With the ongoing revision the EPBD and other EU directives dealing with energy efficiency and sustainability of buildings as part of the Renovation wave and the Fit for 55 package, it’s important to look at how the changing regulatory environment can contribute to making our built environment healthy and sustainable at the same time.

Why building energy performance policies should tackle indoor environment quality (IEQ)

Good indoor environmental quality (IEQ) has a pivotal role in people’s health, productivity, and wellbeing. According to a recent policy paper of BPIE, around 2.2 million Europeans suffer from asthma due to unhealthy living conditions, while 110 million people live in buildings with high concentrations of hazardous pollutants due to inadequate ventilation. Buildings with good indoor environment quality level on the other hand contribute to the health and productivity of building users and increase their work or learning performance. The importance and the non-energy related benefits of high IEQ and comfort in buildings are analysed by several studies and has been advocated by REHVA along many EU stakeholders for decades.

Read the full article on REHVA blog.