By the editorial team. (Original publication in Spanish)

The session was a great opportunity to discuss the future of the Building Renovation Passport. Participants considered how this tool should be and how it could effectively serve not only renovation professionals but also private building owners. They emphasized the importance of simplifying the decision-making process, ensuring that the passport provides clear and accessible information for all stakeholders. The ultimate goal is for this tool to empower users with the knowledge and resources needed to navigate complex renovations, promoting more sustainable and efficient building practices.

The evolution of the construction sector is crucial to ensuring energy efficiency in the near future, making energy-efficient renovations an urgent priority. At Ideas for Change, we are deeply involved in the One Click Reno project, where we are designing a Building Renovation Passport aimed at accelerating the renovation of 100 million homes across the EU, with the goal of making the construction sector 100% sustainable by 2050.

One of our roles in the project is to lead the co-creation process. Using the Pentagrowth methodology, we are conducting workshops with different stakeholders in the building renovation field (financial sector, representatives from consumer associations, real estate professionals, and staff from regional administrations), in which we design promising future scenarios. The objective is to provide the consortium, and ultimately the European Commission and stakeholders in the renovation field, with relevant insights and information to create a renovation passport that addresses current and future needs.

In this context, on September 16, a delegation from our team traveled to Valencia to carry out the first co-creation workshop for One Click Reno (OCR) at the headquarters of the Valencian Institute of Construction. This was the first of five sessions that we will hold in each of the OCR pilot countries: Ireland, Spain, Netherlands, Italy, and Greece.

At the Valencia workshop, we brought together more than 12 key actors from the national building renovation ecosystem, with participants from Valencia, Madrid, and Barcelona. This group included experts from the ACR construction group, the Valencian Consumers and Users Association, the Valencia-Castellón Association of Property Administrators, the Architects' Association of the Valencian Community, the GNE Finance group, the Valencian Institute of Construction, the Union of Consumers of the Valencian Community, and the Ensanche Housing Collective. During the sessions, we asked them to imagine their ideal future and collaboratively determine the necessary steps to achieve it. They were encouraged to think beyond the limitations of the present and leverage their professional experience to explore how emerging technologies —those expected to become a reality by 2035— could shape their vision.

The discussions generated a wide range of innovative ideas and explored transformative technologies. Participants highlighted the growing importance of artificial intelligence, as well as the potential of robots, sensors, drones, and the role of open data in redefining the building renovation sector.

A key focus of the workshop was the second part of the session, which concentrated on six critical aspects of renovation: Building Diagnosis, Improving the Building Envelope, Heating and Cooling Systems, Integrating Renewable Energies and Storage, Water Efficiency and Ventilation, and Improvements in Exterior and Sustainability. Participants shared valuable insights based on their daily interactions with private owners, suppliers, and consumers. A common consensus emerged that, in the future, renovation costs are expected to decrease as new technologies and materials become more affordable. These advancements will not only reduce costs but also simplify professional workflows. In line with this, many stakeholders emphasized the crucial role of artificial intelligence, particularly in the form of home sensors. These sensors could assess energy performance on multiple levels—not only within the home but also in entire buildings and neighborhoods. They envisioned a future where these systems provide daily updates with key performance indicators and practical recommendations, enabling users to take real-time actions to achieve their sustainability and energy efficiency goals.

The next co-creation workshop is scheduled to take place in Dublin, Ireland, in November.