The Build Better Lives campaign has launched a special activity for decisionmakers in which they get to renovate their very own DIY paper house from the comfort of their desks. They will find out how much they can save in energy consumption and bills by collecting renovation “tools” to transition to an energy efficient home by the end of the year.
Why now?
Europe urgently needs to renovate its inefficient and outdated housing stock to reduce CO2 emissions, lift millions out of energy poverty and adapt to a changing climate.
Decisionmakers have multiple tools at their disposal to address the state of the EU’s outdated and wasteful homes:
- the implementation of the Energy Performance Buildings Directive (EPBD)
- the European Affordable Housing Plan
- an EU-wide anti-poverty strategy
We need them to pick up these tools and put them to action in order to deliver decent, sustainable and energy-efficient homes for all – especially the most vulnerable households.
With the creation of a special committee on housing in the European Parliament, and the appointment of a commissioner for energy & housing, there has never been a better time to call for energy-efficient homes for all. There are plenty of solutions available to the housing crisis and they need to be implemented in way that ensures everyone can benefit from the green energy transition.
What’s your new year’s renovation?
To drive change, the campaign will send decisionmakers a bi-monthly reminder of the scope and breadth of solutions that are available to deliver sustainable homes for all. Through a set of tangible assets, the action will cover:
- What an energy efficient home looks like
- How to ensure the most vulnerable groups of people can enjoy the benefits of home renovations
- What is needed to secure the above
- How much can be saved in energy consumption and cost through energy efficiency upgrades
How it works
- Decision-makers receive a card titled “What’s your new year’s renovation?” Opening the card reveals a dilapidated house—a visual representation of a home in need of energy efficiency upgrades
- Throughout the year, decision-makers will receive collectible stickers representing energy-efficiency upgrades, such as double-glazed windows, solar panels, and insulation. These stickers can be used to renovate their house, showing the transformative power of home improvements for people and the environment
- Each sticker comes with a letter that outlines the importance of the specific renovation item, the opportunities it presents, and why supportive measures are needed to make this renovation tool accessible for all Europeans
- The first letter will include an energy bill for their delipidated house
- The final letter will include an energy bill detailing what they have saved and gained after transforming their home into an energy-efficient one
The action will start after the announcement of the special committee of housing and the first renovation tool will be on One-Stop-Shops. You can find out more here.
Why this is important?
The aim of this interactive experience is to show decisionmakers the importance of decent, energy-efficient homes in a playful way. It is designed to encourage them to pick up the available tools for transforming the EU’s building stock and experiment with the solutions that are available for a truly just and inclusive energy transition
- This content was originally posted on the Build Better Lives campaign website (BBL).
- The collectibles action campaign was launched together with CAN Europe in January 2025 and ran until December 2025. You can find out more about the action here and read up on each of the highlighted renovation steps that were turned into collectible stickers in their respective blogs on the BBL website: one-stop-shops, insulation, windows, heat pumps, solar power.
