Op-ed: An ambitious vision and strong EPBD implementation to kickstart the Renovation Wave

By Bianca Wong, Global Head of Sustainability at Kingspan, EuroACE Board Member. Written on the 10th anniversary of the publication of EPBD II.

As we look to rapidly rebuild our economy and address the greatest environmental challenges of our time, we must fully utilise and accelerate the existing mechanisms, such as the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, to unleash the multiple economic, social and environmental benefits of building renovation.

The revised EPBD has set a clear direction for the full decarbonisation of Europe’s building stock by 2050, using mechanisms including national long-term renovation strategies, the smart readiness indicator and building renovation passports. But despite the enormous potential benefits, the renovation rate is stagnant at around 1% a year, and only six countries and one region had submitted their renovation strategies by the deadline.

An ambitious EU renovation programme up to 2050 will provide policy certainty and a clear signal to investors and industry, just as EPBD II did exactly 10 years ago when it set the goal of every new building being nearly zero-energy by 2020.