of the building stock, with a focus on the energy efficiency obligation scheme.
- Opening: Dávid Tibor (Head of ÉVOSZ-HÉT, President and CEO of Masterplast Plc.)
- Anikó Pálffy (moderator)
- Gyula Szalai (Head of Energy Efficiency Office at MVM)
- Peter Vedres (Head of Sustainable Development, Hungarian Energy and Public Utility Regulatory Authority)
- Zoltán Czinege (Director of R&D, Alfaped Ltd)
- Dr Zoltán Uzonyi (CEO, ista Hungary Ltd.)
Presentations
The slides from the two plenary sessions.
Videos
Photos
Statements from partners in support of energy renovation
With the support of
Gold sponsors
Silver sponsor
