Abstract
Numerous European research and demonstration projects concerned the improvement of thermal performance of buildings, but the dissemination of the results remains limited in the professional practice and education. The knowledge level is also very different among European countries. Much effort has been dedicated to new buildings, though much more energy is consumed in the existing building stock. This high energy consumption has dramatic consequences for low income families. European demonstration projects have shown that the energy consumption in social housing can be reduced by 30% through appropriate retrofitting. The knowledge level of the key actors, architects and facility managers, is a major barrier against such performance improvement. Some energy efficient and economical techniques and design methods are often ignored. Efficient technical solutions and demonstration projects in one country may be unknown in other parts of Europe. Collecting the best practice and disseminating it among European professionals will lead to better retrofitted houses.. Universities, research institutes and consultancy from France, Sweden, Norway, Holland, Germany and Hungary have collaborated and developed education packages for courses and seminars in the project called TREES (Training for Renovated Energy Efficient Social housing)