About: building renovation
Isolate Putin. Insulate homes.
As part of the plan to break away from Russian fossil fuels, due to be tabled on Wednesday (18 May), Europe needs new action on energy efficiency, energy savings and the renovation wave writes Ciarán Cuffe.
To get rid of Russian fossil fuels, the EU needs to put energy savings first
The biggest potential for massive energy savings lies in the decarbonisation of the EU building stock. But to be effective, measures must be accompanied by a strong EU policy and regulatory framework, write Monica Frassoni and Harry Verhaar.
How to go faster and further on building renovation to sever ties with Russia
Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has prompted the EU to start getting serious about its energy policy and cut its reliance on Russia. To do that, building renovation must be a priority in the EU's REPowerEU Action Plan, due in May, writes Adrian Joyce.
Time to get serious about energy efficiency
Rather than focus exclusively on alternative supplies to Russian energy imports, the EU can and should push for a radical improvement in energy efficiency with bolder policies on building renovation, argues Jessica Stromback.
The New European Bauhaus – bringing design to the green transition
As Europe looks to adapt to its green and digital future, there will be no one size fits all solution. Instead, projects like the New European Bauhaus should drive culture and design in a sustainable, accessible and fair way, writes Ciarán Cuffe.
Seizing the opportunity: three foundations for a smart and affordable building decarbonization
The conclusions of COP26 are clear: we have to speed up to keep the 1.5°C targets within reach. That is a priority of the new German government, the guiding principle for the EU Green Deal, and also for my company:...
EU countries told to set up ‘one-stop-shops’ to help homeowners renovate
In order to double the renovation rate of buildings, the European Commission has requested EU member states to provide technical assistance to homeowners by setting up one-stop-shops that will guide consumers throughout the renovation process.
EU confronted with lack of skilled labour to support building renovation wave
The EU’s push to improve energy efficiency in buildings and reduce the amount of fossil fuel they consume could create more than 160,000 jobs in the energy and heating sector by 2030, according to the European Commission.
EU warned against watering down climate ambition in buildings law
There are growing concerns that the European Commission is considering to water down a key piece of legislation that would drive emissions reductions in buildings ahead of its publication this week.
Policies to mitigate high energy prices should fast-track building renovation
It is troubling to see that buildings have been given a relatively small space in the overall strategy to combat rising energy prices, writes Oliver Rapf.
LEAK: Draft EU law introduces new standards to decarbonise buildings by 2050
A draft EU directive, due for publication on 14 December, introduces minimum energy performance standards for existing buildings undergoing major renovation works as part of a renewed push to achieve a zero-emission building stock by 2050.OpinionPromoted content
Deep Renovation: The New Normal
Some 50 million Europeans live in energy poverty. Even before recent record highs for energy prices shook Europe, politicians and citizens spent a lot of time thinking about renovating buildings
Community renovation projects are key to supporting the green transition
Both tenants and homeowners need to be involved in renovation programmes to bring Europe's ageing building stock in line with its climate goals. Energy cooperatives could be one way to encourage citizens' support, writes Ciarán Cuffe.
How the European Central Bank can unleash the building renovation wave
Trillions is needed for the deep building renovations required to meet Europe's climate targets. To make this happen, EU institutions need to use the network of banks across Europe and incentivise loans for home renovation, argue finance campaigners.
Europe needs to speed up on climate action
Europe's recent push to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions is desperately needed, but it is happening too slowly, with many key measures laid out in the Fit for 55 climate package not coming into force until the 2030s, writes Michael Bloss. InfographicPromoted content
EU Taxonomy: The case of listed real estate
Renovations have a much greater climate mitigation potential than new constructions. Discover why we must look at a building’s whole life cycle and embodied carbon if we want to align the built environment with the EU’s climate objectives.
Achieving climate neutrality will depend on how we decarbonise our building stock
Effiecient, technological and smarter buildings should be the cornerstone of Europe's decarbonisation, but more effort needs to go towards renovating the bloc's current building stock, writes Seán Kelly.OpinionPromoted content
Our renovation dream needs a reality check
I’ve been involved with the renovation of buildings for more than a decade. I’ve campaigned for policies to put renovation at the top of public agendas and I’ve worked on hundreds of retrofit sites across Europe. Barry Lynham is Managing...OpinionPromoted content
Fit for 55 with healthy buildings
Indoor environmental quality has major impact on our health and wellbeing. The EPBD revision will boost building energy renovation at a massive scale. We show why and how the EPBD should better tackle IEQ and how REHVA promotes healthy buildings.
Carbon pricing in buildings and transport is necessary but must be done well
Without pricing CO2 emissions from buildings and transport, Europe will miss its -55% emissions target, but it must be introduced bearing in mind the political and societal risks, particularly in countries like Poland, writes Joanna Maćkowiak-Pandera.
Carbon pricing in buildings? Help renovate and fuel-switch to renewables first
Including buildings in an emissions trading scheme will have a limited impact on emissions. The EU must also focus on an ambitious revision of the energy performance of buildings directive to ensure that emissions are sufficiently decreased, writes Monica Frassoni.
Climate legislation overhaul opens door to geothermal, but not wide enough
The recent overhaul of European climate legislation to slash greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030 is a good first step towards supporting geothermal energy, but goes little further, according to a former Bulgarian environment minister.
Tackling energy poverty is a non-negotiable part of the green transition
Europe's new climate legislation must focus on renovating its inefficient buildings and lifting millions of people out of energy poverty, but that is only possible if the EU works together with local governments, writes Emil Boc.