The “energy eater” European building stock is aiming for a greener future. Researchers are testing an “envelope” system combining active and passive technologies, fitted over the existing façade, to make buildings more efficient. But will it work efficiently under different temperatures, both in northern and southern Europe? Buildings account for 36% of CO2 emissions in Europe, and energy consumption in this sector has increased in recent decades. A report led by the Building Performance Institute Europe (BPIE) shows that more than 40% of the European stock was built before 1960s, “where there were only few or no requirements for energy efficiency and only a fraction has undergone major energy retrofits. This means that this building stock has low insulation levels and its systems are old and inefficient.” Full article HERE.
