Gen Pei and colleagues have authored a study that highlights the central role of the building sector in pollutant emissions across the European Union. In 2020, energy consumption in buildings accounted for 58% of PM2.5 emissions, 44% of PM10, and 46% of carbon monoxide, contributing significantly to the health burden associated with air pollution.

These emissions are linked to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, as well as an estimated 300,000 premature deaths annually in the EU. The report underscores that, while climate policies typically account for greenhouse gas emissions, the health impacts of air pollution from building energy use are rarely quantified in parallel.

The study stresses the need to integrate health considerations into energy efficiency strategies, particularly within the building stock. National differences in energy mix, emission control technologies, and regulatory frameworks lead to considerable variation in the benefits of efficiency measures. For instance, energy efficiency improvements in buildings could yield substantially greater health benefits in Eastern Europe than in the northern regions of the continent.

The authors propose the use of country-specific impact factors to more accurately assess the benefits of energy efficiency interventions—such as deep renovations—and to inform more effective and equitable policymaking in the building sector.