The Italian International Building Exhibition (SAIE), organized by BolognaFiere for over 40 years, has been presenting the public with the best in technological innovations and construction culture. Under the motto “Building the future”, the 2008 edition (October 15^th – 18^th) presents itself to the construction sector with an extensive exhibition array including halls specializing in strategic sectors. This year’s novelty is SAIEnergia, a new thematic exhibition focusing on energy efficiency and renewable energy.

SAIEnergia will be located in the new pavilions 14 and 15 and will create a direct connection between the world of energy and that of construction by promoting initiatives aimed at debating and updating. The SAIEnergia Forum, organized by Mario Cucinella, will highlight the most interesting recent studies and projects in renewable energy, envelope and shading systems, ventilation, air conditioning, and natural lighting through the work of top Italian and international experts. Cucinella stated: “The idea of the Forum is: we put topics, questions, subject matter on the web and begin to collect input, doubts, questions, and requests so that we can achieve the widest possible dialogue.“ The heart of the exhibition, entitled “+ Quality – Energy for sustainable construction”, is this year focusing on the topic of energy efficiency. The heart of the exhibition will present the most innovative solutions in terms of using renewable resources for heating and cooling, energy savings and certification, and energy recovery and re-qualification.

To close the circle of the “path to efficiency”, there are several conferences on the agenda: the opening conference will be the “Observatory of construction regulations and energy savings”, followed by “Energy efficiency in existing buildings: from historic town centers to the suburbs”. Also scheduled are the conferences “SAIEnergia. Energy in Architecture”, and the training project “Energy efficiency in construction. Standards, incentives and technologies”, reveals the organizer’s press release.