The e-SAFE project was showcased during the GREEN DEAL GREECE 2024 forum by Angelos Protopsaltis, a prominent representative of our partner, SALFO SA.
SALFO, an industry leader in project, construction, and design management, has deep-rooted expertise in energy-efficient renovation and new construction projects.
Held on 4th and 5th November and organized by the Technical Chamber of Greece, the forum has grown into a vital institution and a cornerstone for public discourse on Greece's green and digital transformation. The event provided a platform for over 40 experts, including 10 representatives of the Greek government, to discuss pressing challenges and promising opportunities within the realm of sustainable development.
This year’s focus on resilience within green development resonated with e-SAFE's mission, as the project strives to bring innovative, comprehensive solutions to building retrofits across Europe. Notably, e-SAFE's approach integrates seismic safety with energy efficiency, creating a holistic model that addresses both environmental and structural resilience in a rapidly changing world.
The event opened with remarks by Greek Minister of Environment and Energy, Theodoros Skylakakis, who emphasized the difficulty and importance of achieving a green transition while enhancing resilience. «The climate crisis arrived more violently than was expected based on the climate models», Skylakakis remarked, noting the recent climate impacts in Greece and beyond. With limited funds in both Greece and the EU to tackle this multifaceted crisis, Skylakakis called the green and resilient transition «the great and extremely difficult wager of the next decades».
During the panel on urban development, Protopsaltis (SALFO) highlighted the e-SAFE program's critical role in the future of Europe’s building stock. The e-SAFE project aims to facilitate the large-scale renovation of buildings across the EU through an innovative, market-ready system that combines decarbonization, earthquake resilience, and enhanced indoor comfort, while also minimizing costs, implementation time, and disruptions to building occupants. This approach aligns with EU climate targets and the urgent need for resilient infrastructure, as buildings account for 40% of final energy demand and 30% of greenhouse gas emissions across the EU. In earthquake-prone regions, such as Greece, retrofitting measures for energy efficiency must consider seismic resilience to ensure public safety.
The participation of SALFO, representing the e-SAFE project, in this dialogue underlines our shared commitment to a resilient, green, and digitally transformed Europe. With SALFO’s support and the forward-thinking vision of the e-SAFE project, we aim to contribute to a future where the challenges of energy demand, climate change, and seismic risk are addressed through comprehensive and sustainable building renovations.
