Sufficiency measures in the built environment

Sufficiency is a set of policy measures and practices which reduce the demand for energy, materials, land, water, and other natural resources, while delivering well-being for all within planetary boundaries[[ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 2022]]. It represents an integrated approach to sustainability and circularity, acknowledging and balancing the interplay of decarbonisation and equity[[ European Commission: Directorate-General for Environment, Le Den, X., Steinmann, J., Kovacs, A., Kockat, J. et al., Supporting the development of a roadmap for the reduction of whole life carbon of buildings – Final technical report, Publications Office of the European Union, 2024, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2779/849252]].

In the built environment, floor space is considered as a resource. Sufficiency measures seek to optimise the use of existing (vacant and under-utilised) spaces, buildings, and infrastructures[[ According to Eurostat, 38% of buildings in the EU (28) are underoccupied, with a rate higher than 60% in 4, and higher than 50% in 7 Member States. (Eurostat (2018) Overcrowded and under-occupied dwellings - Products Eurostat News - Eurostat (europa.eu))]]. These measures lead to an absolute reduction in demand for new-built floor space[[ Unlike efficiency, the resource reduction achieved through sufficiency is absolute and not relative to any output.]], reducing resource consumption, embodied and operational carbon emissions, and other environmental impacts in the built environment[[Muench, S., Stoermer, E., Jensen, K., Asikainen, T., Salvi, M. and Scapolo, F., Towards a green and digital future, EUR 31075 EN, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, 2022, ISBN 978-92-76-52451-9, doi:10.2760/977331 JRC129319.]]. By alleviating strain on land resources, sufficiency measures can help address social issues, such as housing shortages, and reduce infrastructure costs for municipalities.

The potential of sufficiency measures in the built environment is yet under-explored due to data constraints, limited understanding of their impacts, and insufficient knowledge exchange.

Proposals are expected to address all of the following:

• Test and validate an approach to map and quantify vacant and under-utilised spaces with high sufficiency potential in the built environment.
• Test and validate at least two sufficiency measures that optimise, repurpose, or expand the use and functionality of space. Proposals are expected to test the proposed sufficiency measures in at least three neighbourhoods[[ See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP25.]] in urban, peri-urban and rural areas located in at least three Member States or Associated Countries.
• Quantify the potential for the proposed sufficiency measures to contribute to an absolute reduction in demand for floor space and resources (including, as a minimum, energy, raw materials, land, and water) in the built environment.
• Propose and validate solutions to overcome non-technical barriers in the built environment towards sufficiency measures (e.g. regulatory barriers or acceptance).

Proposals are expected to follow a participatory and transdisciplinary approach[[ See definition on NEB working principles in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP25.]] through the integration of different actors (such as public authorities, local actors from the targeted neighbourhoods, civil society, private owners, etc.) and disciplines (such as architecture or design, arts, (civil) engineering, etc.).

This topic requires the effective contribution of SSH disciplines and the involvement of SSH experts, institutions as well as the inclusion of relevant SSH expertise, in order to produce meaningful and significant effects enhancing the societal impact of the related research activities.

Proposals are expected to dedicate at least 0.2% of their total budget to share their intermediate and final results and findings with the Coordination and Support Action 'New European Bauhaus hub for results and impact' (HORIZON-MISS-2024-NEB-01-03).