The convergence of commercial real estate and new technologies has spawned a throng of new startups tackling the real estate tech space ranging from interactive 3D models for spaces to online storefront rentals to real estate transaction management software. And 2013 saw venture investors deploy over $429M across 102 deals to private tech companies hoping to disrupt the multi-billion dollar industry as momentum around venture investing in the real estate tech space appears to be hitting a fever pitch.
Les architectes espagnols Jordi Truco et Sylvia Felipe ont développé un système de construction révolutionnaire au cours d'un projet baptisé HyperMembrane, qui a reçu en 2013 le le Prix Ascamm de l'Innovation. Ce système consiste en une structure architecturale adaptative, capable d'adopter différentes positions en fonction du temps ou des besoins énergétiques.
The EU’s climate establishment rigged the debate on 2030 targets with stacked projections for energy efficiency savings discounts, and wildly optimistic assumptions about the carbon market, according to buildings efficiency industry and NGO sources.
EurActiv understands that officials from the European Commission's energy directorate are attempting to upend some of the most contested efficiency assumptions in the 2030 models, but are facing fierce resistance from the climate directorate, which is heavily invested in a sole 40% greenhouse gas target.
Architizer, a New York-based online marketplace for architectural construction projects, has raised $2 million in seed money.
The money positions the company to go after what chief executive and cofounder Marc Kushner says is a $200 billion global construction supplies market.
The 15-person startup bills itself as the net’s largest “online source” in the global architectural market. The company allows firms to post photos, video and details of projects. It charges construction suppliers, who make everything from furniture to concrete, a $95 to $600 monthly recurring fee to link with builders and products.
Today the Commission took another step to simplify administration and reduce costs for businesses in the construction sector. According to the Commission’s proposal, manufacturers of construction products (e.g. bricks, insulation, doors etc.) will be able to upload digital “declarations of performance” on their websites.
The overall project objective was to facilitate market penetration (volume market) of housing renovations for single family houses of very high energy standard while providing superior comfort and sustainability to occupants.
The overall project objective was to facilitate market penetration (volume market) of housing renovations for single family houses of very high energy standard while providing superior comfort and sustainability to occupants.
This objective will be reached by the following goals:
Green housing campaigners are excited by a new sustainable buildings debate the EU has kick-started, which aims to move certification schemes beyond the energy efficiency paradigm.
On 10 July, the Commission launched a public consultation on the lifecycle impact of buildings, in advance of a communication which is expected at the beginning of 2014.
Buildings are responsible for some 40% of energy use in Europe and a less wasteful approach to their power consumption is at the heart of EU plans for reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
With Europe’s hard-fought over Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) coming into force next year, advocates are pushing for the EU to come forward with a target for 2030, and adopt proposals to dramatically cut energy use in Europe’s building stock by 2050.
Campaigners are urging policymakers to act now and tackle the huge potential for energy savings in Europe’s building stock, which currently accounts for 40% of Europe’s final energy demand.
The debate on what kinds of buildings we should live and work in is shifting, with construction experts and EU policymakers moving away from focusing simply on energy efficiency to a broader appreciation of sustainable buildings, taking into account their environmental, social and economic impact.
On the European policy-making level, this change in emphasis is being led by the European Commission’s environment department, which is currently working on a new policy paper (Communication) on Sustainable Buildings.
Europe’s rules on the energy performance of buildings are beginning to affect the investment decisions of pension funds and other financial institutions, said Tatiana Bosteels, the head of Responsible Property Investments at Hermes Funds Managers.
Although renovation rates in Europe are low – at around 1% of total building stock – anecdotal evidence appears to suggest a pick-up in the energy efficient housing market.
“The pressure we are seeing from regulation on real estate markets is now affecting the financial model that we’re using,” she told EurActiv.
