Renewables and efficiency: EU energy transition essentials
Electrification will be key to phasing out fossil fuels, but it will only be effective if it goes hand in hand with renewable energy, energy efficiency and policies that support clean technologies.
Europe looks to hybrid construction to build faster, cheaper and greener
A debate among policymakers and industry representatives highlighted hybrid construction as a way to expand housing supply, improve competitiveness and support Europe’s environmental objectives, enabling more effective responses to growing demand.
National cooling action plan methodology for the MENA region
The United Nations Environment Programme has published a methodology to support countries in the Middle East and North Africa in developing National Cooling Action Plans aligned with their climate and development objectives.
Habitat Lab and the evolution of the building
Habitat Lab transforms a former 1950s cafeteria into a training and innovation space that combines refurbishment and extension to demonstrate sustainable construction solutions under real operating conditions.
PEEB contributes to regional cooperation on building energy efficiency at the Energy Community’s EECG meeting
The Programme for Energy Efficiency in Buildings (PEEB) presented its work on energy‑efficient buildings at the 41st Meeting of the Energy Community’s Energy Efficiency Coordination Group (EECG), highlighting support for policies, financing and capacity‑building.
Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction 2025–2026: key messages
What is holding back the decarbonisation of the built environment? Five key messages summarise the current state of the buildings and construction sector worldwide and the priorities for accelerating its transition.
Efficient cooling with groundwater heat pumps and solar PV: a practical university case study
Discover how a hybrid cooling system combining a groundwater heat pump and rooftop photovoltaic (PV) can cut energy use, boost heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) efficiency, and deliver low-carbon, resilient building performance in real-world university applications.
EU Building Stock Observatory workshop at eceee: towards a building-stock data hub
A recent workshop at the eceee Summer Study examined how the EU Building Stock Observatory could evolve into a more practical and comprehensive data hub for evidence‑based buildings policy.
Integrating the ‘Ladder of Cooling’: summer thermal comfort and prevent overheating
The increasing frequency of heatwaves is prompting a rethink of building energy policy. A new paper proposes integrating the Ladder of Cooling into the implementation of the EPBD in order to prioritise passive solutions and strengthen climate resilience.
Offsite construction: A solution for affordable housing in Europe
A BPIE report shows how offsite construction can reduce housing costs, accelerate delivery and improve building performance, including lower heating and cooling needs.