Online interview: Verena Oberrauch in conversation with GW Editor-in-Chief Daniel Mund.
The EU Parliament recently voted for stricter energy efficiency requirements for buildings. Buildings that only achieve lower efficiency classes are to be compulsorily renovated. Some tabloid media are already talking about "renovation madness". EuroWindoor President Verena Oberrauch counters this in an interview and also says: renovation starts with the building envelope, not with building technology.
GW-News: What is EuroWindoor's position on the recent decisions in Strasbourg to increase building energy efficiency?
Verena Oberrauch: EuroWindoor welcomes measures that help to increase the renovation rate in Europe. We currently have a renovation rate of just over one per cent in the EU. This means that a building is renovated only once in a hundred years. That is far too little and also means that the building stock is massively outdated.
GW-News: Do you think the idea of mandatory renovation is the right approach?
We see the obligatory measures quite positively, because voluntary action has not provided enough impetus so far. The principle that ownership obliges should also apply to the energy efficiency of buildings. In the case of cars, it is normal to have to undergo obligatory inspections at certain intervals to ensure that they are fit for use and also that they comply with emissions standards.
Buildings must be safe and also conform to the climate targets we have set ourselves. The social consensus for climate protection is there, now it is a matter of developing specific measures how we can also achieve these set goals - and the building sector plays an essential role here. At some point, we also have to get down to "doing" and not just always talking about targets.
No one would accept us driving around in old cars that massively pollute the environment. Why doesn't that also apply to buildings?
EuroWindoor
GW-News: But there are examples - like in your country Italy - where a real renovation boom was triggered with state measures based on voluntary action.
The model has created a very strong monetary incentive and thus managed to achieved a lot.
GW-News: Politicians and the media are currently rushing into the topic of building technology. One can get the impression that modern heating systems like the heat pump can take care of the climate change single-handedly, can't they?
As an umbrella organisation, we say what all building experts actually say: renovation starts with the building envelope. And there with the component that is easiest to renovate. Windows are the logical first step, and replacing them is comparatively easy. It is also possible to carry out window replacement in a minimally invasive manner; the burden on residents is then particularly low. Window replacement is always worthwhile if the old elements date back to before 1990. In addition, there is the living comfort that new windows bring.
GW-News: Do you have any criticism of the proposed legislation?
As far as the energy issue is concerned, EuroWindoor would have liked the solar gains of windows and facades to be taken into account for buildings. Unfortunately, the approach remains that you can achieve a lot with a lot of insulation.
The interview was conducted by Daniel Mund, Editor-in-Chief of the magazine GW.
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