A better quality of life for millions

We need to take action

Buildings play a key role in securing a sustainable future. Unless they start using significantly less energy, we will not be able to reach the Paris Agreement’s goal to limit global temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. Today, buildings account for one-third of the energy we use and approximately 20 percent of our global CO₂ emissions¹: these emissions doubled between 1990 and 2010 and are forecast to do so again by 2050²  if no further action is taken.

Better insulation can help to significantly reverse this trend. Globally, existing energy efficiency technology can reduce the amount of energy that buildings use by between 50 and 90 percent, which would have a huge impact on their CO₂ emissions. In the EU alone, proper insulation could help save up to 70 percent of our heating needs³.  

The positive impact of insulation 

However, the benefits of energy renovation extend far beyond reaching climate goals. A 2017 study⁴ shows  that better health resulting from a good indoor environment could help to significantly finance energy renovation programmes by reducing healthcare costs, especially in the worst-performing buildings or where energy poverty is a real issue. 

Insulation has other positive impacts on quality of life. New research⁵ suggests that sleep deprivation is associated with shorter lifespans, cancer, Alzheimer’s, heart disease and mental health problems. Yet in Europe, around 30 percent of people⁶ have their sleep disturbed by noise. This issue disproportionately affects people in energy poverty, who are more likely to be disturbed by noise from neighbours. Because it also reduces noise levels, better thermal insulation can therefore have a wider positive impact on people’s wellbeing.

And when buildings are renovated, they typically look better. More pleasant neighbourhoods create a “virtuous circle” where people are inspired to care for their local environment and one another, transforming an area into a better place to live.

With the ability to improve health and wellbeing as well as help limit climate change, insulation can contribute to a better quality of life for people everywhere in the world.

_{^{1 "Energy efficiency potential in buildings", OECD/IEA, 2016
2 "Constructing the future: creating a Paris Agreement-proof building sector", Climate Action Tracker Partners, 2016
3 Heating and cooling info graphic
4 "Adapting an English methodology to assess health cost benefits of upgrading energy inefficient French dwellings", ec eee, 2017
5 "Sleep should be prescribed': what those late nights out could be costing you", The Guardian, 2017
6 Berglund B, Lindvall T, Schwela HD, editors. Guidelines for community noise. Geneva: World Health Organization}}