The Affordable Housing Plan: Building Affordability through Efficiency

The European Commission’s Affordable Housing Plan rightfully acknowledges the role of energy-efficient buildings and energy renovations to ensure the long-term affordability of the EU’s housing. It highlights the potential of energy and water efficiency to lower utility bills, improve living conditions, and empower building owners and tenants across Europe.

The Affordable Housing Plan sends a strong signal that energy efficiency and building renovation are key pillars for affordability, quality of life, and the EU’s competitiveness. Its delivery needs to work in synergy with existing regulations and the next Multiannual Financial Framework. It will require new forms of cooperation between EU and national actors, as well as industry, finance, housing and construction professionals.

Céline Carré, President of Efficient Buildings Europe.

Efficient Buildings Europe now encourages the European Commission to deliver on the Affordable Housing Plan by:

• Ensuring a stable, long-term framework to facilitate planning and investments, through complete and timely implementation of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD).
• Supporting efficient buildings in the next MFF, through Cohesion policy, the new Competitiveness Fund and other instruments (EIB, LIFE, Just Transition Fund, etc.) and through the Pan-European Investment Platform for affordable and sustainable housing.
• Building strong cooperation with industry stakeholders within the European Housing Alliance.

Finally, our industry requires consistent, stable and long-term political and legislative backing to invest and deliver multiple benefits for citizens and businesses. Simplification initiatives must be limited to commonly agreed challenges, such as long permitting procedures or complex public procurement.

The efficient buildings Industry stands ready to work closely with the European Commission and stakeholders to deliver on the Plan’s objectives. We already have the technologies we need, let’s focus on accelerating delivery.

Adrian Joyce, Secretary-General of Efficient Buildings Europe.