News

A dynamic resource platform has been designed to understand, measure and combat energy poverty. The E-Room offers insights into the structural and socioeconomic factors behind energy poverty. These include poor energy efficiency in buildings, labour market inefficiencies, and limited access to financial, social, and informational resources.

The EU Affordable Housing Initiative supports 35 districts to become inclusive, energy-efficient, and affordable, tackling Europe’s housing crisis while promoting social equity and climate neutrality by 2050.

The Renocally project has successfully implemented 20 building renovation passports (BRPs) in public buildings across Romania and Bulgaria and pilot-tested two BRPs in Slovakia. Alongside municipalities, energy experts, and financial specialists, it developed financial strategies for 10 municipalities, providing concrete action plans for long-term building decarbonisation.

A new study emphasises the need for industrialised energy renovations in EU buildings, using Key Performance Indicators to assess cost, sustainability, and user satisfaction, with a focus on achieving nearly zero-energy buildings.

Sustainable high-rises optimise land use, integrate sustainable technologies, and enhance energy efficiency to meet urban growth while reducing environmental impact.

LIFE WHILARENO is a 4-year EU-funded project in the Netherlands that simplifies home energy retrofitting by offering affordable, customised solutions, assisting with quotes, installers, and grants to promote energy efficiency and sustainability.

In an interview, Sam Kimmins, director of energy at Climate Group, outlines the necessary steps to double renovation rates in the UK and Europe, emphasising the need for collaboration and addressing key barriers.

Vertical gardens, integrated into building facades, improve air quality, regulate temperature, enhance biodiversity, and promote well-being, making urban spaces more sustainable and aesthetically appealing.

Researchers have developed porous PMMA sheets that passively cool buildings by reflecting light and radiating heat, offering an energy-efficient solution to combat rising temperatures.

The report reveals that poor urban planning in Kenya, due to unapproved developments and inadequate county spatial plans, is causing infrastructure issues, environmental degradation, and unregulated growth, urging urgent action for sustainable development.