# Enhancing Knowledge on Energy Refurbishment of Buildings and Green Procurement through Living Labs
## 1 Introduction
These include setting specific environmental criteria for the procurement of goods and services, providing guidance and training to public authorities on implementing green procurement practices, and promoting the use of eco-labels and certifications in procurement processes [15]. Additionally, the EU Handbook on Green Public Procurement provides guidance and best practices for public authorities to effectively integrate environmental criteria into their procurement processes [16]. Furthermore, the European Union has also implemented the Circular Economy Action Plan, which recognizes the potential of green public procurement as a tool to promote sustainable practices and drive the transition to a circular economy. This includes promoting the use of environmentally friendly materials, encouraging energy efficiency measures in construction projects, and promoting the circular economy through waste reduction and recycling. In view of its tremendous economic proportions, public procurement is widely recognized as a potentially important tool for implementing the EU Circular Economy Action Plan [17]. It is, however, essential to ensure that the classic public procurement model is transformed into a green public procurement model. This can be achieved by incorporating environmental criteria and requirements into the procurement process and prioritizing goods, services, and works with reduced environmental impacts throughout their lifecycle when compared to alternatives [18]. While policies promote building refurbishment through strategies, legislations, and funding mechanisms, it is equally vital to consider softer measures [19]. As such, enhancing the knowledge of those who execute the investments is a pivotal way to boost the effectiveness of energy refurbishment. In a rapidly evolving world driven by technological advancements and environmental challenges, the knowledge surrounding energy refurbishment and green public procurement remains surprisingly insufficient [20]. The reasons include a lack of awareness and understanding of sustainable building practices, limited access to up-to-date information and resources, inadequate training and education programs for professionals in the building sector, and a lack of incentives and support for implementing sustainable construction practices [21]. To address these challenges, various measures can be implemented. Firstly, educational and training programs can be developed to provide professionals in the building sector with the necessary knowledge and skills regarding sustainable building practices,including energy efficiency measures and green procurement strategies [22]. Secondly, awareness campaigns can be conducted to educate stakeholders, including public authorities and private companies, about the benefits of sustainable building practices and green public procurement [23]. Thirdly, incentives and support mechanisms can be put in place to encourage the adoption of sustainable construction practices [24]. The urgency to enhance this knowledge is evident; however, mere conventional approaches may prove inadequate. The field of green energy and green growth is a vast area, and transfer and co-creation of new knowledge is a very challenging activity, due to time and human resource restriction [2]. What is required are innovative solutions that can bridge this knowledge gap effectively and efficiently. In this context, different approaches can and should be used to increase the knowledge, research, and innovation competences of various stakeholders, such as workshops and training sessions, case study analysis, mentorship programs, and study tours [25]. Especially effective are Living Labs (LLs), which stimulate stakeholders to be actively engaged in actions, allowing them to gain new knowledge, innovation, and research capacities, and to co-create common knowledge and solutions [26]. Living labs have proven to be one of the most promising approaches to engage and stimulate stakeholders to co-create innovation in favor of green energy and growth.