Innovation for sustainable buildings: Energy efficiency as part of their full life-cycle

Thursday 21 March 2019, 10:00-11:30

Room JAN 6Q1, European Parliament, Brussels

Hosted by Maria Spyraki MEP

Co-Chair of the European Parliament Intergroup on ‘Climate Change, Biodiversity & Sustainable Development’

On 18 December 2018, the political negotiations on the ‘Clean Energy for All Europeans’ package were concluded, marking a major step towards completing the Energy Union. Specifically, one of the main outcomes was the adoption of a revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), which therefore serves as an important link with the European Commission’s preparations for its long-term vision for a climate neutral Europe by 2050.

Towards this direction, the European Commission has also recently published a framework for sustainable buildings, entitled Level(s). With its final version expected to be launched in spring 2020, Level(s) looks at the full life-cycle of buildings, while aiming to address their huge potential for emissions’ reductions, efficient and circular resource flows, as well as supporting the health and well-being of those they are built to serve.

With half of all extracted materials and energy, and one third of the total waste generated, the construction sector represents the greatest stake in the European Union’s efforts to make our economy circular. In addition, the Paris Agreement demands the building and construction sector to decarbonise globally by 2050, if we wish to avoid the catastrophic impacts of a +2 degree rise in temperature. As a result, the need to see beyond the use-phase of buildings towards their full life cycle (including extraction, manufacture, transport, construction and end of life) is more than crucial.

As it will be impossible to meet our climate and circular economy goals unless we address the total impact of the building and construction sector, research and innovation as well as sharing good practices have therefore a key role to play. As a result, this event brings together policy-makers, the private sector and NGOs to jointly discuss how buildings can be more sustainable, showcasing existing innovations and addressing potential opportunities and barriers in view of the existing EU policies.