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The crucial role of education in achieving sustainable development was already stressed at the UN Conference on Environment and Development, held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 and twenty years later at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development, ‘Rio+20’ in 2012.

Ciarán Cuffe, a former Irish minister now turned MEP, has urged the European Commission to take a locally integrated approach to building efficiency, saying it will be “critical” to the success of the upcoming renovation wave announced as part of the European Green Deal.

In the COVID-19 aftermath, making our buildings energy efficient is key to reconcile Europe’s climate objectives with rapid economic recovery. To get this done we need an ambitious policy roadmap at EU level, write Bertrand Deprez and Mohammed Chahim.

Government infighting in Berlin could see Germany abandon a mandatory renovation principle in the EU's buildings directive ahead of final negotiations in Brussels.

POWERSKIN+ Project partners at Instituto Pedro Nunes and Brunel University London have recently published a research article "Formulation and phase change mechanism of Capric acid/Octadecanol binary composite phase change materials" in the Energy Journal.  

The past three years have been marked by unprecedented shocks and stresses for the European community. Both the devastating pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine have put our homes in the spotlight: the importance of energy efficient homes to protect vulnerable groups from energy price shocks and to provide healthy as well as comfortable living environments has never been more evident.

When the European Commission unveiled its proposed €750 billion recovery fund two weeks ago, green activists were expecting a detailed spending programme, with billions of euros allocated to clean mobility, renewables, and an upcoming EU-wide building renovation wave.

Companies offering energy performance contracts to municipalities saw only moderate growth last year, despite a renewed push at EU level to boost energy savings and building renovation.

The European Commission launched a renovation wave and a “new European Bauhaus” on Wednesday (14 October), aiming to rally popular support behind plans to cut emissions from buildings and reduce energy bills.

To achieve climate neutrality by 2050, the question of renovating buildings to be more energy-efficient is of crucial importance. More than ever before, it is the subject of debate on both sides of the Rhine. EURACTIV France and Germany report.

Planet-warming carbon dioxide emissions from buildings and construction are jeopardising global goals to keep devastating climate change at bay, a UN-backed coalition warned on Wednesday (16 December), after data showed they hit an all-time high in 2019.

A coalition of 33 business and civil society groups have urged the European Commission to prioritise renewables and energy efficiency over hydrogen as part of Europe’s efforts to decarbonise buildings.

Only five EU member states have submitted long-term renovation strategies that were due last month under the revised energy performance of buildings directive: Belgium, Denmark, Finland, The Netherlands and Sweden.

To weather the COVID-19 crisis, Europe’s energy poor urgently need a green bailout – providing decent, zero-carbon homes for all, writes Clémence Hutin.

The liberal FDP party (Renew) has renewed its call for a higher carbon surcharge on fossil fuels at a party convention this weekend to stop a proposed ban on new gas and oil boilers as of 2024. Last week, the...

Air-source heat pumps can help to halve the carbon emissions compared to gas-fired heating systems. Nevertheless, the uptake of air-source heat pumps in the UK is the lowest in Europe. Why?  

THe PLURAL M30 General Assembly meeting was hel in Barcelona, Spain.   The meeting was kicked off by the host ITeC - Institut de Tecnologia de la Construcció de Catalunya and Project Adviser Susana Xará. The first day of the meeting was packed with informative presentations and productive discussions among the partners.  

By supporting green buildings, the European Commission can simultaneously cut down energy bills and greenhouse gas emissions while improving comfort and health, and supporting Europe’s 18 million construction workers, writes Peter Sweatman.

Lack of trust and information about energy performance contracts are the most frequently cited reasons why some municipalities have become sceptical about energy service companies (ESCOs). In the future, greater standardisation should help overcome issues, says Nick Keegan.

Renovating a country’s buildings and homes represents a massive opportunity for sustainable economic recovery, health, well-being, and CO2 reduction, writes Oliver Rapf.

Now is the time for member states to renovate buildings and make them energy efficient, the EU's climate chief Frans Timmermans said today (27 October), despite a lack of clarity on minimum requirements at EU level, which won’t be introduced until next year.

Europe needs a “complete overhaul” of its buildings to meet a higher 2030 emissions reduction target, according to new research published today (3 December).

If it enshrines into its upcoming climate bill mandatory building renovation, France will answer the Citizens’ Convention on Climate’s call for better homes and contribute significantly to the EU’s 55% emission reduction target by 2030, writes Etienne Charbit.

Thirty million Europeans – the equivalent of Hungary, Austria and the Czech Republic's populations combined – were unable to adequately heat their homes in 2019, according to a new report from the Jacques Delors Institute.