The Renovation Wave Initiative is a priority one under the ,European Green Deal‘ and the recovery plan (“Next Generation EU”) for the EU, aimed at increasing the rate and quality of renovation of existing buildings and thereby help decarbonize the building stock to achieve the ambitious goal of carbon-neutrality by 2050. Have a look at the Communication of the EU Commission on the Renovation Wave. (PDF: English / French / German)

Why is a Affordable Housing Initiative needed?

  1. The EU has to meet the urrently, buildings in the EU are responsible for 40% of our energy consumption and 36% of greenhouse gas emissions, which mainly stem from construction, usage, renovation and demolition
  2. Roughly, 75% of the building stock is energy inefficient, yet almost 80% of today’s buildings will still be in use in 2050. In average, less than 1% of the national building stock is renovated each year. (Member State rates vary from 0.4% to 1.2%.) In order to meet our climate and energy objectives, the current rates of renovations should at least double.
  3. The EU is an essential opportunity for economic growth as it provides jobs and boosts the construction sector, which is largely dominated by local businesses.

100 lighthouse renovation districts

The Commission will launch the Affordable Housing Initiative (English version, p.23). It will pilot 100 lighthouse renovation districts in a smart neighbourhood approach and provide blueprints for replication, setting liveability and latest innovations at the forefront. It will mobilise cross-sectoral project partnerships linking them to local actors, including from the social economy, to promote efficient, circular and modular processes, social engagement models to empower residents, inclusive and accesible developments and cultural innovation.

“European Bauhaus” proposed

Commission President Von der Leyen proposed to set up a new European Bauhaus as a co-creation space to provide a distinct aesthetic in building renovations that matches style with sustainability. She said the renovation wave “is not just an environmental or economic project: it needs to be a new cultural project for Europe. Every movement has its own look and feel. And we need to give our systemic change its own distinct aesthetic – to match style with sustainability.”

Further information

The roadmap of the renovation wave is described on the website of the EU commission. The responsible organization unit in the EU Commission is DG ENER C4.

Renovation Wave

Energy Efficient Buildings

Recovery package: Europe’s moment: Repair and prepare for the next generation

Communication on Next Generation EU

References