Sustainable Places 2024 highlights: Driving a Greener Built Environment
Sustainable Places is a flagship conference when it comes to sustainability in the built environment. Co-organised by R2M Solution and the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, the 12th annual edition was held from September 23 to 25 in a hybrid format, with in-person sessions at the European Convention Centre in Luxembourg.
Known for showcasing innovative results from the Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe programmes, this year’s event drew over 400 participants, reinforcing its status as Europe’s leading platform for EU research collaboration and sustainable market opportunities.
Each year, Sustainable Places features topics that are shaping how we think about cities and the built environment, reflecting priorities described in the European Commission Societal Challenges and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Key topics for 2024 included:
- Energy Communities, Smart Cities and Urban Transition
- Renewable Energy Technologies
- Sustainable Construction & Renovation
- Decarbonisation & Circularity
- Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation
- Facilitating the Energy Transition: Policy, Finance, Training
- Sustainable Urban Renewal & Cultural Transformation
- Digital Twins, Smartness & Artificial Intelligence for Sustainability
- Resilience and Energy Security
SNUG made a significant impact at Sustainable Places 2024 through a multifaceted participation:
1. At the Built4People (B4P) exhibition booth;
2. In a joint workshop with several synergy projects on “Regeneration: Crafting sustainable and inclusive neighbourhoods”;
3. With a presentation of a paper on “Circular economy based materials development to foster the transition to sustainable and high-energy performance buildings at optimal costs”.
Built4People exhibition booth
Andrea Kurz from Brimatech represented SNUG at the B4P exhibition booth, engaging with attendees and spreading awareness of how our project is shaping the future of sustainable construction.
Joint workshop
On September 25, SNUG participated in a joint workshop on “Regeneration: Crafting Sustainable and Inclusive Neighbourhoods”, hosted in collaboration with several synergy projects including REGEN, Caleche, drOp, EVELIXIA, INHERIT, REHOUSE, WeGenerate, NBenefit, Greenpass, and SMARTeeSTORY.
Juergen Frick from the University of Stuttgart introduced SNUG’s vision, goals, and methodologies. This workshop underscored the shared commitment across multiple projects to build a sustainable future through regenerative neighborhood design.
Paper presentation
Also on September 25, Juan Carlos Guerrero from AIDIMME presented a paper titled “Circular economy based materials development to foster the transition to sustainable and high-energy performance buildings at optimal costs”.
The presentation emphasised SNUG’s circular economy approach to enhance building sustainability and energy performance, sparking interest from the audience.
Sustainable Places 2024 proved to be a pivotal platform for advancing sustainability in Europe’s built environment. Through workshops and presentations, SNUG and other EU projects showcased innovative solutions that are laying the foundation for a greener future.
