Since the war in Ukraine in early 2022, the energy crisis has only become more urgent. The question of the EU’s energy security and dependency from fuels import has been on the front of political and social debates. Paired with sky-rocketing energy prices and inflation, no one is immune to the economic and social changes made evident by this crisis.

As a result, the EU debate shifted towards secure and affordable energy supply, sometimes even at the cost of reduced or slowed down climate action. A prosperous EU will require reduced use of fossil fuels and a diversified energy supply where increased renewable energy supply is matched by reduced demand. Against this backdrop, this study shows how improving energy performance of the building envelope in existing residential buildings would substantially lower fossil fuel consumption, increase energy security and enable effective growth of renewable heat.

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