How do EU renovation policies turn into real buildings, real heating systems and real improvements for residents? On 19 November, InCUBE will lead the closing session of the REHVA Brussels Summit 2026, “From Policy to Practice: Real Experiences from Delivering Renovation Projects Across Europe,” at the European Economic and Social Committee in Brussels.
After a morning of technical and policy discussions on the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive and the Energy Efficiency Directive, our session brings the conversation down to the construction site. Partners from three InCUBE demonstration sites will share how they are delivering renovation in practice: one district and two buildings, in Italy, the Netherlands and Spain.
In Trento, we will look at how a district energy supply is being decarbonised with ground-source heat pumps and renewable energy community models. In Groningen, we will show how prefabrication, robotics and automation can speed up industrialised renovation and reduce costs. In Zaragoza, we will explore participatory renovation of an occupied residential building, carried out while residents stay at home, with a focus on social inclusion and affordability.
Each case will cover the challenges, opportunities and lessons learned, and what it would take to replicate these approaches at the scale EU targets require. The session closes with an open floor for questions and discussion with the audience.
14:00 – 14:10 | Introduction
Komninos Angelakoglou, Principal Investigator InCUBE Project, CERTH
14:10 – 14:35 | Decarbonisation of the District Energy Supply With Ground-Source Heat Pumps: The Case of Trento, Italy
Matteo Buffo, Researcher and Technologist, Area Sustainable Territories, FBK
14:35 – 15:00 | Streamlining Industrialised Renovation: The Case of Groningen, the Netherlands
Nadia Mild, Project Coordinator, Van Wijnen
15:00 – 15:25 | Participatory Renovation With Owners at Home: The Case of Zaragoza, Spain
Beatriz Gimeno and Mapi Dal, Architects, Metro7; Paloma Bozman López and Ana Maorad, Sociedad Municipal Zaragoza Vivienda
15:25 – 16:00 | Open Floor: Questions and Answers
Moderated by Danielle Jacobson, Project Manager, New Energy Coalition
Komninos Angelakoglou |
Komninos is a Research Fellow and sustainability expert at the Chemical Process and Energy Resources Institute (CPERI) of the Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH). His work focuses on energy transition in buildings and cities, including smart city performance indicators, positive energy districts and energy-efficient retrofits. He leads CERTH’s work in the InCUBE project as Principal Investigator. |
Matteo Buffo |
Matteo is a researcher in the Sustainable Territories area of Fondazione Bruno Kessler’s Center for Sustainable Energy. He holds a master’s degree in Energy Engineering from the University of Padova and works on industrial demand-side flexibility to support renewable energy integration and electrification. Within InCUBE, he coordinates and reports on renovation activities and innovative solutions at the Trento demonstration site. |
Nadia Mild |
Nadia has a background in organisation studies and a strong interest in innovation and change within organisations. At Van Wijnen, she coordinates the InCUBE project and the industrialised renovation of the Groningen demonstration site. Â Â |
Beatriz Gimeno |
Beatriz is an architect who combines scientific research on building energy efficiency and life cycle assessment with professional practice. She leads Metro7, a firm focused on innovative and sustainable design and construction, and holds master’s degrees in energy efficiency and archaeological site management. |
Mapi Dal |
Mapi Dal, architect at Metro7, is part of a team driven by innovation and precision. She contributes technical solutions in modular design and sustainability, ensuring high-quality results through a meticulous and forward-thinking approach. |
Paloma Bozman López |
Paloma is a historian specialised in urban sociology. Since 2004, she has led urban rehabilitation and planning initiatives at Zaragoza Vivienda, combining a technical perspective with a people-centred approach. management. |
Danielle Jacobson |
Danielle specialises in sharing the results of energy research projects, with a focus on dissemination, stakeholder engagement and organising collaborative events. At New Energy Coalition, she supports InCUBE’s communication and engagement activities. |
