On 11 June 2025, REHVA contributed to the European Economic and Social Committee’s high-level conference "Delivering Affordable Energy in Europe". During Panel II – Delivering reductions on energy poverty, REHVA’s Technical EU Project Officer, Pablo Carnero Melero, joined online to discuss how the built environment can become a lever for reducing energy poverty, a challenge deeply interwoven with health, equity, and affordability.

The discussion opened with a key reminder:

Energy poverty stems from three root causes—low energy performance of buildings, full reliance on commercial energy carriers, and underlying economic vulnerability. These interdependencies define the strategic pathways needed for meaningful change.

“Energy poverty is a major driver of poor indoor environmental quality, directly compromising the health and well-being of citizens. Failing to address it effectively means accepting a reality where public health remains chronically at risk.”

Reaction to Question 1 – Rapid Technical Responses without Oversimplification

When asked about rapidly deployable technical standards or innovations, REHVA’s representative cautioned against superficial fixes.

“Buildings are not just collections of components; they are integrated systems. Any technical intervention must consider this dynamic, systemic interaction.”

A strong emphasis was placed on avoiding “one-size-fits-all” solutions. Instead, Pablo Carnero argued for holistic strategies grounded in technical expertise and the Energy Efficiency First principle. This means:

• Targeting nZEB/ZEB levels through staged deep renovations, enabled by Building Renovation Passports (BRPs);
• Avoiding rushed retrofits that lock in inefficiencies or create side-effects (like moisture problems or overheating);
• Identifying low-cost, non-intrusive upgrades that increase resilience, such as smart thermostatic control or weather-based variable heating temperature control.

Reaction to Question 2 – Integrated Approaches and Community Participation

On the question of how to support integrated approaches, Pablo Carnero stressed that:

“Every household intervention is a potential gateway to a holistic renovation.”

To be impactful, interventions must go beyond energy performance and address health, safety, accessibility, and long-term use. Building Renovation Passports again emerged as a cornerstone for planning and implementing performance-based, staged deep renovations.

Success stories—such as the InCUBE Horizon Europe project—were highlighted as inspiring examples of community-engaged, integrated renovation strategies.

Furthermore, trust must be built through transparency:

• Renovation projects should integrate measurement and verification protocols that ensure accountability and help protect affordability goals.

Closing Message

Effectively addressing energy poverty means making nZEB/ZEB the new normal—affordable and accessible to all households, especially the vulnerable.

To that end:

• Building Renovation Passports are instrumental to plan holistic and staged deep renovations that can integrate energy performance with other key dimensions like health, accessibility, and safety.
• Health vulnerabilities must be factored into public support mechanisms to level the playing field—without doing so, bringing vulnerable households to adequate indoor environmental quality (IEQ) risks becoming financially unviable.
• To ensure the quality of renovations:
  • Measurement and verification protocols must be embedded into renovation projects to establish liability for outcomes—especially for stakeholders who may not prioritize long-term affordability. This is crucial to increase trust in the renovation process and its societal value.

As Pablo Carnero concluded:

“Improving indoor environmental quality for the energy poor without adjusting assessment criteria penalizes them. To reduce energy poverty, we must level the playing field.”

REHVA remains committed to supporting a just, healthy, and energy-efficient transition for all.