By Cesare Lugli
Great success and participation in the round table organised by the CNPI and by the Fondazione Opificium at B-CAD in Rome
Large participation in the round table “From energy requalification to the rebirth of the community. A supply chain for the sustainable and shared transition”, organised by the National Council of Industrial Experts and by the Fondazione Opificium, last September 19, within the framework of B-CAD – Construction Fair, which was held at the Convention Centre “La Nuvola” in Rome.
The conference was also simultaneously translated into English to facilitate the involvement of Smart Cities Marketplace, which followed the work remotely.
The meeting represented a moment of discussion between institutions, technical professions and sector experts on technologies, policies and synergies essential to build an efficient energy system, in line with the objectives set by the European Union: reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, increase in production from renewable sources, improvement of energy efficiency and strengthening of the active participation of citizens and territories towards a model of sustainable and inclusive development.
To open the work of the day, Georg Houben, Policy Officer at the EU Commission’s Directorate General for Energy (DG ENER), coordinator of the Smart Cities Marketplace Group, who underlined how “to date about 75% of the building stock is energetically inefficient and, at the same time, the average rate of energy renovation is only about 1%. There is, therefore, much to do. Building policies could, therefore, play an important role in strengthening, for example, energy security, the economic competitiveness of Europe, reducing energy bills and providing, not least, a quality living environment accessible to our citizens”. A theme that, as he reiterated, is at the centre of the EU Commission's work, recalling the latest directive on the energy performance of buildings adopted by the European Parliament, which provides that new residential and non-residential buildings will have to be zero-emission starting from January 2028. The work of the Commission – Houben recalled – is now focused on making energy more accessible and providing additional support, both financial and technical, to local public administrations for the renovation of buildings and to achieve profound transformations that will make Europe a better place to live.
“The energy transition is not only a technological challenge, but a path that must put communities, territories and people at the centre” – declared Giovanni Esposito, President of the National Council of Industrial Experts and Graduated Industrial Experts and of PERCERTO, opening the work of the conference. “The technical professions have the task of accompanying citizens, businesses and institutions in this change, guaranteeing quality, safety and innovation. Smart city, home automation, energy communities and requalification of buildings: these are the priorities to improve the real estate assets of the Country. We hope – he said, that in this last phase of the PNRR it will be possible to use European resources able to raise the qualitative level of our cities.”
At the round table intervened: in addition to Giovanni Esposito, President of the CNPI and of PERCERTO, Georg Houben, Policy Officer at the DG ENER of the European Commission, Antonio Salvatore Trevisi, Senator of the Republic, already member of the VIII permanent Commission Environment, ecological transition, energy, public works, communications, technological innovation, Edoardo Zanchini, Director of the Climate Office of the Municipality of Rome. And again: Giovanni De Baggis, President of the Order of Industrial Experts of Rome; Francesco Burrelli, President ANACI; Amos Giardino, Technical Director of PERCERTO; Sergio Olivero, Coordinator of the Deep Retrofitting Focus Group of the Smart Cities Marketplace of the European Commission and Head of Business & Finance Innovation of the Energy Center of the Polytechnic of Turin; Gianmarco Sitzia, cybersecurity expert applied to energy communities.
In his speech, Edoardo Zanchini underlined the importance of the contribution of the professions for the energy transition: “Rome is the largest Municipality in Italy and counts an imposing building stock: just think of the 1,200 schools present on the territory. The sharing of energy, therefore, represents a fundamental lever to face the climate challenge.”
Francesco Burrelli, President of ANACI, stressed the need to requalify electrical systems in homes: “Not adapting the electrical systems, in Italy, costs 300 deaths a year,” he recalled. Burrelli then added that “in our Country there are 1 million and 300 thousand condominiums: to requalify them about 800 billion euros would be needed,” underlining how the safety and efficiency of buildings represent a national priority.
Gianmarco Sitzia drew attention to the cybersecurity risks linked to the growth of Energy Communities and smart devices. “In 2025, cyberattacks increased by 53% and the energy sector is today the third most affected after public administration and telecommunications. Photovoltaic systems, wall boxes and smart home devices represent potential access points. A well-orchestrated attack could arrive at blocking entire cities or States.” The solution passes through network segregation, secure protocols such as KNX Secure and designs that take into account vulnerabilities. In this direction also moves the CER BOX project, developed in partnership with ANACI.
Sergio Olivero highlighted how buildings are responsible for over 40% of European energy consumption and a third of climate-changing emissions: “The deep requalification of the building stock – through deep retrofit interventions, electrification of thermal loads, replacement of fossil fuels with heat pumps powered by renewables and integration with storage systems – is the key for a true ecological transition.” Olivero also recalled the role of Renewable Energy Communities as tools of social and economic innovation, proposing the figure of the Systemic Aggregator, capable of coordinating multiple communities and guaranteeing effective territorial governance.
Finally, Olivero emphasised the crucial issue of resources: “Who pays for the requalification? European Directives provide obligations, but also tools: deductions, EPC contracts, incentives to the REC and mechanisms of redistribution of value. If well used, they can transform the energy transition into an opportunity for local development, security, sustainability and better quality of life.”
Amos Giardino, Technical Director of PERCERTO, instead spoke about the benefits of joining an Energy Community, clarifying some aspects related to the stability of electrical grids and the prospects of energy storage.
In closing, President Esposito reiterated the role of Industrial Experts in the challenge of transitions: “Our task is to connect competences, citizens and institutions, because only through a shared and multidisciplinary approach the energy transition can become a concrete opportunity of rebirth for the territories.”