Renovating a building can offer many benefits to the building users and the society at large.

It has the potential not only of mitigating climate change by improving energy efficiency and reducing emissions but also of lowering energy bills and improving indoor comfort. In most cases, renovations are more sustainable than tearing down a building or building something new. Renovating a building sustainably implies the use of sustainable materials, repurposing materials as much as possible and considering the change of climate (e.g. frequent hot summers). The use of greener and energy-efficient appliances is also a way to incorporate sustainability into your building renovation.

For more information, please see our briefings: 'Building renovation: where circular economy and climate meet', 'Cooling buildings sustainably in Europe: exploring the links between climate change mitigation and adaptation', and their social impacts, 'Decarbonising heating and cooling — a climate imperative' and 'Accelerating the energy efficiency renovation of residential buildings — a behavioural approach'.