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The Renovation Wave identifies 3 focus areas:

• Tackling energy poverty and worst-performing buildings
• Public buildings and social infrastructure
• Decarbonising heating and cooling

The Commission has proposed in the Climate Target Plan 2030 to cut net greenhouse gas
emissions in the EU by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990. Energy efficiency is an
essential component for action, with the building sector as one of the areas where efforts
must be ramped up. To achieve the 55% emission reduction target, by 2030 the EU should reduce
buildings’ greenhouse gas emissions by 60%, their final energy consumption by 14% and energy
consumption for heating and cooling by 18%. It is therefore urgent for the EU to focus on how to make
our buildings more energy-efficient, less carbon-intensive over their full life cycle and more
sustainable.

• More than 220 million building units, representing 85% of the EU’s building stock, were built
before 2001.
• 85-95% of the buildings that exist today will still be standing in 2050. Most of those existing
buildings are not energy efficient.
• Many rely on fossil fuels for heating and cooling and use old technologies and wasteful
appliances. Energy poverty remains a major challenge for millions of Europeans.
• Overall, buildings are responsible for about 40% of the EU’s total energy consumption, and for
36% of its greenhouse gas emissions from energy.
• By 2030 an additional 160000 green jobs could be created in the EU construction sector
through a renovation wave.

What does this imply in terms of application and environmental performance? In a nutshell,
buildings must cut greenhouse gas emissions. Moreover, they need to be propelled by
renewables (to the extent practicable), and fossil fuels are not used to generate carbon
emissions on-site. Energy Performance Certificates will be given for the complete emission cycle of
the property (including design, construction, and innovation). These measures will show you how

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This communication reflects the
views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the

information contained therein.
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