The building sector is the largest energy consumer in Europe, representing 40% of the total EU consumption and 36% of CO₂ emissions in the EU, according to EC statistical data. By improving the energy efficiency of buildings, the total EU energy consumption could be reduced by 5-6% and lower CO₂ emissions by about 5%.
 

The main objective of the S3 Partnership on Sustainable Buildings is to create an alliance between European regions to boost new markets and take advantage of regional opportunities for specialisation. The partnership is led by Andalusia (ES),  North Great Plain (HU) and North-Croatia (HR). Many other European regions or countries are currently participating or have shown interest in joining.

Three main reference themes for interregional collaboration have been identified:

1) Eco-construction, bioclimatism and insulation of buildings,
2) Renewable energy integration in buildings,
3) Systems of maximum energy efficiency in buildings and cities

The next steps of the partnership comprise the creation of working groups for each reference theme, the mapping of the capacities, resources available and relevant actors in the participating regions, and the establishment of synergies and interregional collaborations for the implementation of concrete pilot projects and actions.

Lead regions: Andalusia (ES), North Great Plain (Észak-Alföld) (HU), North-Croatia (HR)

Participating regions (list of regions/countries that have provided a letter of commitment to follow this partnership): EL: Western Macedonia; ES: Asturias, Castile and Leon, Valencian Community; FR: South Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur; FI: Lapland, North Karelia, South-Karelia; IT: Campania, Emilia Romagna, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Trento; LT: Kaunas Province; PL: Pomorskie; PT: Algarve; SI: Slovenia (national level), Central Slovenia, Podravska.

Other regions (list of regions/countries that have expressed their interest in this partnership but have not signed a commitment letter): CZ: Prague; DK: South Denmark; EE: South Estonia (Tartu County); ES: Catalonia, Extremadura, Murcia; DE: Weser Ems; HU: South Transdanubian Region Hungary; IE: Limerick City and County; IT: Lazio,Veneto; LT: Lithuania (at national level); PL: Opolskie, Podlaskie, Slaskie; SI: (Gorenjska) Upper Carniola, Primorska,Slovenia Litoral; SE: Jámtland, Mälardalen, South East Sweden (Blekinge, Kalmara and Kronobergs counties),Västerbotten; UK: Cornwall and Isles of Scilly + MD: Moldavia; BA: Bosnia Herzegovina; ME: Montenegro

Information on partner regions: December 2019, as provided by the lead region in the partnership monitoring report.

• Andalusian Energy Agency (ES): 
  • Joaquin VILLAR, Head of Internationalisation and Prospective Department, 
  • Marisa BORRA, Senior Expert in Internationalisation and Prospective Department
• LENERG Energy Agency Nonprofit Llc. (HU):
  • Gábor VÁMOSI, Managing Director
  • Valeria SZABO, International project manager
• North Croatia Regional Energy Agency (HR)
  • Velimir ŠEGON, Deputy Managing Director 
  • Julije DOMAC, Managing Director 

2. Contact details of JRC

Isabelle SEIGNEUR, Directorate B, Growth and Innovation. Unit 3, Territorial Development.
Smart Specialisation Platform on Energy (S3PEnergy)
 

    Concept Note (v. Sept 2017):                      Definition and Scope:                                Organisation:

Related project:

For more information on Sustainable Buildings, please also visit:

• the webpage of the JRC EU Science Hub on Energy Efficiency

• EU Building Stock Observatory: monitoring of the energy performance of buildings across EU

• JRC E3P – European EE Platform (EE Directive): data collection and analysis, exchange of experiences, networking, etc.

• BUILD UP - The EU portal for EE in buildings (EPB Directive): latest developments at technical or practice level, policy legislation, financial issues, etc.