The fourth conference of the Local Renewables series focused on “Green Buildings and the Future of Sustainable Urban Development”. The conference looked at the evolving role of renewable energy in sustainable buildings, both from a technological and city development point of view.

Buildings make up 40 percent of the energy used in the European Union and account for 36 percent of Europe’s CO₂ emissions. Hence, the building sector plays a key role in combating climate change and offers local governments an excellent opportunity to meet their climate targets. The conference examined the topic from various angles, ranging from policy making and financing, to the latest technological innovations.

The challenges for new and existing buildings, private and public, as well as the issue of retrofitting of existing building stock, historical buildings and development of new zero emission districts were also addressed. The conference brought together local and regional decision makers, representatives of the European institutions, urban planners, industry representatives, architects and business.

The Local Renewables Conference 2011 was part of a series of events which started in 2007 and explores the different sources of local renewable solutions in order to promote sustainability at a regional and local level.