FORESEE will focus on three core areas: building envelope, renewable and efficient use of electricity, heating and cooling, each of them associated to specific vocational training, to ensure a steady flow of skill workers. The project aims to tackle some of the shortcomings identified on qualification needs and gaps in order to have a workforce with relevant skills making feasible the implementation of the national action plans for EE and RES.
Heat pumps skills for NZEB construction.
The overarching objective of the HP4ALL project was to enhance, develop and promote the skills required for high quality, optimised Heat Pump (HP) installations within residential and non-residential buildings. Both the supply side (manufacturers, SMEs, installers etc.) and demand side (building owners, public sector etc.) have been engaged in the project.
A core element was the application of tailored measures in three pilot regions: Ireland, Upper Austria, and Andalusia/Spain, aiming to address different HP market sectors, applications, and technology solutions.
- In Ireland the main focus on local authorities and their respective heat pump installations, with a secondary focus on large scale heat pump installations and private domestic heat pump installations;
- In Andalusia/Spain: the focus on the uptake of HPs in social housing and other public buildings;
- In Upper Austria: primary focus on developing the market for mid-/large-scale HP applications (commercial and industrial).
Each pilot region took specific approaches to the roll out of targeted activities and materials, and the development and promotion of HP Skills depending on different context and market maturity.
Key outputs:
Setting up Qualification and Continuing Education and Training Scheme for Middle and Senior Level Professionals on Energy Efficiency and Use of Renewable Energy Sources in Buildings.
Evidence-based market and policy instruments Implementation across EU to increase the demand for eNergy Skills across conSTRUCTion sector value chain.
The aim of the project is to develop and validate training schemes at EQF level 3 for workers in the building sector, improving their competences in sustainable building, according to Pillar I of Build Up Skills Italy initiative.
Within the framework of the EU LIFE Programme's BUILD UP Skills initiative, a consortium composed of EnEffect (coordinator), the Agency for Sustainable Energy Development (ASDE), the National Agency for Vocational Education and Training (NAPET), the Bulgarian Chamber of Builders (BCB) and the Bulgarian Association for Insulation in Construction (BAIS) is implementing a project "Roadmap for training and qualification in the application of smart energy efficient solutions in buildings in Bulgaria by 2030". "(BUILD UP Skills Bulgaria 2030).
The project is a continuation of the previous initiative of the same name (2011-2013), which led to a number of changes in the state education standards in the construction sector, and proposes a new unification of efforts of those involved in the construction sector and the national education system. Its guiding objective in decisively increasing the knowledge and skills of construction professionals and workers to build zero carbon buildings in line with the expected amendments to the directives on energy efficiency (COM/2021/558 final), energy performance of buildings (COM(2021) 802 final), and renewable energy (COM/2021/557 final) within the Fit-for-55 legislative package. The new project will leverage the knowledge and material gained from the successfully completed and ongoing Horizon 2020 projects BUILD UP Skills EnerPro, Train-to-nZEB, Fit-to-nZEB, CraftEdu, nZEB Roadshow, nZEB Ready, INSTRUCT, BUS League, BUS GoCircular, etc.
The project will re-establish the National Dialogue Platform, which will build the basis for a comprehensive consultation and interaction process for all actors in the construction and related vocational training sector (professional associations and chambers, industry associations, vocational training centres, public authorities, etc.). A detailed study of the current situation will be carried out, including:
- An analysis and assessment of the national system of continuing training in the construction sector and the extent to which it meets the need for additional skills to implement EE and RES measures in buildings;
- Analysis and assessment of national policies to achieve the objectives of the national Integrated Energy and Climate Plan (including the expected contribution of the construction sector) and the Long-term National Strategy to support the renovation of the national building stock of residential and non-residential buildings
- Identification of barriers as well as the need for training, skilled educators and measurable data on skilled workforce needs by 2030.
The aim of the BUILD UP Skills II Poland project is to develop a strategy for improving the skills of employees in the construction sector at all levels of education in the field of energy-saving construction technologies, in particular those used in buildings undergoing major renovations.
The aim of the initiative is to put the national vocational training systems in order. The "BUILD UP Skills II Poland" project focuses primarily on the part of the system related to improving the professional qualifications of manual workers currently working on construction sites, i.e. craftsmen, installers, fitters and all other employees performing construction works.
With the current challenges and goals for the renovation of building resources, it will be crucial to prepare a sufficiently large group of employees in the construction sector to be able to achieve the assumed goal of 3% thermal modernization of buildings per year. Such an indicator would allow to change the level of energy efficiency of 90% of existing buildings by 2050 and contribute to the achievement of climate neutrality by the Polish economy.
In France, and in spite of many initiatives such as BUS1 platform, whose actions have been implemented without any overall coordination nor monitoring, there is an increasing need for an up-skilled workforce to support energy renovation goals for 2030 and 2050. BUS2 aims, through a step-by-step implementation while involving a local and regional focus, to relaunch an open platform by improving the coordination between public and private stakeholders at all levels and on different topics: market demand and upskilling initiatives.
The objective is to mobilize these stakeholders to work together addressing identified barriers (based on a shared status quo analysis, and co-constructed national roadmap and scenarios for 2023-2030 and further.), during and after the duration of the project to ensure results sustainability via a follow-up organization post BUS2. BUS 2 contributes to the upskilling results of EU funded projects in France: BIMplement, BUSleague, and Blueprint, and is complementary with national initiatives on the market and educational and training sides.
Synergies and co-benefits with other LIFE sub-program –especially regarding the circular economy and with other E.U policy areas, will be created. The expected effects are identified and quantified with relevant indicators, especially those related to the involvement of key state stakeholders, who contribute giving credibility to the impacts. Consortium members, with the expertise of ADEME, and the AVE network of local authorities, also contribute to the credibility.
Results will be open source and exploitable by all the stakeholders, and methodology will be replicated in regions and local territories other than those involved in the initial 18 months. Communication and dissemination activities will be targeted towards stakeholders, public, potential building sector workers and regional and local authorities.
The project aims at rebooting the National Qualification Platform (NQP), Status Quo Analysis (SQA) and National Roadmap developed under the BUILD UP Skills Romania project (ROBUST), to ensure alignment with the EU 2030 targets. The project will address qualification needs for the construction sector and will evaluate the effectiveness of the first National Roadmap implementation, in order to update the National strategy, including mapping the skills needs and recommendations for certification, qualification/ training of both ‘blue-collar’ and ‘white-collar’ professionals in Romania to reflect the new qualification needs.
The NQP gathering all relevant recognised stakeholders, in both buildings and education/training sectors in Romania, will be engaged in an active consultation process with a view to revise the SQA and National Roadmap to reflect the new realities of the building sector, while taking into account all relevant skills needed to enable the Clean Energy Transition, in particular the EU Renovation Wave, the mainstreaming of NZEBs, and the inclusion of resource efficiency considerations.
The project will be implemented by a consortium with complementary background and expertise in energy efficiency and renewable use in buildings, as well as moderating and communicating skills, life-long learning expertise and public administration, consisting in: the national research institute for construction sector (URBAN-INCERC), the relevant public authority (MDLPA), the leading university of civil engineering (UTCB), an energy network of 30 municipalities (OER), two representative clusters for the addressed sectors (Pro-nZEB and Cluster TEC), a relevant professional association (AIIR) and a management consultancy company (BDG).
Based on the active consultation and involvement of the key actors, it is envisaged that the updated national roadmap will be endorsed by relevant authorities and stakeholders with a commitment to carry out and implement the proposed strategy.
Our built environment accounts for 37% of Ireland’s national emissions, the same as agriculture. Halving our emissions by 2030 is extremely challenging and will require significant investments in skills. The construction industry is facing labour and skills shortages, that need to be overcome to successfully decarbonise our built environment.
The Irish Green Building Council (IGBC), the Construction Industry Federation (CIF), Laois-Offaly Education and Training Board (LOETB) and the Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) are now working together to make sure we have the right skills to reach Ireland’s climate goals.
As part of the BUSI2030 initiative, they are developing a roadmap of key skills needed by building professionals and construction workers to decarbonise our built environment. The roadmap, which will be developed through extensive stakeholder engagement, will refine and refresh the “BUILD UP Skills – Ireland National Roadmap for Energy Training in Construction” published in 2014.
Considering emerging trends and new policy development, the new version of the roadmap will cover not only energy efficiency but also decarbonisation of heating and cooling, digitisation, the circular economy and embodied carbon emissions.