Towards an EU Agenda for Low-carbon Buildings
High-Level Seminar
In her Political Guidelines, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has proposed a European Affordable Housing Plan. New and innovative housing can contribute, for example, by reducing the need for heating and cooling through innovative materials, better design and planning, and re-using and recycling materials as a tool for carbon storage and a localized component of the energy system.
Workshop on Showcases
The built environment will be one of the priorities on the agenda of the new Commission. Following the focus on operational carbon, i.e., the carbon emitted during use, attention has now shifted to the so-called grey carbon, i.e., the carbon emitted during the construction phase. This requires a focus on materials, including low-carbon materials, but also re-use and recycling, and a life cycle perspective.
All elements of a building’s entire value chain, from primary materials to thermal and other functionalities, have the potential to lower emissions. Focusing on the concept of quarters or areas offers further reduction potentials.
