11 Feb 2026 - 12 Feb 2026 All day

Conference

Sustainable Built Environment and Energy Transition (SBEET)

As cities race toward climate goals, the urban built environment stands at the crossroads of transformation. From deep energy renovations and decarbonisation efforts to climate resilience and circular economy strategies, the challenges are vast—but so are the opportunities.

The 2026 edition of the Sustainable Built Environment and Energy Transition (SBEET) conference invites researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to explore how integrated approaches can reshape urban systems for a sustainable future.

We invite bold, interdisciplinary contributions that push the boundaries of sustainable urban development. Whether tackling energy transitions, addressing climate adaptation, or transforming material flows, we seek innovative ideas grounded in evidence and practice.

Topics of interest include building design, energy systems, retrofitting, lifecycle analysis, infrastructure resilience, climate impacts, community engagement, governance models, business strategies, and policy frameworks. Join us in advancing the science and practice of sustainable urban development.

Theme 1 — Energy transition and decarbonisation

Thematic chair: Leteng Lin

Decarbonising urban energy systems is vital for climate neutrality and sustainable development. While improving resource and building efficiency remains a cornerstone of the energy transition, the challenge extends to entire districts and cities. District heating networks, as key urban infrastructure, must shift towards renewable and lowcarbon sources such as biomass, geothermal, solar thermal, and waste heat recovery. At the consumer end, the built environment remains highly complex, requiring integrated solutions across technological, societal, environmental, policy, and business dimensions.

Despite growing momentum through initiatives like the EU Renovation Wave, Fit for 55, and smart city programs, substantial barriers persist. This session explores strategies and innovative approaches to accelerate sustainable urban transitions—covering districtlevel renovation, business models, district heating decarbonisation, household behaviour change, financing mechanisms, and the role of public authorities in driving systemic transformation.

Theme 2 — Climate mitigation, resilience and adaptation of urban built

Thematic chair: Brijesh Mainali

Climate change demands bold adaptation strategies across cities and regions. Urban areas face rising risks from heatwaves, floods, droughts, wildfires, and sea-level rise, threatening infrastructure, health, and liveability.

This session explores how climate change is transforming urban environments and how cities can respond. It invites debate on key issues viz. technological vs. nature-based, top-down vs. grassroots approaches. Focus areas include climate-smart renovation and construction, business model in accelerating climate adoptive renovation, energy resilience through renewables and passive design, and adaptive urban design that blends innovation, nature, and community participation to build sustainable, future-ready cities.

Theme 3 — Circularity of the built environment

Thematic chair: Katarina Ruppar-Gadd

Circularity of the built environment refers to a fundamental transformation of how buildings, cities, and infrastructure are designed, constructed, used, and repurposed. Moving away from the traditional “take-make-waste-dispose”, it priorities closed-loop systems, emphasising resource efficiency, design for disassembly, and recycled materials to cut embodied carbon and reduce resource depletion across the life cycle.

Circularity also promotes adaptive reuse and sufficiency, minimising new construction and respecting planetary boundaries. It calls for rethinking business models, building regulations, and stakeholder roles to drive innovation in how assets are valued, managed, and transformed.

This session explores how to optimise the built environment to align with the EU circular economy taxonomy, thereby minimising waste and mitigating environmental impacts. Topics include innovative design, material reuse, waste reduction strategies, and policy or business models that enable circularity.

Keynote speakers

Title:Building the future: towards low-carbon and resilient buildings and cities

Speaker: Dr. Alessio Mastrucci

Abstract:

Buildings are essential to human activities and well-being and form a critical part of the built environment. At the same time, their energy and material use makes them a major source of greenhouse gas emissions and environmental impacts. As urbanization advances worldwide, buildings and the broader built environment are at the forefront of efforts to transform cities into low-carbon, climate-resilient, and inclusive places. Technological, infrastructural, and socio-behavioural innovations are crucial for enhancing the services buildings provide while reducing energy and material demands and supporting climate and sustainable development goals.

This presentation provides an overview of the key challenges and opportunities for sustainable building transitions across the world. Drawing on recent scenario analyses, it explores the potential of demand-side strategies to decarbonize the building sector, strengthen climate resilience, reduce resource use through circular economy approaches, and enhance human well-being.

Bio:

Alessio Mastrucci is a Senior Research Scholar associated with the Energy, Climate, and Environment (ECE) Program at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) in Laxenburg, Austria. His research focuses on energy and material demand modeling for the building sector at global and regional scales, climate change mitigation and adaptation scenarios, and linkages between energy and human development. He is coordinator of the theme “Sustainable buildings” at IIASA and co-lead of the Buildings working group of the international Energy Demand changes Induced by Technological and Social innovations (EDITS) project. Mastrucci holds a PhD in Buildings, Architecture, and Structures and a master's degree in Building Engineering and Architecture from Università Politecnica delle Marche, Italy.

Key dates

Abstract Submission open: December 4, 2025
Deadline for abstract submission: January 19, 2026
Notification of acceptance: January 23, 2026
Last date of registration: January 23, 2026
Conference dates: February 11-12, 2026

Link to Abstract/template

Extended abstracts should include the essential components: introduction or purpose, methodology, key findings, and discussion.

The total length should typically range between 800 and 1,500 words.

The conference language is English, and abstracts will be selected through a review process.

The submission of abstracts is now closed.

Last day for abstract was January 7, 2026.

Use this manual - abstract template - poster template

Download the preliminary agenda/program

Agenda/program SBEET2026

Link to Registration and Conference fee

Staff at Linnaeus university: Free

Students at Linnaeus university: Free (participation without refreshments, lunch, and dinner)

Students: 50% discount

Other attendees: 2000 SEK

Partners of CEE, CTB, FBB, STaDRenDHeat, Adapt, CSR, BalticBeat, DecarbonDHS, Free

Link to the registration: https://axacoair.se/go?FIJHI7Sn

Registration is open until January 28, 2026

Partnering Projects

Conference chair

Krushna Mahapatra Professor, head of department
- +46 470-76 78 13
- +46 72-243 58 63
- krushnamahapatralnuse

Travel and Weather

Travel

There are a number of different ways to travel to Växjö. You can either take the train to Växjö Central station or travel by air to Växjö Småland Airport. Train travel is most convenient and environmentally friendly.

By air

Växjö Småland Airport has limited direct international flights. The nearest big international airports are in Stockholm, Gothenburg or Copenhagen (Denmark). You can take a flight from Stockholm Bromma airport to Växjö Småland airport.

Please note that no matter which route you choose, you need to check with your airline about corona specific restrictions for their flights - we know that this may vary from airline to airline!

By train

Travelling by train from Stockholm Central station to Växjö station (must change train at Alvesta station) takes roughly 3.5 hours. There are direct trains and buses from Stockholm Arland airport to Stockholm central station.

Direct train from Gothenburg city to Växjö station takes about 3 hrs. There are airport buses from Gothenburg airport to Gothenburg station.

The most convenient way to reach Växjö is to take a flight to Copenhagen Airport/Kastrup and connecting direct train to Växjö Central (roughly 2.5 hours, usually every hour).

You can find a complete schedule for trains from the above mentioned airports to and from Växjö at www.sj.se

From one point to another within the City of Växjö

Transportation from Växjö Central or Växjö Småland Airport to Linnaeus University can be done either bus or taxi.

By bus

If you choose to reach Linnaeus University by bus from Växjö Central Station, bus #3 (Universitetet), is the best option (direct transportation). However, there are additional bus routes with stops at close distance for the campus. Buses #1 and #5 (you can take them from Stortorget bus station, only a few meters walk from the Central Station) can transfer you to the bus stop "Teleborg Centrum", some 8-10 minutes walk. from the university’s campus.

Bus number 4 will take you from Växjö Småland Airport to Växjö Central where you can change to bus to get to Linnaeus University.

Bus tickets are purchased either on the bus or you can download the travel app “Länstrafiken Kronoberg” (available to Google and Apple stores) and purchase your ticket. Using the app which will provide you with a 10% discount on your ticket. You can use your debit card to pay in the app.

Perform a search on Länstrafiken Kronoberg

By bike

In case you prefer a bicycle, many hotels in the city offer the opportunity to rent one. The city of Växjö has a well developed network of bicycle roads, and it takes roughly 20 minutes from the city centre to Linnaeus University’s campus.

By taxi

For those preferring to come to the campus by TAXI there is a variety of options to choose from. You can book a TAXI from the following companies

Taxi Kurir (Tel: 0470 - 16 000)
YC Taxi (Tel: 0470 - 111 811)
Växjö Taxi (0470 - 135 00)
Växjö City Taxi (Tel: 0470 - 616 66)

If you do not want to book a Taxi but still travel with one, you can find available Taxis parked at Södra Bantorget (by the World Trade Center)

By car

There is a relative shortage of parking spaces on campus and all are subject to a charge. Parking spaces are marked on the map below.

Map of Linnaeus University in Växjö

Weather

The conference is held in February, when it might be cold and below freezing, and even snow in Växjö. Therefore, participants are advised to have appropriate clothing.

Accommodation Växjö

If you need of hotel room during your stay in Växjö, we recommend that you contact one of the hotels/hostels below to make a reservation.

Elite Stadshotellet
Kungsgatan 6, Box 198
352 33 Växjö
Book by email: reservation.vaxjo@elite.se
or by phone: +46 470 – 134 00
Website: Elite Stadshotellet

Elite Park Hotel
Västra Esplanaden 10
352 31 Växjö
Book by email: reservation.vaxjo@elite.se
or by phone: +46 470 – 70 22 00
Website: Elite Park Hotel

Clarion Collection Hotel Cardinal
Bäckgatan 10
352 30 Växjö
Book by email: cc.cardinal@choice.se
or by phone: +46 470 – 72 28 00
Website: Clarion Collection Hotel Cardinal

Quality Hotel Royal Corner
Liedbergsgatan 11
352 32 Växjö
Book by email: q.royalcorner@choice.se
or by phone: +46 470 – 70 10 00
Website: Quality Hotel Royal Corner

Teleborgs Slott
Slottsallén
351 96 Växjö
Book by email: info@teleborgsslott.com
or by phone: +46 470 – 34 89 80
Website: Teleborgs Slott

Hotel PM & Vänner
Västergatan 10
352 31 Växjö
Book by email: reservations@pmhotel.se
or by phone: +46 470 – 75 97 00
Website: Hotel PM & Vänner

Hotel Esplanad
Norra Esplanaden 21 A
352 31, Växjö
Book by email info@hotelesplanad.com
or by phone: +46 470 – 70 22 00
Website: Hotel Esplanad

Hotel Värend
Kungsgatan 27
352 33, Växjö
Book by email: info@hotellvarend.se
or by phone: +46 470 – 77 67 00
Website: Hotel Värend

Hotel Scandic
Hejaregatan 19
352 46 Växjö
Book by email: vaxjo@scandichotels.com
or by phone: +46 470 - 73 60 00
Website: Hotel Scandic

Öjaby Herrgård
Öjabyvägen 113
352 50 Växjö
Book by email: info@ojabyherrgard.se
or by phone: +46 470 – 70 16 20
Website: Öjaby Herrgård

Are you looking for more affordable accommodations we suggest following hotels below:

Toftastrand Hotel & Konditori
Lenhovdavägen 72
352 71 Växjö
Book by email: hotell@villavik.seor by phone: +46 470 – 652 90
Website: Toftastrand Hotel & Konditori

Växjö Vandrarhem Evedal
L J Brandts väg 1
352 63 Växjö
Book by email: info@vaxjovandrarhem.se
or by phone: +46 470 – 630 70
Website: Växjö Vandrarhem Evedal

Skäraton
Väluddevägen 1
352 51 Växjö
Book by email: skaraton@skaraton.com or mattias@skaraton.com
or by phone: +46 70 378 00 95
Website: Skäraton

Bed and Breakfast Södra Lycke
Hagagatan 10
352 35 Växjö
You can book by a registration form via the website
or by phone: +46 70 676 65 06
Website: Bed and Breakfast Södra Lycke

About Linnaeus University and the city of Växjö

Teleborg Castle

Linnaeus University is a creative and international knowledge environment that promotes curiosity, creativity, companionship and utility. More than 44,000 students are registered at Linnaeus University.

Linnaeus University is located in Växjö and Kalmar and offers 150 degree programmes and 1,300 single-subject courses. Linnaeus University was established in 2010 through a merger between Växjö University and Kalmar University College.

With some 2,100 employees and 44,000 students it is a modern university with Småland as its base and the world as its arena. Studying and working at Linnaeus University involves being part of an environment that is characterised by knowledge and development. Students acquire new knowledge and learn to have a critical approach. Researchers make new discoveries that can bring change to our society. Employees share stories of a workplace with both challenges and opportunities. Linnaeus University is a university where people can reach their full potential.

Learn more about Linnaeus University

And Yes, it is true that Linnaeus University has a castle on campus! The castle of Teleborg is not as old as it looks but we are very pleased with the 'magic touch' it brings to campus Växjö.

Discover Växjö

You can easily take a bus (every 10 minutes) or walk (approx. 45 minutes) from Campus to the city centre - today Växjö is one of the fastest growing cities in all Sweden with a lot to see and experience.