After the COVID pandemic, we witnessed a spike in energy prices and major disruptions in energy prices. In this way, the regulatory and technical achievements of European construction policies are increasingly known worldwide.
We developed the first-ever Buildings Climate Tracker (BCT) which tracks
We fostered climate diplomacy between the EU and several non-EU countries
Working with national governments and the European Commission, we brought
ACCELERATING
RENOVATION EFFORTS ON THE GROUND
COLLABORATING WITH
EUROPE
We led the development of numerous practical tools used to facilitate data
These include an EU Digital Building Logbook to support renovation decisions,
We worked closely with members of the retail real estate industry to
Ongoing H2020 projects such as BuiltHUB, e-SAFE and ComACT
OUR IMPACT
About BPIE
AN ACTION-ORIENTED THINK-TANK WHY BUILDINGS?
CELEBRATING OUR FIRST DECADE
AN ACTION-ORIENTED THINK-TANK
ABOUT BPIE
OUR MISSION IS TO MAKE AN AFFORDABLE, CARBON-NEUTRAL BUILT ENVIRONMENT A REALITY
IN EUROPE AND THE WORLD
We strive to establish healthy,
We aim at being the leading source of
We are an active leader in the
We choose our funding streams according to
We are not funded by members, and we
WITH FOSSIL
CONTRIBUTING
OF THIS ENERGY
WHY BUILDINGS?
GLOBAL SCALE, BUILDINGS
OF ENERGY- RELATED
OF FINAL ENERGY
OF ALL CERTIFIED RESIDENTIAL
PERFORMANCE CLASS LOWER
BPIE’S ANALYSIS OF NATIONAL REGISTRIES
PERFORMANCE
CERTIFICATE SCHEMES FOUND THAT
THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT IS THE BEATING HEART OF OUR SOCIETIES AND THE FOUNDATION OF ALL ECONOMIC ACTIVITY
The built environment is the heartbeat of our societies and the foundation of all economic activity and represents the world's largest asset class.1 The last two years have shown how important buildings are and that we must without a doubt prioritize a complete transformation of the sector. . When 'embedded emissions' in building materials are taken into account, the global share rises to 39%.2 BPIE's analysis of national registers of energy performance schemes found that 97% of all certified residential buildings are in an efficiency class below A.
Provide everybody with healthy, efficient
But the idea of decarbonizing the buildings where we live, work, play, and decarbonizing the buildings where we live, work, play, and learn is daunting. In Europe alone, buildings consume 40% of final energy consumption, with fossil fuels contributing 80% of energy.
Be resilient, so it can withstand energy
THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT
SHOULD
However, the country currently has a huge environmental footprint, which is not decreasing at the rate needed to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement.3 In fact, we could argue that the built environment is responsible for nearly 50% of global emissions. the EU, if we combine the results arising from the use of buildings (operational) and those from the materials and processes involved in their construction and demolition (embedded). To achieve a sustainable built environment, we must focus primarily on increasing efficiency on the demand side (by minimizing the energy demand of buildings in terms of heating, cooling, lighting, etc.) while decarbonise the energy supply.
THE CHALLENGE IS GREAT, BUT SO IS
Energy demand and energy supply must go hand in hand: this will maximize synergies and optimize overall energy system use.
THE OPPORTUNITY
DECARBONISATION CAN ONLY WORK IF WE ARE PREPARED TO VENTURE INTO UNKNOWN
TERRITORY AND SHIFT PARADIGMS
BPIE EXISTS
TO HELP TO NAVIGATE THIS JOURNEY
2020–2021 CELEBRATING OUR FIRST DECADE
CHANGING
BUILDING POLICY
MAKING BUILDINGS A PRIORITY IN UNCERTAIN TIMES SUPPORTING POLICYMAKERS SO THEY CAN TAKE EFFECTIVE ACTION
We have worked – against the backdrop of the COVID-19 crisis and the rising fuel prices caused by increasing geopolitical
Building renovation is a
It can be used to trigger change where it is needed most
CHANGING BUILDING POLICY FOR THE BETTER
The EU launched the Recovery and
October 2020
The European Commission published its RENOVATION WAVE STRATEGY
At the same time, the IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report in
The extreme weather conditions we our facing across the globe
AT THE HEART OF THIS RECOVERY EFFORT IS EUROPE’S GROWTH STRATEGY,
THE EUROPEAN GREEN DEAL
Double renovation rates over the next 10 years
Enhance the quality of life Reduce Europe’s
GHG emissions Foster digitalisation
35 million
Green jobs could be created in the construction sector
ACHIEVING HEALTHY, CARBON-NEUTRAL BUILDINGS HAS NEVER BEEN MORE RELEVANT
The chief focus of our work during 2020–2021 was to ensure that political responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, including Europe’s recovery plans and priority setting methods (such as the EU Green Deal and the Renovation Wave), concentrated on
MAKING BUILDINGS A PRIORITY IN UNCERTAIN TIMES
Policy makers in the European Commission, responsible for planning building policy, used it as a guide. Our research showed that for every million euros invested in the energy renovation of buildings, an average of 18 local, long-term jobs are created in the EU.
Knowing that the Renovation Wave would remain a priority, BPIE responded immediately by creating an Action Plan on the Renovation Wave, an instruction manual to ensure that policymakers can develop effective plans. It also showed that the well-designed and executed energy renovation of hospitals reduces the average patient length of stay by around 11%, bringing potential savings of around €45 billion per year in the healthcare sector.
This Action Plan sent a clear message: a comprehensive and joined-up approach will be required from all stakeholders along the value chain to ensure that the Renovation Wave can deliver the necessary building renovations, emissions reductions and economic growth . In reality, we argued, the Commission's ambition to 'double the rate of renewal' would not deliver meaningful energy savings.
The following month, in May, we gave clear guidance on investment opportunities in a major overhaul that would kick-start the economic recovery. The construction sector is expected to reduce emissions by 60% to meet the EU's 2030 climate target.
Just months later, in one of our last and perhaps most important results of 2020, BPIE highlighted how urgent it was to match the ambitions of the Renewal Wave with the European Commission's September proposal for a binding EU target for a net domestic reduction of GHG emissions. by at least 55% by 2030 (compared to 1990 levels) – which was approved by the European Council on 11 December. The analysis highlighted the immediate need to correct the design of the Renewal Wave during the implementation phase, to align its measures with the EU's climate neutrality ambitions and to carefully review the coordination of the proposed measures and their sequencing.
In 2020, we highlighted the urgency to align the ambitions of the Renovation
Our modeling has shown that the current major renewal rate in the EU of 0.2% needs to grow by at least a factor of 10 to 2%, and should approach 3% as soon as possible. BPIE provided an in-depth analysis of the European Commission's reform wave and action plan in light of the EU's strengthened 2030 and 2050 climate targets.
We began with an analysis that prompted a comprehensive, ambitious revision of the EPBD by ensuring that the construction sector is fit to respond to climate emergencies and contributes significantly to the overall EU-wide target of more than halving emissions by 2030. Our assessment showed that the wave strategy renovation, although it contained many necessary key elements, looks like a set of uncoordinated actions.
MEASURING IMPACT
Fit for 55 refers to the EU's goal of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 by setting the renovation wave in motion. The proposed package aims to bring EU legislation into line with the 2030 target and it reopened a number of legislative acts in 2021, including those related to the EPBD, the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) and the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) among others.
Measuring impact as a think tank is complex
To take advantage of the opportunity offered by the ongoing consultation process with experts and the European Parliament, significant corrective steps were needed. The European Commission has provided an emergency toolbox to counter the immediate effects on citizens, in particular by alleviating energy poverty for the most vulnerable groups.
We try to assess the relevance of our research topics and how many of these are currently
In response, we published an analysis in which we argued that while short-term solutions, such as more financial support for vulnerable groups, are an appropriate and necessary political response in times of crisis, they should not divert attention from long-term sustainable solutions.
We cannot claim that we directly contribute to a reduction in GHG emissions. Rather, we monitor
If we can make these links, we know we are applying pressure where it is most needed
Substantial funding is available in Europe, both from the increased revenue of the ETS and the Recovery and Resilience Facility. At the time of writing, the Fit for 55 legislative process remains ongoing and the geopolitical crisis in Europe means fuel prices will continue to rise.
The ongoing energy price crisis should fast-track efforts to deploy deep energy
With this aim in mind – and to ensure that deep renovation would remain central to the review of the EPBD and used as an important tool to combat rising energy prices – we have developed a clear, ambitious and legally binding EU-wide definition of deep renovation proposed. renovation to streamline efforts in this area. Our analysis added to the debate by showing that introducing a new carbon tax system would be better than developing a new ETS designed only for buildings, because a tax system can be developed independently and more easily adapted if objectives are not achieved. reaches.
Our analysis showed that the
SUPPORTING POLICYMAKERS SO THEY CAN TAKE EFFECTIVE ACTION
BUILDING RENOVATION STRATEGIES AND ACTIONS IN EU COUNTRIES AND CITIES
At that stage, more than half of the strategies had yet to be submitted and none of them set out ambitions fully consistent with the EPBD. Not only did Member States not fully comply with the existing provisions of the EPBD, but the provisions themselves were found to be out of sync with Europe's strengthened 2030 climate goals and 2050 climate neutrality ambitions.
IN ADDITION TO OUR PAN-EUROPEAN WORK,
WE ALSO SUPPORTED NATIONAL GOVERNMENTS
IN A PROJECT FUNDED BY THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT,
WE WORKED CLOSELY WITH CITIES IN BULGARIA AND
RENOVATION STRATEGIES
The Our Buildings project partners organised a
MAKING SURE THAT NEW BUILDINGS ARE FUTURE-PROOF
We identified a wide degree of disparity across Member States
SCOPING MARKETS FOR SUSTAINABLE PLUS ENERGY BUILDINGS AND NEIGHBOURHOODS (SPEN)
NEW THINKING TO ADVANCE BUILDING DECARBONISATION
THE CLIMATE IMPACT OF BUILDINGS: BRINGING WHOLE-LIFE CARBON (WLC) INTO THE PICTURE
Although energy efficiency will certainly deliver significant reductions in carbon emissions, it is unlikely to deliver a climate-neutral building stock because emissions from the manufacturing, construction and renovation processes are not taken into account. Assessing the WLC footprint will help better understand the full impact of construction and renovation and how it can be mitigated.
A COMPREHENSIVE PERSPECTIVE ON BUILDINGS POLICY
Our exhaustive report on lessons learned to inform integrated approaches for the
PUTTING ENERGY EFFICIENCY FIRST (E1ST) INTO PRACTICE
DBL” and similar terms such as “Building Renovation Passport” have become buzzwords among construction professionals. At its core, a DBL brings together all relevant building data – ensuring that the right person has access to the right information at the right time – to facilitate transparency and decision-making in a renovation context.
ACCELERATING RENOVATION EFFORTS ON THE GROUND
The report's findings highlight the potential of DBLs to encourage data transparency and increase data availability among a wide range of market actors (including property owners, tenants, investors, financial institutions and public administrations). These studies proved invaluable for European policy-making: the Renewal Wave Strategy, published on 14 October 2020, included DBL as a key point of action.
BPIE closely focuses on developing and promoting solutions that help to overcome the many barriers to deep renovation
They are subject to many different interpretations, both in terms of what they are and what they should be, resulting in a variety of tools and requirements for collecting and using data from buildings.
We implement a well-targeted and diverse portfolio of projects that accelerate renovation efforts
DIGITAL BUILDING LOGBOOK (DBL)
Building renovation passports are one tool that can help address this challenge and accelerate the renovation rate in the EU. Developed by the four-year iBRoad Horizon 2020 project, a building renovation passport consists of a customized renovation plan over a long-term period (a building renovation roadmap) and a digital building log (DBL).
BUILDING RENOVATION PASSPORTS
Building owners face multiple barriers when planning an energy renovation
One of the most difficult aspects is knowing which measures to implement,
OUTDOOR AIR POLLUTION IS DEFINED BY TWO INDICATORS: THE LOCAL AIR POLLUTION INDEX ASSESSES THE POTENTIAL INFLUENCE OF THE BUILDING ON THE LOCAL DEVELOPMENT OF SMOG AND THE INDOOR AIR CLEANLINESS INDEX ASSESSES THE EFFICIENCY OF AIR FILTRATION IN THE BUILDING'S VENTILATION SYSTEM. As part of the X-tendo Horizon 2020 project, we have created a guide that describes the common requirements for the development and evaluation of innovative functions for the next generation of energy certificates.
PREPARING FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF EU EPCs
THE COMFORT INDICATOR ASSESSES THE LEVELS OF THERMAL COMFORT, INDOOR AIR QUALITY, VISUAL COMFORT AND ACOUSTIC COMFORT IN A BUILDING VIA RELIABLE AND EVIDENCE-BASED DATA INPUT. The EPC is intended to provide a transparent indication of a building's energy efficiency and is one of the EU's most important instruments to facilitate the long-term decarbonisation of the building stock.
ONE-STOP-SHOPS, RENOVATION JOURNEYS AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
We have provided an analysis of the extent of LTRS according to EPBD and SECAPs requirements. Finally, in the context of the InvestEU Program from the Institution of Recovery and Resilience and the Fit for 55 legislative package, we have provided an analysis of existing technical assistance programs and initiatives.
Technical assistance can close the energy efficiency finance gap, enabling the
Local governments are essential to ensure that Europe meets the commitments and climate targets of the Paris Climate Agreement. The revision of the EPBD and the establishment and delivery of services such as the InvestEU Advisory Hub mean that now is the right time to address these challenges.
However, matching local practices with national renewal strategies and the Convention of Mayors' Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans (SECAPs), requires a joint effort. During the course of the project, BPIE provided expertise on building renovation policy and designed governance procedures for the adoption of LTRS in eight European countries.
VISIÓN GENERAL DEL SECTOR DE LA CONSTRUCCIÓN DE VIVIENDAS El sector de la construcción en España ha jugado un papel muy importante en la economía nacional, especialmente en los años previos a la crisis financiera de 2008. Este proyecto recibió financiación del programa de investigación e innovación Horizonte 2020 de la Unión.
ADVANCING INNOVATION IN RENOVATION FINANCING
A consecuencia de la crisis, el sector sufrió una fuerte caída de la demanda y de los precios, de la que no empezó a recuperarse hasta 2014. De este porcentaje, y seis años después de la implantación de la certificación energética de los edificios, el 47,5% obtiene la Certificación Energética. Etiqueta E y 25% de calificación G.
On-bill schemes provide innovative approaches to financing energy
COLLABORATING WITH CHANGEMAKERS
CREATING THE VISION AND ROADMAP FOR A ‘PARIS-PROOF’ RETAIL REAL ESTATE SECTOR
It concentrates on integrated solutions for the energy-efficient and earthquake-safe deep renovation of existing non-historic buildings. ComAct aims to make the deep renovation of multi-family buildings affordable and to reduce energy poverty in Central Eastern Europe and former Soviet republics.
MAKING DEEP RENOVATION ACCESSIBLE
BuiltHub aims to positively disrupt building policy and market design by collecting, processing and sharing building data through the development of a publicly accessible online platform.
BPIE has played an important role in stakeholder engagement and developing
BEYOND EUROPE
BPIE has never limited its activities strictly to EU countries
Over the past two years we have enhanced our role as a global player in buildings policy, helped to inform global
TRACKING THE GLOBAL DECARBONISATION OF BUILDINGS WITH A BUILDING CLIMATE TRACKER (BCT)
FOSTERING CLIMATE DIPLOMACY
Over the course of 2020–2021, BPIE led a number of bilateral best practice sharing
Project, we also organised two bilateral (online) exchanges between the
CANADA–EU EXCHANGE ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN BUILDINGS AND HOUSING
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (USA) –
ADVANCING THE TRANSATLANTIC ECONOMIC RECOVERY WITH BUILDING RENOVATION AND
RUSSIA-EU EXCHANGE ON SUSTAINABLE BUILDING POLICIES AND MEASURES
BRAZIL – SHARING INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE ON LOW CARBON PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT
EU–KOREA CLIMATE ACTION PROJECT, KOREA ENERGY AGENCY
Our PEOPLE
BPIE STAFF BOARD OF DIRECTORS
BPIE STAFF 2020-2021
OUR PEOPLE
REMEMBERING SERBAN
Serban Danciu, BPIE’s cherished ‘man in Bucharest’, passed away suddenly on 11 October 2021
Serban was a man of great integrity and kindness. At BPIE’s regular team
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Hans-Peter Meister Anneli Pauli is Professor in Practice (Global . Grand Challenges) at the Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research (INAR). Pete Harrison is executive vice president for regions at the Environmental Defense Fund, overseeing EDF's regional offices for the US, Europe.
FINANCIAL information
INCOME SOURCES 2020–2021 FUNDERS
INCOME SOURCES 2020–2021
PHILANTHROPIC NON-PROFIT
SERVICE CONTRACTS (incl. sponsorships)
HORIZON 2020 1,912,351
FUNDERS
Our work was made possible thanks to a diverse range of project funders
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
PARTNERS
BUILDINGS PERFORMANCE
