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Barriers to green space heating & cooling and how to overcome them
Publication
European Countries
Barriers to green space heating & cooling and how to overcome them
The paper highlights that green heating and cooling technologies, despite their benefits, are underused in Europe due to barriers such as dependence on fossil fuels and insufficient expertise; however, targeted policies and innovations could enhance their adoption and contribute to achieving climate goals.
Luca Papapietro
Space heating and cooling (H&C) account for nearly 50% of Europe’s energy use, with only 23% from renewables.
Green H&C technologies, such as heat pumps and solar thermal systems, offer environmental and economic benefits but remain underutilised.
This study explores the barriers and drivers influencing their adoption across 11 diverse EU member states, highlighting regional disparities in energy needs and emissions. Key barriers include fossil fuel dependency, electricity supply challenges, lack of expertise, and noise concerns.
Effective policies, subsidies, incentives, and R&D can mitigate these issues, enhance competitiveness, and promote adoption.
Comprehensive data collection and life cycle assessments are essential for advancing green H&C technologies and achieving Europe’s climate goals.
