The Mediterranean Renewable Energy Center (MEDREC), a partner in the SEACAP4SDG project, in collaboration with the expert group (Atmospheres ADD) selected to support the energy renovation process in Tunisia, participated in a challenge organized as part of the Sole project, funded under the ENI CBC MED program.

This challenge is organized for students from the National School of Architecture and Urban Planning of Tunisia. They are asked to propose innovative and cost-effective solutions for the renovation of a public building in Tunisia within 48 hours. The building being challenged is the Bizerte Municipality building, a symbol of the city and an important heritage site.

The students benefited from reliable sources of information and documents to help them propose the most appropriate renovation measures. Among these sources, a guide for innovation in the renovation process of public buildings in the Mediterranean was made available. This tool, developed within the framework of the Med-EcoSuRe project and capitalized within the framework of the SEACAP4SDG program, has been made available.

A total of 11 student groups (two per group) participated in the challenge, which began on May 10th, and presented their work on May 12th to a jury composed of engineers, architects, and experts.

The winning group proposed a set of renovation solutions that integrated each intervention into the building and its users in terms of energy consumption and indoor comfort.

The interventions included: photovoltaic panels and solar water heaters on the roof, a green façade, redesign of interior spaces, shading systems, natural ventilation, etc.

The Tunisian expert group will consider this set of energy renovation solutions when proposing measures for the Bizerte pilot building.