There is an idea circulating in some media and social networks that the European Union will ban the sale or rental of homes with the lowest energy labels (E, F and G) from certain dates, such as 2030 or 2033. This information is erroneous. In reality, the European Energy Performance of Buildings Directive does not […]
How does self-healing concrete work?
EU policies are increasingly geared towards a more circular economy, driven by more sustainable materials, technologies, practices and behaviour. Efforts to decrease needless waste often cite the ‘five Rs’ – refuse, reduce, reuse (or repair), repurpose and recycle – as a means to achieve this. Currently, fixing damage or deterioration to physical infrastructure, such as […]
LIFE: Integrated Home Renovation Services
Objective Building refurbishment can be particularly cumbersome in private housing and there are many barriers discouraging homeowners from taking the investment decision. Notably, the market offer for building renovation in the private residential sector is fragmented, composed of a myriad of micro and small companies, and mostly uncoordinated. Based on good practices and successful models […]
Circularity can enhance greenhouse gas emission savings when renovating Europe’s buildings
Building renovation is a key contributor to improving energy efficiency and to achieving a climate neutral European Union (EU) by 2050. A European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing investigates how circular economy principles can enhance the benefits of building renovation. It finds that, through 2050, circularity can significantly reduce the use of materials and contribute significant […]
LIFE: Towards a zero-emission building stock: strengthening the enabling framework for deep renovation
Objective The building sector is responsible for more than one third of the EU’s energy-related greenhouse gas emissions. The Renovation Wave Strategy has set the goal of at least doubling the annual energy renovation rate of buildings by 2030 and to increase the level of energy savings delivered by building renovations, in particular by fostering deep […]
Building urban resilience to climate change
Cities are expected to bear the brunt of climate change and face increases in the intensity and occurrence of heatwaves, heavy rain, floods and other extreme weather events. EU researchers have developed groundbreaking solutions to deal with these disaster scenarios. It is estimated that around 66 % of the world population will be living in […]