Dublin takes centre stage for Europe's renovation push

The 5 November Renovate Europe Day conference, to be held at the department’s deep retrofitted offices, Tom Johnson House, will feature a high-level discussion on how to deliver affordable, high-quality energy renovation at scale in Ireland and Europe.

Organised by Renovate Europe and the Irish Green Building Council (IGBC), in collaboration with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), Renovate Europe Day, which is an official associated event of the Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU, will bring together a diverse range of stakeholders, including EU and national policymakers, local authority representatives, building designers, researchers and the retrofit community.

At the heart of the day’s discussions is a critical question: how can Europe accelerate the renovation of its building stock while ensuring projects remain affordable, accessible, and of the highest quality? Participants will explore the key barriers to scaling up renovation efforts, examine best practice examples from across Europe, and discuss policy solutions that can help unlock greater progress, the organisers said.

A dedicated session will focus on the ambition of renovating every educational building in the EU by 2035, drawing on experiences from Croatia and Ireland to showcase innovative approaches already delivering results on the ground. Additional sessions will examine the role of building stock data, one-stop-shops, and the wider societal benefits of renovation.

Keynote speakers include Timmy Dooley, Minister of State at the Department of Climate, Energy, and the Environment, and Donna Gartland, chief executive of energy agency Codema.

Beyond the conference programme, attendees will have the opportunity to participate in site visits to Ellis Court and Tom Johnson House, offering a first-hand look at renovation projects and the outcomes they are delivering.

Organisers said participants will gain valuable insights into the future direction of Europe’s renovation agenda and the practical actions needed to accelerate progresses well as find networking opportunities and a reception event in the evening. Remote attendance by live stream will also be possible.

To find out more or register for a place visit https://www.renovate-europe.eu/reday/reday2026/