For immediate release
BRUSSELS, Belgium, 14 April 2020 | BPIE – The Buildings Performance Institute Europe, has released its latest publication, “An Action Plan for the renovation wave: collectively achieving sustainable buildings in Europe.” The publication sets forth a strategy to deliver climate-neutrality for Europe’s buildings by 2050 while supporting economic recovery post Covid-19. The “renovation wave” for buildings was first proposed by the European Commission’s Communication on the European Green Deal in December 2019.
BPIE’s Action Plan provides evidence-based recommendations for all actors across the value chain of the building sector, including: EU institutions, Member States and local authorities, market actors such as retail and commercial banks, institutional investors, building designers, architects and engineers, manufacturers of building materials and technologies, construction companies (multinationals and SMEs), real estate developers, suppliers of electricity and fuels, and building and home owners.
“As we are confronted by the Corona crisis it is time to consider combined responses to our biggest challenges. We can address climate change and support the economic recovery at the same time, e.g. by getting serious about launching a renovation wave. This would be a collective effort which creates better living conditions for all,” says Oliver Rapf, Executive Director of BPIE. “While policy-makers have a decisive responsibility in leading the transformation of the building sector, everyone has a role to play. Actions across sectors must be aligned, working towards a united vision.”
Rapf continues, “we are anticipating a complete transformation. Not in the form of a shock but as a well-prepared integrative process: construction and renovation practices, the way buildings are integrated with power and heat networks, strategies to make buildings resilient to the impacts of climate change, the use of digital technologies, how renovations are financed and many other practices will need to evolve compared to today’s standards.”
The European Commission is expected to deliver a detailed “renovation wave” strategy by the third quarter of 2020. The building sector represents significant potential for economic growth, CO2 emissions reductions, and improved quality of life. It is responsible for 40% of Europe’s energy demand and 36% of CO2 emissions.
Read the Action Plan Download the Infographic 