The Incredible Opportunity in Building Renovation
Large-scale energy efficiency renovations create a rare opportunity to deliver lasting economic, environmental, and social benefits.
Buildings might not be among the first things that come to mind when we think about what we value most. But they should be.
Our homes, schools, hospitals, recreational facilities, and workplaces have incredible importance and impact on our lives. They are also the source of some of society’s biggest challenges. Energy consumption and carbon emissions are among them. Globally, buildings are responsible for more than a third of energy use and carbon emissions. They are also among society’s most valuable physical assets.
And that creates an important opportunity.
ROCKWOOL CEO Jes Munk Hansen describes it this way, “Constructed and renovated well, buildings can contribute to improving our health, wellbeing and productivity; to reducing energy consumption, emissions, and costs; to increasing energy independence; to strengthening local economies; and so much more”.
Indeed, investing in more energy efficient buildings is a triple win decision.
Economically, well-insulated buildings consume less energy, with proper insulation potentially reducing heating needs by up to 70 percent. Less consumption = less cost. Especially in Europe, this also means less reliance on imported energy and therefore greater energy security. What’s more, some 16 million people are directly employed in the construction industry in the EU. And approximately 95 percent of the construction sector is composed of micro, small, and medium-sized businesses with craftsmen generating two-thirds of their revenues within a 50 km radius of their homes.
Environmentally, the International Energy Agency (IEA) says, “No other energy resource can compare with energy efficiency as a solution to the energy affordability, security of supply and climate change crises. This is why the IEA calls energy efficiency the ‘first fuel’ of all energy transitions”. It is very straightforward – the less we consume, the less we emit.
In terms of social wellbeing, buildings affect the health, wellbeing, and productivity of the people who live, work, learn, recover, and play inside them in multiple ways. A building that is too hot or too cold increases health risks, including mental health and stress; too much humidity and dampness increases the probability of mould growth, which can lead to respiratory diseases. Poor lighting and ventilation and too much noise decrease productivity and learning abilities; noisy environments are also more stressful, which inhibits recovery in care facilities. Well-insulated buildings can also alleviate energy poverty and the associated health impacts from living in low quality buildings.
Getting renovation right
Most buildings are renovated only once in their lifetime. That makes it even more important to get it right – for the long term. And that means using building materials that are durable, recyclable, and non-combustible. We have an opportunity to create a new generation of energy efficient, acoustically comfortable, aesthetically pleasing and fire-safe buildings – our homes, workplaces, schools, care facilities, and so much more. We need to get it right.
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