Articles

Skills are no longer just a means to an end; they have become an asset in their own right. Just like money, skills can be traded, invested, and accumulated. They have the power to open doors and create opportunities. In a skills-based economy, individuals who possess in-demand skills are more likely to secure high-paying jobs and enjoy greater career mobility.

The SemanticLCA project outlines in this article how various technologies, such as BIM models or DT systems, can feed into the Level(s) framework LCA and what ontologies are available to establish a common vocabulary for data consolidation.

Two case studies of office buildings in Bologna, Italy, benchmark cradle-to-gate upfront carbon emissions of curtain walling. Despite data uncertainties, guidance from the Centre for Window and Cladding Technology (CWCT) aids in managing embodied carbon in aluminium profiles and glazing. This study demonstrates that the choice of low-carbon materials can reduce façade emissions by up to 30%.

BlueHeart Energy (BHE) is a deep tech start-up and has developed a revolutionary thermoacoustic (TA) heat pump engine. This next generation of heat pump technology provides an alternative for vapour compression techniques and better meets the requirements of existing buildings that are not well met by today's technologies. BHE's TA engine will be supplied business to business to heat pump manufacturers in Europe and beyond.

Digitalisation of buildings is a key component of the EU clean energy transition – smart technologies can enhance energy efficiency, allow buildings to be more responsive to the needs of occupants, and improve the flexibility of energy systems. To support this trend, the EU benefits from a rich and supportive framework – covering policies, programmes and financial instruments. How is the EU specifically shaping the future of buildings and the way we interact with them? How can we make our buildings more intelligent and responsive to the environment? This article provides an overview of the state-of-play and perspectives of digital, smart buildings and technologies in the EU context.

As part of the ARISE Article series, the project addresses in this article the values of skills in the design and construction of qualified workers in society and as individuals. It also delves into how skilled workers can contribute to economic growth and competitiveness in different sectors.

In this 4th article of the ARISE Currency of Skills series, Martin Kelly, Jan Cromwijk and Jaap Kolk examine the benefits of investing in skills through lifelong learning and outline how skills are the mechanism to bridge the gap between knowledge and wealth.

The Circ-Boost project aims at boosting the uptake of circular solutions in construction via 5 pilots across Europe and a 3D circular economy web map, harnessing digital technologies for waste management and optimising scalability and adoption.

The construction industry still represents one of the largest global energy consumers, but it has great potential for decarbonisation if circular construction principles are to be adopted. The European Union is pushing for the implementation of innovative and sustainable processes to achieve a paradigm shift towards circular construction. This article explores the potential of circularity to revolutionise the way we build, and envision, our built environment.

Energy renovation processes in vulnerable neighbourhoods are complex decision-making endeavours. The JustPrepare project aims to develop inclusive strategies attuned to local needs to enhance energy renovation and transition effectiveness, considering economic, environmental, and social benefits.