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Dynamic Decarbonization Pathways Framework: Integrating Technological, Social, and Policy Innovations for Sustainable Renovations in the Built Environment

Project description

Strategies to slash CO2 in building sector

The EU’s building sector stands as a towering contributor of pollution. It is responsible for 40 % of energy consumption and 36 % of CO2 emissions. Despite growing awareness, renovation rates remain low at around 1 % annually, exacerbating environmental concerns. Current construction practices rely on raw materials and generate substantial waste. In this context, the EU-funded DeCO2 project aims to revolutionise the built environment by advancing technologies and fostering partnerships across the value chain. With a focus on sustainability and inclusivity, DeCO2 targets a broad audience, including developers, policymakers, and the construction industry. By promoting collaboration, this initiative strives to close the performance gap and align with the EU’s sustainability goals.

Objective

The building sector holds a prominent position in energy consumption (40%) and CO2 emissions (36%) within the European Union. Moreover, current construction and renovation practices are huge raw material consumers and highly waste producers. Despite the efforts, on an EU scale, renovation rates are far below the minimum required, now only reaching around 1% of the building stock per year. These drawbacks bring forward the impact of rising material extraction, shrunk global circularity from to 7.2% in 2023. To facilitate closing this performance and design-to-market gap in the built environment, DeCO2 aims to address the compelling need for advancing innovative technological applications and solutions on the built environment, focusing on building elements, materials, products, and technologies. The project also aims to set up solid and long-lasting partnerships within the legal and regulatory framework and other stakeholders addressing the whole value chain for socio-economic innovation, facilitating to close the performance and design-to-market gap, including for historical and cultural heritage buildings. A well-segmented audience targeting developers, policymakers, and the construction industry will ensure effective market penetration, as DeCO2 is projected as an aligned solution to the EU's sustainability aspirations. Collaborative engagement, showcasing tangible benefits and dedicated digital presence will embrace the entire building-life cycle and all the relevant stakeholders involved in each innovation action stage of renovation projects, materials, and techniques (targeting TRL 8) that contribute to space users’ overall health and wellbeing, comfort and inclusivity.

Coordinator

INSTITUTE FOR EUROPEAN ENERGY AND CLIMATE POLICY STICHTING
Net EU contribution
€ 632 500,00
Address
KINGSFORDWEG 151
1043 GR Amsterdam
Netherlands

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Activity type
Research Organisations
Links
Total cost
€ 632 500,00

Participants (16)