From February 25th to 28th, 2025, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council (DLRCC) hosted an important event that brought together 80 leading sustainability experts from across Europe. The PROBONO General Assembly was a vital gathering, dedicated to advancing sustainable urban solutions, particularly in the context of energy-efficient Green Building Neighbourhoods (GBNs).
What is PROBONO?
The PROBONO project is an ambitious European initiative focused on transforming the construction industry to prioritise people and the environment. At its core, the project aims to create sustainable, zero-carbon neighbourhoods that are not only eco-friendly but also practical and scalable. In Dún Laoghaire, the council is exploring how these Green Building Neighbourhoods can help create resilient spaces where people can live and work in harmony with nature.
The Role of Living Labs in Innovation
One of the most exciting aspects of PROBONO is the involvement of Living Labs or real-world environments where new solutions are tested and refined. The Dublin Living Lab, one of six such labs across Europe, played a central role in this year’s General Assembly. During the event, participants got the chance to explore the practical applications of urban sustainability initiatives happening in Dublin.
This year’s assembly focused on key topics like retrofitting projects, innovative energy solutions, and participatory planning efforts. These discussions allowed experts to explore how these local initiatives can be expanded and replicated across Europe.
A key objective of the General Assembly is to facilitate learning and collaboration among cities, researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders. By exchanging experiences and best practices, attendees help accelerate sustainable urban solutions across Europe.
Dublin Living Lab Initiatives
The PROBONO initiatives of the Dublin Living Lab include both social and technological innovations
Technology innovations include:
-
Upcycled Insulation – Upcycled paper insulation was provided by PROBONO partner Soprema for retrofit works at the Harbour Master’s Lodge.
-
Hybrid Green Roof – Soprema will also provide the materials for a hybrid green roof planned for the rooftop of County Hall. This combination of green roof and Photovoltaic Panel (PV) allows for faster installation and yields biodiversity benefits.
-
PV and BIP – Traditional PV and Building Integrated PV (BIPV) will be installed on County Hall and on the LexIcon Library and will create a striking visual impact.
-
Battery Bank – A Battery Bank provided by PROBONO partners Beeplanetfactory will be installed in County Hall. The battery will work alongside the PV/BIPV and EVs to create an energy trading platform.
Social innovations include:
-
Occupancy Evaluation at Beaufort, Glasthule – UCD researchers carried out two focus groups and follow up surveys with the tenants of elderly housing after retrofit works. Findings of this survey will be used to inform a similar development and retrofit in Blackrock.
-
Geodesign Workshops – Geodesign is a multi-stakeholder workshop to co-design a vision for their area using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Participatory Mapping tools. A final large Geodesign workshop is planned for later this year which will focus on the dlr Decarbonizing Zone allowing residents and policy makers to simulate the effects of possible climate mitigation measures and solutions.
-
Open House 2024 – PROBONO was part of the planned activities for dlr Open House where UCD researchers presented the results of an in-depth analysis of heat loss at the Harbour Master’s Lodge before and after retrofit works to the public.
A Platform for Collaboration and Growth
The PROBONO General Assembly offered a collaborative forum where cities, researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders come together to share insights and best practices. By working together, they aim to speed up the implementation of energy-efficient, sustainable solutions that can make cities more liveable for future generations.
With three days of workshops, discussions, and site visits, the event offered valuable opportunities for hands-on learning and knowledge exchange aiming to ensure that the solutions developed in Dún Laoghaire and other Living Labs can be adapted and scaled across different regions in Europe.
The Path Forward
As cities around the world continue to grapple with climate change and sustainability challenges, the work being done in Dún Laoghaire represents a crucial step in creating practical, lasting solutions. By learning from each other’s experiences and advancing the ideas generated in Living Labs, the European sustainability community is one step closer to building a future where urban living and environmental responsibility go hand-in-hand.
Stay tuned as we follow the latest insights and innovations emerging from the PROBONO project which will shape the next generation of sustainable urban development.
