Smaller Homes Could Drastically Cut EU Building CO₂ Emissions

Buildings in the European Union are responsible for approximately 40% of CO₂ emissions, making the building sector crucial for achieving the EU's 2050 climate targets. An EU research project, involving Graz University of Technology (TU Graz) and KU Leuven, has analyzed the entire life cycle of emissions from European buildings, from construction to demolition, to identify reduction strategies.

The researchers developed a forecasting tool named PULSE-EU specifically for this project. This tool calculates various scenarios for reducing CO₂ emissions in the building sector, considering not only building operation but also emissions from material production, construction, renovation, maintenance, dismantling, and disposal. This holistic approach provides a comprehensive understanding of the building sector's environmental impact.

The analysis modeled around 15,000 representative building types across EU member states, reflecting diverse construction methods, ages, and energy standards. By adjusting parameters such as refurbishment rates, energy demand, use of renewable energy, and vacancy rates, alongside political, economic, social, and ecological factors, the team generated forecasts for emission reductions.

Findings indicate that the most impactful measure for reducing CO₂ emissions is a reduction in the average living space per person. A decrease of just 2 square meters per individual was found to have the greatest influence. Other significant factors include the renovation rate, reduction of energy requirements, increased use of renewable energy, and a decrease in building vacancies. Implementing ambitious measures, including stricter policies and behavioral changes, could lead to a 90% reduction in CO₂ emissions by 2050, meeting the Paris Agreement's 2-degree target.