DeCO2 presented at the webinar “Innovative Solutions for Affordable Housing”

The webinar “Innovative Solutions for Affordable Housing” provided a comprehensive overview of current European initiatives addressing the housing and renovation challenge, framed by the Affordable Housing Initiative and the STAR*track network. Following the introduction, three major Horizon Europe projects (DeCO2, SINCERE, and FORTESIE) were presented, each showcasing distinctive approaches to affordability, circularity, and decarbonisation in the built environment.

Our project, presented by Filippos Anagnostopoulos (IEECP), stood out as a central contribution. DeCO2 is developing a Dynamic Decarbonisation Pathways Framework that integrates technological, social, and policy innovations. Its ambition is to drive large-scale renovations that are not only energy-efficient but also deeply circular and socially inclusive. DeCO2’s three demonstration sites (in Limerick, Castellón, and Graz) are testing bio-based and recyclable materials, 3D printing with recycled inputs, and digital tools such as material passports and BIM-based twins. At the same time, it pioneers regulatory sandboxes and living labs to accelerate adoption, while engaging citizens, local authorities, and sector professionals. This comprehensive approach exemplifies how innovation can be embedded across the entire value chain, from design to policy support, while ensuring replicability and market readiness.

The presentations were followed by a lively Q&A session in which stakeholders asked questions on scalability, regulatory hurdles, and financing models. The discussion highlighted the need to bridge technical advances with real-world adoption, especially in the context of affordability and social inclusion. DeCO2’s integration of regulatory sandboxes and participatory processes attracted particular interest, with many participants recognising its potential to reduce time-to-market and enhance community buy-in.

In closing, the session underscored how projects such as DeCO2 are not isolated experiments but crucial elements of a wider European strategy to make affordable housing both sustainable and socially responsive, offering tangible models for replication across the continent.