EPBD implementation and One-Stop-Shops: The Basque case

On February 15th, 2024, the Basque Delegation in Brussels hosted an event to present the Basque Country’s pioneering strides in urban regeneration and sustainable building practices, with a spotlight on the transformative Opengela model.

The event served as a platform to discuss the implementation of crucial EU legislation, particularly shedding light on the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), while highlighting the Basque region’s pioneering efforts in sustainable urban development. At the heart of the discussion were the Basque Country’s comprehensive urban regeneration model and the importance of replicating the Opengela model in other European Countries and regions.

With the recent agreements on the EPBD hinting at a shift towards sustainability, it is now imperative to examine successful urban renovation models such as Opengela that could inspire similar actions across Europe.

Opengela is a comprehensive model integrating financial, social, and technical assistance through One-Stop-Shops (OSS), rooted in both a top-down and bottom-up approach. It aims for an integrated perspective on urban regeneration.

Connecting the social, economic and environmental dimensions

This comprehensive model is based on a solid framework of urban renovations, rather than on isolated initiatives. In fact, with the BIRTUOSS project which puts into practice the Opengela model, the Basque Country wants to mark a shift from renovating buildings to renovating neighbourhoods, leaving no one behind. This paradigm shift recognizes the interconnectedness of social, economic, and environmental well-being.

Throughout the event, speakers shared insights about technical solutions and emphasized the importance of collaboration and coordination. They explained how crucial community outreach and inclusivity in urban regeneration projects are, and the success of multistakeholder integration roundtables in the Basque Region.

Innovative tools were presented, such as the Building Passport and the Digital Logbook tool developed by the Polytechnic University of Catalonia in collaboration with Cíclica Arquitectura SCCL and with funding from Opengela. The first is a mechanism incorporating a digital registration system that may represent a reference on the way forward in the near future. The latter consists in interactive and personalisable maps that can help planners map out renovations and identify synergies to increase the energy efficiency of neighbourhoods. These initiatives, developed over recent years, showcased the region’s commitment to renovation in the Basque Country.

The event underscored the critical phase of the European Union’s Renovation Wave, emphasizing the responsibility now lying with national and regional governments to ensure effective implementation.

What does the future hold?

The Basque Case exemplifies the potential for regions to lead the way towards a greener, more sustainable future leaving no one behind. In fact, throughout the event, speakers  highlighted the importance of community engagement and multistakeholder collaboration. The success stories of the Basque Region serve as a testament to the transformative power of collective action, illustrating how collaboration and coordination can drive sustainable change at scale.

By harnessing innovation, collaboration, and political will, the Basque Case provides a blueprint for realizing the ambitious goals set forth by the Renovation Wave and shaping a more sustainable built environment for generations to come.

In essence, the event was not just about buildings; it was about people and their future. It celebrated the triumphs of the Basque region in placing human wellbeing at the heart of urban development, reminding us that true progress is measured not just in structures erected but in lives enriched and communities empowered.