The annual Sustainability Forum Sofia took place on the 13th of June 2024. Once again we managed to bring together top international and local experts in green construction to discuss many aspects and challenges in the sector in respect to the forthcoming Green Deal deadlines for limiting the carbon emissions in the buildings and the implementation of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive in the local legislation. The climate change temp is rapidly speeding up and the construction sector, being responsible for 35% of the CO2 emissions, must take crucial measures to limit its carbon footprint. The Forum gave platform to our community of green construction leaders to exchange ideas and share experience to become more efficient in following the Green Deal goals.

The British Embassy is supporting our green event for a second year in a row. This year, the Embassy invited Arch. Jedrzej Kolesinski, a Parter at Foster+Partners, to become our keynote speaker. In his presentation: “Building a Sustainable Future: Green Construction and Asset Resilience” he showcased the challenges and respective solutions found in the working process of significant projects of this iconic architecture & design studio. Arch. Jedrzej Kolesinski presented the research process and innovative approach – two key milestones for the creation of contemporary green architecture.

The first panel was focused on the Еvolution of the legal framework and other solutions towards green construction and ESG. The panel was opened by arch. Andreya Momerin, who presented the QHOME software platform for ESG assessment in Real Estate for Businesses, followed by a discussion between Arch. Vessela Valtcheva-McGee, Director Market Development EE, GBCI Europe Katerina Novakova, Counsel at Wolf Theiss Bulgaria, Teodor Linkin, Managing partner at LINKIN and Iglika Yordanova, Managing Partner at Colliers. Moderated by our Chairperson- Adina Welsh, the participants shared their points of view on how the new legal framework will affect the green construction business development.

The second panel of the Forum was dedicated to the Renewable Energy Sources and circularity in the buildings. Our first speaker Dr. Dragomir Tzanev, CEO of EnEffect and BGBC advisory board member, presented the first two energy communities in Bulgaria, based in Gabrovo and Burgas. His presentation was followed by the 3x3 session, with first participant Eng. Marian Todorov from our member company Schneider Electric who gave us an overview on the scalable systems for energy management, produced by the company. Second presenter in our sessions was Ms. Kathrin Wiedermann, representing CES Clean Energy Solutions, also a BGBC member. She shared her research about reducing operational expenditures by the advanced integration of renewable energy sources into buildings. Our 3x3 session finished with the presentation of arch.Valentin Denkov from Funkt Architects, who showed some good examples on sustainable design case studies of different scales. The programme ended with a discussion between our presenters, together with our members arch. Lyudmila Pencheva from No Name Arch and Eng. Nikolay Stoyanov from SIEMENS. The discussion was moderated by Mariyana Yaneva, Vice Chairperson of APSTE.

The event was followed by a Go Green cocktail. We shared our impressions and exchanged ideas, while having a glass of wine, enjoying the magnificent view from the Sense Rooftop Bar.

After the end of the Forum, the British Ambassador to Bulgaria- His Excellency Dr.Rob Dixon hosted a wonderful reception at his Residency as a part of our programme.

The 2024 Sustainability Forum Sofia would not have been the same without the help of sponsors from Paradise Center, RPHI Bulgaria, Schneider Electric, MD Capital, LINKIN, Schoenherr Bulgaria and Q Home. We highly appreciate the support of our partners: the British Bulgarian Business Association and the Association of Commercial Buildings Owners in Bulgaria. A big thank you also to: Triple Green Building Group Bulgaria, APSTE, EnEffect, Wolf Theiss, Siemens, No name Arch and FUNKT Architects.