This workshop focused on one of the pillars of the ILLIANCE Agenda, Sustainability, and discussed innovative solutions in the field of circular economy and energy efficiency for the future of Habitat.
The event began with a speech by Nelson Ferreira (Bosch Home Comfort) on “The Relevance of R3 for a Sustainable Future”, addressing the role of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle strategies in the development of environmentally responsible solutions.
This was followed by a panel moderated by Victor Ferreira from Cluster Habitat Sustentável, where some of the solutions developed under the Agenda by some of its partner promoters were presented and discussed:
– Intelligent Energy Simulator:
Sérgio Tadeu from ISQ presented the design of an innovative energy simulator focused on identifying the ideal combinations of HVAC and domestic hot water system configurations for the energy efficiency of commercial and residential buildings;
– DHW Heat Pumps and Anti-Corrosion Solutions:
Fábio Castanheira from Bosch Home Comfort and João Paulo Dias from IPN gave a joint presentation on the operating concept of a DHW heat pump and the main features of the next generation of Bosch equipment. They also focussed on developments in terms of durability and strategies to guarantee the reliability and absence of failures in thermal systems;
– Meireles Hydrogen Oven:
Jorge Meireles from Meireles presented the project that aims to develop a furnace capable of burning gas mixtures with different concentrations of green hydrogen, thus promoting sustainability and decarbonisation in Habitat;
– 100% recycled EPS:
Raquel Araújo from Petibol presented the 100% Recycled EPS project, which aims to develop a methodology that makes it possible to produce EPS packaging consisting only of recycled EPS, thus implementing a circular economy in this sector and maximising environmental sustainability;
– OLI Push:
Mónica Oliveira from the University of Aveiro also presented the OLI Push project, an initiative to redesign processes and products for greater circularity and a smaller environmental footprint. Two new control boards were presented, the Voronoi Board and the Maar Board, developed as part of UA’s collaboration with OLI;
– Innovative Ceramic Tiles:
Jorge Girão from Revigrés demonstrated the innovative potential of reusing sintered ceramic waste to develop a new thick product for the ceramic floor and wall tile industry in Portugal.
The debate that followed made it possible to clarify some issues with the speakers and explore the main constraints in the design, development and adoption of the solutions and projects presented.
The workshop was closed by Carla Santos, representing IAPMEI, who stressed the importance of the Mobilising Agendas funded by the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), such as the ILLIANCE Agenda, in strengthening sustainable and efficient innovation in Portugal.
