Indoor air quality is emerging as a central vector in European building policy, following decades in which energy efficiency progressed largely disconnected from people’s health. The revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive introduces, for the first time, requirements related to the indoor environment, integrating parameters such as ventilation, pollutants, and thermal comfort into the regulatory framework. This shift reflects growing evidence: indoor spaces, where people spend most of their time, are a critical factor in chronic and infectious diseases, as well as productivity losses.

The challenge now moves to Member States, which must define coherent standards by 2026 in a still fragmented context. The opportunity lies in advancing towards health-based, harmonised frameworks capable of aligning decarbonisation and well-being. More than a technical adjustment, this represents a paradigm shift that redefines the building as an active public health infrastructure.