{"id":23622,"date":"2025-02-14T09:50:31","date_gmt":"2025-02-14T08:50:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/fhse-en\/?post_type=news&p=23622"},"modified":"2025-02-19T08:10:58","modified_gmt":"2025-02-19T07:10:58","slug":"houseeurope-stop-demolition-boost-renovation","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/fhse-en\/news\/houseeurope-stop-demolition-boost-renovation\/","title":{"rendered":"HouseEurope! Stop demolition, boost renovation!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Globally, the construction sector accounts for 38% of global CO2<\/sup> emissions. By comparison, the aviation sector accounts for only 3.5%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Luxembourg is no exception to this trend, as more than 80% of the country’s total waste volume is construction-related. Despite housing shortages, it is estimated that between 5 and 10% of houses in Luxembourg are empty. In this context, renovation must become a first choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

HouseEurope!<\/em>, supported by citizens and partners across the continent, has decided to change the situation through citizen mobilisation. The common goal is to collect as many votes as possible, in order to initiate a decisive change and make renovation simpler, less expensive and more accessible than demolition. If one million European citizens support the request, the European Commission will  examine its proposal and set up a working group. Luxembourg can play a decisive role in the success of this initiative, by collecting 4,500 signatures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The University of Luxembourg, through its Master in Architecture <\/a>programme, joins forces with ten Luxembourg partners, including LUCA, L\u00ebtzebuerger Denkmalschutz, OAI, INPA, the Mouvement \u00e9cologique and Oekozenter Paffendall to lead the campaign. Coordinated by Prof. Florian Hertweck<\/a>, the campaign will offer numerous opportunities to get informed and get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nWhat is HouseEurope asking for?<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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  1. Tax breaks<\/strong> for sustainable renovations and reused materials, for example, an ultra-reduced VAT rate (on all buildings, not just residential ones).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2.  Fair and transparent rules<\/strong> for assessing the potential of existing buildings, so that risks are not the only factors considered.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. and new values for the embodied energy and CO2 content<\/strong> related to existing structures, which are otherwise not taken into account.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    • \n Sign now<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n
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