Removing social and economic barriers to decarbonising heating

Our buildings add a substantial 35% to Europe’s total energy related emissions! Therefore, decarbonising our homes via heat pumps and renewable district heating is crucial for effectively fighting climate change.

Changing heating systems is often the costliest part in refurbishing buildings. Many households cannot afford these high upfront investment costs. Even if in the long run this would be compensated by lower energy bills.

Discover our Zooming-in report on removing social and economic barriers to achieving sustainable heating solutions for all. Learn about the installation situation of heat pumps across Europe and the potential for scale-up. Various member states offer incentivising schemes and can serve as examples for how to accelerate low carbon heating, from direct grants to subsidies for operational costs.

Social buffers and incentives are crucial to leave no one behind and take citizens along with the transition. Otherwise climate targets for buildings will not be achieved in time.

Author: Steffen Verheyen