Competitiveness, jobs and growth

Under the EPBD, mechanisms like minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) for non-residential buildings and national renovation trajectories for residential buildings will drive a sustained increase in renovation activity across Europe.

As demand for energy efficiency solutions grows, markets scale and societal and economic benefits compound:

•       Innovation accelerates as competition intensifies
•       Production capacity expands, creating more jobs
•       Regional economies grow, providing much needed stimulus locally

Now is the moment to turn this opportunity into a European success story. Full and ambitious implementation of the EPBD — backed by credible national renovation plans, reliable financing and the skills to deliver — can unlock sustained investment in renovation and the industries that enable it. The payoff is clear: stronger local economies, more skilled jobs and better buildings that last.

Lasting benefits start with better materials

Renovation at scale is essential — but the real payoff depends on how we renovate. Constructed and renovated well, buildings can contribute to improving our health, wellbeing and productivity; reducing energy waste and costs; and strengthening local economies. Getting renovation right for the long-term entails using building materials that are durable, recyclable, and non-combustible, materials that will last for generations and can be recycled at end of their useful life. We have an opportunity to create a new generation of energy efficient, acoustically comfortable, aesthetically pleasing and fire-safe buildings – our homes, workplaces, schools, care facilities, and so much more. We need to get it right.