BPIE - Buildings Performance Institute Europe reposted this
📢New paper out today: Prioritising existing buildings for people and climate 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eM2uzvY7 The EU is facing multiple crises: housing shortages, climate challenges, and social inequality. This calls for creativity and common sense. The upcoming Affordable Housing Plan from the European Commission is a chance to prioritise existing resources – and human values and stories - over new construction, where possible. Maximising use of existing spaces could significantly ease the housing crisis: 🟢 With 34% of EU homes underoccupied and office spaces only 57% utilised, there’s huge potential to get creative and repurpose what we already have. 🟢 Yearly housing demand in Germany could in theory be met by using the existing stock, with measures such as extension, conversion, sharing and subletting 🟢 Research and case studies demonstrate citizens’ willingness to adapt living arrangements, thereby enhancing well-being and combat loneliness 🟢 Reintroducing vacant buildings to the market provides fast and affordable housing, while at the same time contributes to revitalising communities 🌍 Beyond housing, buildings are the EU’s largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. Current policies have fallen short of addressing both the climate and housing crises. Sufficiency—smart use of existing buildings—is a scalable, common sense solution for cutting emissions, reducing resource and land use, and creating more affordable, equitable cities. 🔦 This paper highlights inspiring examples of sufficiency from communities in Germany, France, Poland, Belgium, Switzerland, and Sweden, where these principles are already in action. Contrary to what some may think, research shows widespread public support for sufficiency in Europe—it's building thriving, resilient communities. By aligning building use with affordability and climate goals, we can build people-centered cities and reduce emissions. Bravo to our endlessly creative colleagues Lisa Graaf Emily Bankert and Zsolt Toth for this inspiring work. #Sufficiency #Housing #AffordableHousing #JustTransition