Build Better Lives

Two weeks ago, we launched our open call, calling on Commissoner Jørgensen and the European Commission to take immediate action on the intersecting crises of the lack of affordable housing, rising energy costs and climate change. https://lnkd.in/ewiE5Pn9 But we want to hear from you 🫵 what do you think should be the Commission's top priority?

Desde la Alianza por la #RehabilitacióndeViviendas, hacemos un llamado al nuevo Comisario de #EnergíayVivienda de la UE para que actúe ante las crisis interrelacionadas de la vivienda, la energía y el clima. El 75% de los edificios de la UE son ineficientes, lo que significa que millones de personas viven en hogares costosos e inconfortables. #Rehabilitar nuestras viviendas para que sean energéticamente eficientes y basadas en renovables: ✅ Reduce el costo de vida. ✅ Combate la pobreza energética. ✅ Mejora la salud y el confort de las personas. ✅ Ayuda a combatir la crisis climática. Una transición justa y ambiciosa del entorno construido debe empezar ahora. ¡Los hogares y nuestro clima no pueden esperar! 🌍 📖 Lee nuestra carta abierta: https://lnkd.in/d6YfXMXn

If asked to define a ‘home,’ chances are people would answer with more than just “a place to live.” It’s a place that holds memories and possessions, a place to welcome family and friends, for some it’s the place they work. On a deeper level, they might connect their home with well-being and security. In an ideal world, everyone would have a home like that. BUT that is not the case for ➕ 47.4 million Europeans. Where do you even start to fix the issue and what has any of it to do with the climate⁉️ Find out about the WHYs, HOWs, and WHO's in Emilie de Bassompierre's piece on building renovations 🔨 🏡 #BuildBetterLives https://lnkd.in/edAeR7K8

EU #WholeLifeCarbon Roadmap is finally out! ➡️ https://bit.ly/3DihrIw A very timely publication by the European Commission, Ramboll and BPIE - Buildings Performance Institute Europe that urges us to prioritise the improvement of our existing stock and the optimisation of the ways by which it is used, instead of always building new. 💭 The conversion of non-residential buildings into homes, the mobilisation of vacant spaces and other measures, coupled with the importance of improving the energy efficiency levels of buildings, not only contribute to reducing material and energy demand, and hence emissions, but also to easing strain on land resources and achieve social goals (i.e. alleviating housing shortages, reducing infrastructure costs for municipalities etc.). 💡 In fact, applying sufficiency in the built environment can: - Support the conservation of raw materials and diminish the environmental impact of their extraction - Curb urban sprawl and preserve habitats, while maintaining air and water quality, controlling floods, and providing recreational spaces - Support the delivery of affordable housing, regenerate urban settings and foster community development Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe Erman Yvon Erogan Mónica Vidal

𝐋𝐚 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚 𝐄𝐏𝐁𝐃 𝟒: 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐚̀ 𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐥’𝐈𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚 𝐧𝐞𝐥 𝐬𝐮𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐨 🟩 La nuova Direttiva sulla Prestazione Energetica degli Edifici (“EPBD 4”) è basilare per il processo di #transizioneecologica del settore edilizio europeo. Entrata in vigore nel 2024, EPBD 4 dovrà essere recepita entro il 2026. 🟩 I nuovi requisiti vogliono accelerare i tassi di #ristrutturazione a livello nazionale, specialmente degli edifici più energivori. 🔎 Il buon recepimento di #EPBD4 può comportare benefici per le famiglie (specialmente se in #povertà #energetica), l’ambiente e l’economia italiana.⤵️ di Eva Brardinelli su InGENIO Presa da: https://lnkd.in/eYUpQbiV

Exactly one week ago, I moderated the energy poverty workshop during the #RightToEnergyForum - the very first one focusing on energy poverty and health implications. The event was an important step in turning our #WellbasedEU recommendations into action, i.e. the need to bring energy and health experts to the same table, to share priorities, challenges and to identify joint working strands. MY TAKE-AWAYS: 🧡 ⚡ The participation of Maria Neira from the WHO and Mathilde LEYGE from the EU Commission, two important players, was not only an honor for us. It also demonstrated both the importance of the topic and the interest the WELLBASED work raises with relevant health actors (and energy) institutions and professionals. And thanks to Tomas de Jong from European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) we understood that energy poverty is still not officially recognised as a public health issue in legislative texts. 👋 We highlighted innovative local action in the field from 3 local authorities (having signed the WELLBASED manifesto) and emphasised the crucial role they play: Fundació València Clima i Energia, Ayuntamiento de Getafe, Besançon, Ville et Communauté Urbaine. 🙏 A big thanks to all panelists. I truly believe that those very young connections we started to tie last week can become something bigger, something impactful. #energypoverty needs to be eradicated rather earlier than later! 📽️ Replay and presentation here: https://lnkd.in/dGMiTXAQ 👇 Panelists or participants, don't hesitate to comment below to keep the debate we had in Brussels alive! WHAT'S NEXT? ♾️ For now, health improvements happen more by accident rather than thanks to systematic work. It is still seen as a consequence of energy poverty measures, not as part and parcel of it. This is why health needs to be put at the very first stage of planning and policies. Collaborations between sectors, actors, DGs, institutions and anyone ready to mix topics, will make this happen! By the way: the next opportunity to network between energy and health experts is the WELLBASED Final Event in Valencia on 20 February 2025. Join us there!! Elena Rocher Vicedo João Pedro Gouveia Energy Cities Friends of the Earth Europe

Citizen-led renovation projects by energy communities are a cooperative solution to local and personal challenges 🤝 In our latest #BuildBetterLives blog, Felix Kriedemann from REScoop.eu discusses how energy communities all over Europe are increasingly offering building renovation services to their members and communities, and the reasons why they are becoming more involved in these activities. https://lnkd.in/ddbzWBG8

Slowly closing this year with another fruitful discussion, this time at the #Right2Energy Forum, organised by Friends of the Earth Europe. With the great moderation of Maria Santos, I had the pleasure to sit in a full-female panel and discuss with MEP Benedetta Scuderi, Anna Zsofia Bajomi, Dr. and the audience what are the priorities for the new EU Energy & Housing portfolio when it comes to alleviate #EnergyPoverty and ensure the transition of our buildings is fair and Paris-Agreement compatible. Across our interventions it was good to see alignment in our priorities to finally shape the next EU level Energy Poverty Strategy: 1) We need to create space for discussion and engagement for the civil society and their representatives, especially the ones working with vulnerable communities and people, when designing policies and measures tackling the built environment 2) Energy poverty has different faces, understanding its intersectional nature will help us detect, address and solve it in a timely manner 3) Proper earmarking of financing, technical assistance is crucial. The local level has a huge task in its hands, and NGOs/CSOs are here to help.

Following the final approval of the new College of Commissioners by the European Parliament, we are glad to start working together, especially on the smooth and rapid implementation of the EPBD. We join the Build Better Lives Campaign call to cooperate with Commissioner on Energy and Housing Dan Jorgensen.

This winter, millions of households throughout Europe are faced with a difficult question every day, can they afford to heat their homes? Many people throughout Europe still rely on fossil fuels for heating in poorly insulated homes. This is detrimental to their health and wallet as it is costing more and more to keep their homes warm. The new Energy and Housing Commissioner Dan Jørgensen recognizes this problem and in his new role, he has the opportunity to fix it. It is time to put in motion an enabling framework that prioritises the provision of affordable, energy efficient homes for all. 🏡 #BuildBetterLives