Towards More Energy-Efficient & Decarbonised Buildings
Buildings contribute to 36% of CO2 emissions in Europe, mainly from the energy used for heating, cooling, and running them. Reducing this operational energy use is essential for decarbonizing the building sector.
The European Green Deal and the “Renovation Wave” strategy target the deep renovation of buildings to meet climate goals. The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) 2024 revision presents an opportunity to enhance building standards, focusing on:
- Increasing renovation rates to lower energy consumption.
- Prioritizing deep renovations of the building envelope for effective thermal insulation.

- Expanding the use of Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) to guide energy-efficient upgrades.
- Involving accredited fire safety experts in renovation processes to ensure safe building designs.
Deep energy renovations not only reduce emissions but also improve building quality, health, comfort, and reduce energy poverty.
Europe must drastically upgrade its existing buildings to become energy-efficient by 2050. This transformation would improve property values, reduce energy bills, and create jobs. Additionally, improving fire safety during renovations ensures long-term structural safety and building compliance.

Climate Solutions - A cost-effective analysis
Thinking ahead for Europe
Founded in Brussels in 1983, CEPS is a leading think tank and forum for debate on EU affairs, with an exceptionally strong in-house research capacity and an extensive network of partner institutes throughout the world.
Under the 2024 revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), Member States must ‘establish renovation strategies to reach a highly energy efficient and decarbonised building stock by 2050’.
Furthermore, the legislation emphasises the paramount importance of addressing the building envelope.
Without high-performing insulation products, such as polymer insulation foams such as EPS, XPS, PIR etc., it will be impossible to reach this 2050 objective derived from “The Paris Agreement” COP21.
The Paris Agreement is a legally binding international treaty on climate change. It was adopted by 196 Parties at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris, France, on 12 December 2015. It entered into force on 4 November 2016.
Its overarching goal is to hold “the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels” and pursue efforts “to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.”