Although various timber buildings have been built globally but the industry is still in its infancy. There are still many challenges to overcome in order to improve the uptake of mass timber in the construction industry. This initiative aims to improve the perception of mass timber in the Milanese, Italian and EU context through collective learning and a strategic communication strategy involving key stakeholder groups, the so-called ‘Big Six’: developers, investors, cities, designers, insurers, and assets owners.

As a joint effort of Perception of Timber at MIND project led by Climate-KIC and Lendlease, supported by Built by Nature, the report illustrates the Timber Perception Lab, an initiative that aims to promote the use of mass timber construction in Italy, and it outlines the next steps and goals for the second year of the initiative, such as expanding the network, scaling up the prototype, and influencing policies and regulations.

Read the full Report Here.

Although access to electricity and the use of clean fuels for cooking, heating and lighting is widespread in the UNECE region – and deployment of renewable energy had been increasing and energy efficiency had also been improving – the rate of progress has not been high enough to make the energy targets of Sustainable Development Goal 7 (affordable and clean energy) achievable. An acceleration of effort is therefore critical to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.

This report highlights the gap between actual progress and what is required to achieve SDG7 targets. Closing the gap requires integrated thinking by energy system actors, coupled with enabling policy frameworks and good governance. It also requires increased cooperation and financing 

The report is part of a series of policy briefs compiled by the multi-stakeholder SDG7 Technical Advisory Group (SDG7 TAG) in support of the review of SDG7 at the High-level Political Forum (HLPF) 2023.

Each year, FIEC publishes its Statistical Report, which gives an insight into construction activity and demonstrates its significance for the economy as a whole.

The report analyses 22 countries individually, as well as the European Union as a whole on the basis of the following elements:

• General overview (general economic situation, general economic policy, public policies in relation to the construction industry);
• Investment in total construction, new housebuilding, renovation and maintenance of residential buildings, non-residential building and civil-engineering;
• Employment in construction and its share in overall EU employment;
• Building permits.

For the first time, the report also provides an overview of the evolution of prices for certain construction products. The texts and data contained within the report are drawn up on the basis of the national reports provided by the FIEC Member Federations.

Find the report here

European buildings represent 40% of final energy consumption and 36% of GHG emissions related to energy, making them a priority axis for decarbonisation. For the EU, it is urgent to reduce buildings’ energy consumption, especially since 75% of existing buildings are reportedly energy inefficient (i.e. EPC band C or lower according to the SFDR) and require energy renovation work. To act on these issues, one of the main regulatory levers available to the EU is the Energy Performance Building Directive (EPBD). This directive requires EU countries to ensure that by the end of 2020, all newbuilds are nearly zero energy buildings (NZEB). This EU standard relies on two main pillars: a strong energy performance and the local production of renewable energy.

Read the study here

Heat pumps may have a crucial role in the decarbonisation of the building stock in the EU, the uptake of renewable heating and the reduction of our dependency on fossil fuel imports for heating. Heat pumps can support EU decarbonisation efforts to phase out fossil fuels and promote low-temperature district heating systems.

To realise their full potential, it is important to understand if residential EU buildings are fit for heat pump installation and deployment. Energy performance certificates (EPCs) have an important role in conveying this information, especially to building owners.
Commissioned by BEUC, this study:

• Defines an approach to measure the “heat pump readiness” of buildings, tested on 30 target buildings across the EU.
• Assesses how a break in heating supply may affect indoor temperature and comfort period in target buildings.
• Proposes the heat pump readiness indicator (HPRI) and ways to include it in national EPCs, including a list of policy recommendations.
• Assumes an air-water heat-pump as the reference heat pump, with a space heating capacity of 15 W per m2 of the building floor area (defined for an outside temperature of 0°C) and supplying hot water at a temperature of 45°C.

Download the report here

Commissioned by Greenpeace Central and Eastern Europe, the study demonstrates how the budgets devoted to fossil fuel-related infrastructures and supply in different countries (Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia) could be utilised to achieve energy efficiency improvements through the implementation of different policy measures, including ones suggesting the utilisation of renewable energy sources, specifically focused on space heating. Therefore, four scenarios on demand side investments were delineated, in addition to the baseline scenario where an improvement of existing fossil fuel boilers was considered.

The purpose of this study is to examine, through simulating different policy measures, the implementation of the Energy Efficiency First principle in practice when comparing supply side to demand side energy investments in fossil fuels, with a particular focus on fossil gas investments.

Download the study here

Minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) can effectively accelerate deep energy renovation, spur innovation and construction, create demand for renovation services, and provide certainty to market players across the value chain.

This paper by BPIE explains how MEPS can be implemented effectively while remaining socially just, using a differentiated approach that carefully follows a series of design principles.

Download the paper here.

The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) is entering the last phase of the EU legislative process with the start of trialogue negotiations between the Council and Parliament. Against this backdrop, this briefing by BPIE provides an overview of where institutions stand at the start of the process and highlights where there is still room for improvement.

Download the briefing here.

About 90% of homes in the Netherlands depending on natural gas for heating, the Netherlands has made a commitment to phase out natural gas by 2050. To achieve the goal, the Netherlands has rolled out a natural gas-free pilot programme in 66 neighbourhoods. These neighbourhood pilot projects enabled municipalities to learn what it takes to start energy transition.

Based on a city survey carried out across 26 local governments, key findings from this report call on national and local governments joining up their efforts to take place-based measures.

This paper is the first case study applying the policy framework presented in the OECD report Decarbonising Buildings in Cities and Regions published in March 2022. The present case study provides a deep dive into the Netherlands’ experience to demonstrate the potential of cities and regions to advance the decarbonisation of buildings.

Read the paper here.

This briefing by the European Environment Agency explores the nexus between climate change adaptation and mitigation, and the health and social justice aspects of cooling Europe’s buildings. It focuses specifically on residential buildings. The briefing is based on a literature review by Ramboll commissioned by the EEA, discussions held with members of the European Environment Information and Observation Network (Eionet), input from individual experts and information from other EEA publications.

Read the briefing here