New European project SIRCULAR aims to decarbonise the built environment while prioritising people and communities
11.06.2024
22 partner organisations from 6 different countries met in Genova to launch the Horizon Europe project SIRCULAR.
Genova – 6 June 2024. The Horizon Europe project SIRCULAR officially launched with a kick-off meeting on 5 and 6 June 2024. Coordinated by RINA-C, this three-and-a-half-year project aims to transform the building sector into a circular and sustainable industry, aligned with the Built4People partnership principles.
The ambition for SIRCULAR is to overcome the barriers to circularity in the building industry by developing and implementing both integrated digital tools and technological solutions. will test and demonstrate innovative technologies and services across four national clusters: initially in Estonia, and Spain, followed by Germany and Greece. These clusters will engage construction companies, housing companies, universities, and local administrative entities, focusing on buildings owned or occupied by vulnerable population groups, in line with the SIRCULAR just and affordable transition approach.
“The project is distinguished by an overall people-centric approach that prioritises the needs and wellbeing of people and communities” says Margherita Fabbri, SIRCULAR project coordinator. “We want to adopt a resident-friendly approach, adopting co-creation methodologies to address the citizens’ needs and priorities.”
The goal is to develop tools and services that improve access to information on decarbonisation for non-experts and provide professionals working in the construction sector with tools to easily evaluate and improve circularity in buildings.
The SIRCULAR solutions will adopt a multidisciplinary approach, integrating technical, economic, and social methods with a focus on social and policy innovation. This will help deliver valuable insights to policymakers and establish a solid foundation for promoting decarbonisation methods.
The SIRCULAR project combines the expertise of 22 partners from six European countries, including universities, SMEs, NGOs, and industries. For further information, visit the SIRCULAR LinkedIn via @SIRCULAR Project or X channel via @SircularProject.
The SIRCULAR project has 4 partners from Estonia: TalTech – Tallinn Univarsity of Technology, Estonian Union of Co-operative Housing Associations, Tartu Regional Energy Agency and engineering and construction firm Balti Vara Ehitus. The demo site in Estonia is an apartment building Akadeemia tee 62 in Tallinn, where the renovation with prefabricated panels—which is grounded in the ideas of circular economy and reuse—will take place. The Estonian Union of Co-operative Housing Associations is a training and community involvement partner and as an analyst of the processes that the renovations will have an impact on in the community.
Picture of the SIRCULAR consortium at the kick-off meeting, 5-6 June 2024
Project coordinator
Margherita Fabbri, RINA-C
margherita.fabbri@rina.org
Main Press Contact
Adélaïde Chopard, Steinbeis Europa Zentrum
adelaide.chopard@steinbeis-europa.de
Project Contact at the Estonian Union of Co-operative Housing Associations
Anu Sarnet
Anu.Sarnet@ekyl.ee