“SJSC “State Real Estate” (SRE) is organising an international conference for the first time in Latvia from 18 to 20 September, in which the majority of representatives of the public sector real estate industry from European countries will participate – 60 participants from 18 countries. During the conference, which was held as an in-person event, we provided exchange of experience and moderated discussions about ecological changes and sustainable property management, including the digital transition and the future of the working environment,” says Renārs Griškevičs, Chairman of the Board.
The conference “Ecological changes and sustainable property management” was organised with the aim of promoting the exchange of experience, sharing of knowledge, in order to jointly find efficient and productive solutions to the challenges of the industry, which are experienced both in Latvia and elsewhere in Europe. It is also an opportunity for the host country to represent good practice, as well as future ideas and perspectives in the industry, attracting new potential cooperation partners and experts.
Within the framework of the SRE conference, the participants are introduced to outstanding examples of Latvian architecture and cultural and historical heritage in the centre of Riga and the surrounding area, including the sharing of experience on the co-working pilot project of state institutions, which was carried out this year from May to July in order to promote the implementation of the principles of a smart working environment in the public sector of the country. “It is important for us to be aware of the situation in the industry at the international level and the latest solutions that are introduced and applied in order to take over the good practice in Latvia, and it is also important to receive feedback and a possible recommendation on what we can do more in current projects – one of them is the cooperation of state institutions and the implementation of a smart work environment in the public sector,” comments Renārs Griškevičs, Chairman of the Board.
Within the framework of the conference, the participants address a significant challenge – the impact of the industry on the global climate. Referring to the European Green Deal, in order to achieve the goals of climate neutrality, it is necessary to achieve at least a 55% reduction of net greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 in comparison to 1990. The real estate and construction industry is one of the largest producers of greenhouse gas emissions in the world, accounting for approximately 40%. Already now, countries are implementing some solutions, using the latest technologies, regulating the efficient consumption of resources, approaching the set goals. Examples were presented during the conference of how new high-rise wood-based office buildings are constructed, how empty buildings are used for new purposes, what sustainable building management models are and what they include. Among them, the future of the working environment, changing working habits and adapting to them are discussed.
This year, for the first time after the pandemic, the conference was held as an in-person event, and industry executives and decision-makers from Scotland, the Netherlands, Norway, France, Austria, Iceland, Denmark, Croatia, Sweden, Germany, Finland, Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Belgium, Estonia, Ireland and Canada arrived in Latvia. Every year, the conference is held in one of the member states of the “PuRE-Net” organisation, which is an international association of real estate managers, “The Public Real Estate Collaborative Network”.
The purpose of its activity is to promote the exchange of experience of public sector real estate managers, help member organisations to build mutual relations, promote cooperation, creating responsible management and the use of public sector real estate in Europe. For several years already SRE has been a member of the association and participates in various experience exchange projects, thereby adopting good practices and introducing the highest industry standards in Latvia.
