OpenBEP4EU at Sustainable Places 2025: Building Decarbonisation Through Data and Tools

 

On 10 October 2025, OpenBEP4EU takes part in the Building Decarbonisation – Data and Tools for the Decarbonisation of the European Building Stock workshop at Sustainable Places 2025. This annual conference is one of Europe’s leading platforms for research and innovation in the built environment, bringing together projects, policymakers, and industry to accelerate the green transition.

The workshop highlighted how European projects are working on complementary approaches — from Digital Building Logbooks and Renovation Passports to harmonised Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs). The focus is on data-driven tools as essential for scaling up building renovation and decarbonisation across Europe.

Bridging Policy, Practice and Technology

Europe’s Renovation Wave and the revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) set ambitious goals for energy efficiency and decarbonisation. Meeting these targets requires more than regulation: it requires tools that connect policy ambition with practical implementation.

At the workshop, participants will present innovations that support this bridge — common data frameworks, practical inspection methods, and accessible digital tools. Together, these initiatives form the backbone of a future where building performance is comparable, transparent, and trusted across borders.

The Role of OpenBEP4EU

OpenBEP4EU contributes to this ecosystem by developing the EU Kernel EPC Engine — an open-source, standardised calculation method based on ISO 52000. The aim is to make EPCs:

  • Clearer and more consistent across Member States
  • Affordable and reliable for citizens, auditors, and building owners
  • Transparent and actionable, supporting both policy enforcement and renovation planning

By harmonising EPCs, OpenBEP4EU enables better comparability across Europe’s building stock. This strengthens trust not only for policymakers and auditors, but also for banks, investors, and homeowners who need reliable data to guide renovation decisions.

Empowering Citizens and Stakeholders

The workshop revolves around building decarbonisation as not only a technical challenge, but also a social one. Citizens, municipalities, and financial actors all depend on information they can understand and act upon.

By aligning with complementary initiatives such as Digital Building Logbooks and Renovation Passports, OpenBEP4EU ensures that EPC reform supports everyday decision-making — from a homeowner considering a renovation, to an architect designing sustainable buildings, to a bank structuring green finance.

Looking Ahead

Sustainable Places 2025 underlines the importance of collaboration across projects and sectors. The challenges of decarbonising Europe’s building stock are complex, but the solutions might be converging: reliable data, harmonised tools, and citizen-focused approaches.

OpenBEP4EU is proud to contribute by making EPCs smarter, simpler, and more impactful — laying the groundwork for Europe’s Renovation Wave, the Green Deal, and a climate-neutral building stock by 2050.

Learn more about the Building Decarbonisation workshop: Sustainable Places 2025

Scroll to Top