Who’s ready for the wave of renovations?
On 14 October, the European Commission published the ‘Renovation Wave for Europe’: a new strategy to make buildings more sustainable and thus achieve the ambitious targets of the European Green Deal.
The construction sector is one of the largest energy consumers in Europe, accounting for more than a third of the EU’s emissions. Yet only 1% of buildings undergo energy-efficient renovation each year, so there is still a great deal of work to be done to make Europe climate-neutral by 2050.
Doubling energy-efficient renovations
The European Commission therefore aims to double the number of annual energy-efficient renovations over the next ten years. This will not only improve the quality of life for the people living or working in these buildings, but will also significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Europe. The Renovation Wave initiative will require every EU country to publish a long-term strategy for building renovation, and will also have an impact on other directives concerning the energy performance of buildings and building-related aspects of each EU country’s national energy and climate plans.
Companies are setting a good example
However, smart companies are not waiting for stricter standards and legislation to start their renovation plans – they are already benefiting today from the many advantages such a project brings: from the obvious energy savings to the greater well-being of their employees. These companies certainly did not sit on their hands, and enlisted Encon to guide their sustainable construction projects.
These companies certainly didn’t sit on their hands, and enlisted Encon to guide their renovation project.
- Leasinvest
Leasinvest sprang into action for the renovation of H26/27, one of the iconic buildings along the Scheldt on the trendy Eilandje in Antwerp. This will be completely redeveloped with Encon as the sustainability partner, transforming it into a prominent state-of-the-art building with minimal impact on our planet, meaning this renovation makes a significant contribution to addressing our current climate challenge.
- Tervia's
Tervia's is also committed to sustainable projects that add value for the end-user and the local area: projects that can last for generations. They gave the former site of the La Corbeille/Bonduelle tinned food factory a completely new, contemporary and useful purpose thanks to sustainable renovation carried out in partnership with Encon.
- Steenoven
And even better than climate-neutral renovation is, of course, climate-neutral construction. For example, property developer Steenoven is building R-Plaza with Encon as its sustainability advisor, and they have already achieved a rare ‘very good’ design certificate based on the international BREEAM sustainability certification for buildings. A model for the property sector in line with the European Green Deal ambitions.