ComActivate Project’s Post

📰 Discover the first ComActivate report stressing the growing significance of one-stop-shops in bridging the gap between energy efficiency subsidies and building renovations. The report focuses on six case studies across Europe, featuring the one in Asenovgrad, Bulgaria. These models represent diverse organizational structures, yet share a common reliance on public sector involvement for sustainability. Read more in the link below 👇 #EPBD #sheerenovplus

📢 Discover the ComActivate Project report on designing and implementing Resource Centres that link residents, municipalities, NGOs, and SMEs for energy-efficient renovations. 🌍🔗 Learn more about how Resource Centres can foster investments, transform communities and drive sustainable change! 💡📘 #EnergyEfficiency #EPBD #RenovationWave

Exploring PAS2035 Standards: Enhancing Energy Efficiency in Social Housing 🏡 At Rubik Builders Limited, we are committed to advancing sustainability 🌎 and energy 💡 efficiency in the construction 🏗 sector. A pivotal aspect of this commitment is our adherence to PAS2035 standards, which are reshaping the landscape of retrofitting buildings in the UK, particularly in the social housing sector. PAS2035 is more than just a guideline ; it's a framework designed to ensure that energy retrofitting is performed effectively and safely, providing long-term benefits to homeowners and tenants alike. For social housing, this means not only improving the energy performance of existing buildings but also enhancing the well-being of residents through better living conditions. Here's what PAS2035 entails for social housing: * Holistic Assessment: PAS2035 requires a comprehensive assessment of properties before any retrofitting work begins. This ensures that all interventions are appropriate to each specific building and its occupants. * Quality and Compliance: The standard sets out clear roles and responsibilities for retrofit coordinators, designers, and installers, ensuring high-quality workmanship and compliance with current regulations. * Resident-Centric Approach: By focusing on the needs of residents, PAS2035 aims to reduce fuel poverty and improve indoor environmental quality, making homes more comfortable and healthier. At Rubik Builders Limited, we are proud to be at the forefront of implementing these standards, driving positive change in our communities. Our goal is not just to retrofit buildings but to transform them into energy-efficient homes that stand the test of time and provide a better quality of life for their occupants. Join us as we build a sustainable future, one project at a time. #PAS2035 #SocialHousing #Sustainability #EnergyEfficiency #RubikBuilders

Some news from the "affordable housing initiative" The affordable housing initiative was announced in the Commission's renovation wave strategy for Europe, which aims to green buildings, create jobs and improve lives. This strategy intends to at least double renovation rates in the EU by breaking down long-standing barriers to energy and resource-efficient renovation as well as improving reuse and recycling. By 2030, the construction sector could see 35 million renovated buildings and up to 160,000 additional green jobs. The affordable housing initiative is a flagship of the New European Bauhaus (NEB). The initiative is in line with the European pillar of social rights under principle 19 ‘housing and assistance for the homeless’, as well as with the cohesion policy objectives for 2021-2027. It further aligns with the cohesion policy as it supports locally-led development strategies and empowers local authorities in managing funds. The European regional development fund (ERDF) allocates 8% to strengthening sustainable urban development, supporting the cohesion policy's urban dimension.  The affordable housing initiative is in line with several other EU-level actions and initiatives, including: - the NextGenerationEU recovery plan and the Recovery and Resilience Facility - the REPowerEU plan - the recast of the Energy Efficiency Directive - the revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive Read more on the European Commission website and discover open calls, ongoing and closed projects, such as our sister project ProLight Project https://lnkd.in/d4sxJyme

Today I’m writing about transport in Building Design. because I think that only with a more formal coupling of transport and housing – structurally in the planning system and procedurally within the design process - can we ensure housing investment, and everyone’s energy, will be truly transformational. This is our opportunity to break transport poverty in the UK, in new communities and established. https://lnkd.in/eWuFntWZ Urban Movement

The principles of walkable neighbourhoods perfectly express the crucial link between movement/transport, housing and quality of place. New housing developments must be based on these if they are to be successful, attractive and enduring!

When we think about sustainable housing we might automatically think about energy efficiency and the environment. Although housing has a huge part to play in helping the UK reach its net zero target, it’s actually about more than that. The UK has been in the midst of a housing crisis for decades, and a big part of sustainable housing is providing properties that are affordable and offer a sense of security. It’s about creating homes that genuinely enhance the lives of their residents. However, recent reports highlight a concerning gap between vision and reality in the sustainable housing sector. Some of the concerns in the sector are: 🪫 Energy inefficiency The UK has some of the least energy-efficient housing in Europe, with many homes failing to meet high energy performance standards. 👎 Maintenance issues Approximately 38% of social housing residents live with unresolved maintenance problems, such as damp and mould, which adversely affect their health and well-being. 🟢 Skills shortage There's a significant skills gap in the construction industry, particularly in green technologies. 🔧 Retrofitting challenges Upgrading older homes to meet modern energy standards is complex and costly, especially for historic buildings with preservation constraints. The UK has an incredible opportunity to lead in sustainable housing that delivers on all fronts: efficiency, affordability, and quality. By holding developers and landlords accountable and ensuring long-term investment in housing quality, we can turn sustainable housing into a benchmark of excellence. The goal isn't just to build homes but to build communities that thrive. What are your thoughts on balancing sustainability and quality in housing? I'd love to hear your perspectives.

First, it is important to understand that national housing starts in 2023 ... Read more https://lnkd.in/gBHeNddD #sustainability #constructiontechnology #constructionindustry #civilengineering #SansPaperForm 

Fear vs Fundamentals: The Time to Invest in Sustainable and Affordable Housing is Now The global housing market is facing a historic supply-demand imbalance. In this article by World Green Building Council, current estimates by the United Nations reveal the need for 96,000 new homes daily—adding up to a staggering 35 million homes per year worldwide. In the US alone, a similar shortage drives up prices and rent, pricing many out of quality housing. For investors, this deficit in new housing stock equates to immense demand and value creation, especially within niches that few are equipped to tap. 1) Net-Zero Homes: The Future Standard with Investor Upside Net-zero energy homes don’t just reduce utility bills—they future-proof investments. With codes and incentives increasingly favoring sustainable buildings, net-zero developments create a value moat. For investors, tax credits and the ability to achieve higher valuations through lower operating costs are just the beginning. Sustainable assets are rapidly gaining traction, and the market rewards those who prioritize future-ready projects. 2) Affordable Housing: A Value-Driven, Recession-Resilient Strategy Contrary to misconceptions, affordable housing is a cornerstone of community and cash flow resilience. Quality affordable housing supported by government incentives, like LIHTC credits, creates steady returns while addressing social needs. With guaranteed rent payments often backed by federal and state programs, affordable housing provides stable cash flows, even in downturns. Plus, the impact goes beyond profit—it addresses a real, growing need. 3) Market Share and Valuation Growth in Uncertain Times Smart investors know that crisis breeds opportunity. While others are sidelined by fear and uncertainty, those leaning in stand to capture market share at a discount. With interest rates and costs weighing on hesitant players, developers with vision—like Luxe Living Homes—are securing assets, securing future growth, and driving value that will outlast current market cycles. In sum, strategies rooted in sustainable, impact-driven housing are resilient, forward-focused, and aligned with the shifting regulatory landscape. Investors who see beyond fear are building futures—and fortifying returns. https://lnkd.in/gYZDJMr3 #RealEstateInvestment #NetZero #AffordableHousing #ImpactInvesting #Sustainability #MarketOpportunities #HousingCrisis

What do you think? • Could tiny homes help solve housing crises in your city? • Are they a sustainable alternative or just a niche solution? • Would you live in one? Why or why not? Let’s start a conversation! Share your thoughts, experiences, or ideas below. 👇 #TinyHomes #AffordableHousing #Sustainability #Innovation