Join us with HouseEurope! in Berlin and Sign the Initiative!

HouseEurope! Renovate Don’t Speculate

The ECI Campaign supports the HouseEurope! Campaign to make sustainable construction and renovation a new norm across Europe and invites everyone to join us on March 6, 2025, in Berlin for the FIX IT! Conference (in German)!

The ECI HouseEurope! Power to Renovation has launched its campaign for new EU legislation to prioritize renovation over speculative demolition. As of February 1, 2025, the initiative aims to gather 1 million signatures from citizens across the EU, urging EU policymakers to adopt measures that preserve buildings, reduce waste, lower CO₂ emissions and make housing more affordable.

The Environmental and Social Costs of Demolition

The construction sector is among the largest contributors to global CO₂ emissions, accounting for 37% of total emissions worldwide. While building operations—such as heating, cooling, and electricity use—make up 27%, an additional 10% stems from construction materials and demolition waste (source).

Despite these figures, inappropriate financial incentives continue to favour demolition over renovation, leading to unnecessary environmental and economic costs. Studies indicate that renovating buildings instead of demolishing them can cut CO₂ emissions by 50-75%, making it a key strategy for achieving planetary climate targets.

However, the current pace of renovation remains insufficient. At present, only 11% of buildings in Europe have been renovated, with an annual renovation rate of just 1% (source). At this rate, it would take a century to modernize Europe’s building stock. To meet the EU’s 2050 climate goals, renovation efforts must triple.

A Call for a Right to Reuse

HouseEurope! proposes a policy framework that establishes renovation and adaptive reuse as the standard approach to existing buildings. The initiative highlights three key measures:

• Tax incentives to encourage renovation and the reuse of construction materials.
• Revised assessment criteria for existing buildings to prevent unnecessary demolition.
• Recognition of embedded CO₂ in standing structures to reflect their true environmental value.

A New Approach to Building: Preserve – Adapt – Renovate – Transform

The initiative seeks to shift current practices in the construction sector towards more sustainable and socially responsible solutions. By prioritising renovation, policymakers have the opportunity to reduce emissions, support local economies, and maintain the cultural and historical integrity of Europe’s cities and communities.

👉 Support the initiative. Sign HouseEurope! starting February 1, 2025.
More information: https://www.houseeurope.eu/

FIX IT! Berlin Symposium on March 6, 2025 (in German)
Join us at the HouseEurope! FIX IT! Symposium on March 6 in Berlin, for short lectures and talks on Europe, Diversity, Inclusion and a lecture on direct democracy by our Director, Carsten Berg!

🚧 FIX IT! Symposium 🚧
Programme in German
Details in English:
🗓️Date: Thu, 6 March 2025, 16:00-19:00
🏡Location: nGbK am Alex, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 11/13, 10178 Berlin
Description:
17:00 – SHORT LECTURES on Europe, Democracy, Diversity, Inclusion and HouseEurope!
– Preserving democracy, shaping Europe
– How (direct) democracy is lived, stabilised and further developed in Europe – Lecture by Carsten Berg, Director European Citizens’ Initiative