Flanders has the best renovation strategy in Europe after Spain

Flanders and Finland are just behind Spain in having Europe’s best long-term renovation strategy. That is what Buildings Performance Institute Europe (BPIE), the independent European study centre on the energy efficiency of buildings, says in a new report. While Flanders scores 3.3 out of 5, the Brussels-Capital Region has a failing score of 1.9 out of 5. The Walloon Region has not yet even submitted a plan.

As a study centre, the BPIE has been closely monitoring the evolution towards climate neutrality since the announcement of the European Commission’s Renovation Wave. The organisation endorses the Paris Agreement and monitors the efforts of the various Member States. A new report published the day before yesterday examines the long-term strategies of 12 Member States and two Belgian regions. The third Belgian region, Wallonia, is conspicuously absent from the report. The reason: Wallonia has not yet submitted a plan to the European Commission despite the deadline of 10 March.

Ambitious, achievable and affordable

“Everyone has to put their own house in order, but Flanders is already assuming its responsibility,” says Flemish Environment Minister Zuhal Demir. “The Flemish building stock is very outdated. By 2050, 2.9 million homes will have to be substantially renovated to reduce energy consumption. That is 96.5% of the housing stock. This is a considerable task, but we, as the Flemish Government, want to take it on in a manner that is ambitious, achievable and affordable.” Minister Zuhal Demir hopes that others will follow the Flemish example by dedicating themselves fully to renovation or at least drawing up a plan for it.

Flanders scores 4 out of 5 on most parameters

The assessment of the 2050 Flemish long-term renovation strategy is very positive. Together with Finland, Flanders scores 3.3 out of 5, and only Spain has a higher score of 4.2. Flanders scores 4 out of 5 on most parameters. The BPIE notes that public consultation on the plan could have led to an even better plan. The Brussels-Capital Region fails with a score of 1.9 out of 5.

For Flemish Minister of Environment and Energy Zuhal Demir, such a good evaluation is a boost. “Lower energy bills for people, lower CO2 emissions and more jobs in the construction sector. There is only one measure that takes care of all three at the same time: renovation. It was obvious to me that our Flemish renovation strategy had to be put together well in order to achieve an average of 100,000 renovated houses per year. The fact that our efforts are also recognised at European level strengthens our conviction that the measures we are developing will pay off.”

Up to 18 jobs per million euros in renovation

The Flemish renovation strategy also includes some new measures for 2021. For example, the start of the interest-free renovation loan and the label premium for families who buy, are given or inherit a house. But there will also be increased premiums for roof, wall and floor insulation, high-efficiency glass and heat pumps to speed up the energy transition for families with electric heating. Finally, the reform towards a single, overarching and simplified housing and renovation premium is also planned from 2022 onwards. “What matters now is to put our strategy into practice. Every million euros we invest in the renovation sector provides up to 18 jobs, says the European Commission. So the fact that renovation can be an important part of the recovery measures is only logical,” Zuhal Demir concludes.