Italy’s Growing Demand for Energy-Saving Construction Technologies
The German-Italian Chamber of Commerce confirms that the Italian market for renewable energies and products related to energy efficiency is currently experiencing healthy growth. Demand has been boosted by the high electricity prices and new statutory regulations, e.g. the Italian energy feed-in law, the Conto Energia. In Europe, Italy is regarded as the market with the greatest potential for growth.
Italy’s leading international construction fair, Saie in Bologna, has anticipated this market development and is focussing on this topic in its special show SaieEnergia. At its première at the last Saie, this show instantly attracted enough interest to fill a huge hall.
Besides Italy‘s energy efficiency programme, further impetus is coming from the construction of welfare housing. In its 2009 budget the Italian government earmarked around € 7 bill. to finance the first major welfare housing construction scheme since 30 years. And looking ahead to the world exposition scheduled for 2015 in Lombardy, massive investments are being made in the infrastructure in that region. Funding for 17 projects with a total value of € 11.3 bill. has been largely secured.
This year, Saie takes place from 28 to 31 October in Bologna. At the last event, 1 700 companies exhibited and almost 180 000 trade visitors were registered.
