HOTREC position on Renovation Wave for Europe

HOTREC Position on Renovation Wave for Europe

– greening our buildings, creating jobs, improving lives (COM (2020)662 final).

By and large, in order to reach the EU 2030 Climate Target Plan of decreasing at least 55% of net greenhouse emissions by 2030 compared to 1990 and the 2050 neutrality objective, an increase in the ambition for energy efficiency is necessary and, therefore, existing legislation on buildings should be revised.

In fact, it is to take into account that buildings are responsible for 40% of total energy consumption and 36% of energy-related greenhouse gas emissions in the EU. And that 75% of the buildings in the EU is energy inefficient according to current building standards.

In this sense, HOTREC considers the following principles/actions key to boosting building renovation for climate neutrality and recovery:

1. Defend the principle of “Energy efficiency first”.
2. Universal standards should not be a one size fits all solution and national circumstances must be taken into account.
3. A holistic approach is necessary to reach the principle of the circular economy; optimise digitalization; promote the decarbonisation of heating and colling supply.
4. Affordability and incentives are needed, in particular for SMEs.
5. Promoting the transparency principle without increasing red tape.
6. Promoting awareness-raising campaigns.
7. Developing skills and attracting new talents.