Sustainable and healthy buildings - Reaching the goals of the EU Green Deal

The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) revision plays a central role in the overall Fit For 55 package and is an important contributor to unlocking ambitious environmental, societal and financial benefits.It is also an opportunity to integrate a multiple benefits approach, rather than primarily focusing on energy.To create a sustainable, future-proof and energy-efficient building stock, we need to put people at the centre. Typically, we spend around 90% of our time indoors, so bettering the conditions of our indoor climate – and thus our health and well-being - is an important driver for renovation, alongside improving energy efficiency, mitigating climate change, and reducing the energy bill and dependence.The EPBD proposal goes further than energy performance requirements by introducing carbon emission reduction targets, and putting more emphasis on multiple benefits of energy efficiency, including improving indoor environmental quality and reducing energy poverty.It also introduces new building tools to boost renovation rates, supports the digitalisation of energy systems for buildings, and facilitates more targeted financing to investments in the building sector.How can we best ensure these new, holistic approaches to energy efficiency and the EBPD are properly accounted for and factored into the final directive and the new tools - EPCs, Renovation Passports, MEPs – it proposes?Relisten to this EURACTIV Virtual Conference to find out how the revision of the EPBD can support a healthy indoor climate while accelerating a decrease of energy costs and decarbonising our buildings. Discussed questions included:- What's the current state of buildings in the EU and how can the EPBD help achieve a faster transition towards sustainable and healthy buildings?- What will be the costs and economic/societal benefits of such a building transition?- What data and definitions are we lacking to properly account for the impact of multiple benefits?- How can we ensure energy efficient, decarbonised and healthy buildings?- What lessons has the COVID-19 pandemic taught us when it comes to buildings? How can good ventilation in buildings contribute?