Brussels- Green MEP for Dublin, Ciarán Cuffe has welcomed the release of the European Commission’s Renovation Wave strategy that aims to address the EU’s low renovation rates and tackle the underlying barriers for improving the energy efficiency of the EU building stock.Mr Cuffe recently authored a report in the European Parliament calling for sustainable recovery through building renovations across Europe. It is clear that the Commission was able to take on board many of the ideas outlined in the Cuffe Report and incorporate them into the renovation wave strategy. Foremost amongst these is the introduction of minimum energy performance standards as part of the revision of the Energy Performance of Building Directive, the promotion of decarbonised heating and cooling systems, and using renovation as a level to address energy poverty.Commenting on the strategy, Ciarán Cuffe MEP said: “I welcome the Commission’s important communication today. If we are going to reduce our contribution to climate change drastically, we need a dynamic strategy that works for people and the planet. We now have an opportunity to ensure that the Renovation Wave is for everyone. It will help us fight energy poverty- Close to 50 million people in the EU were late or unable to pay their utility bills in 2019. This has only increased during Covid19 as people are stuck in inefficient houses. By increasing renovations, we’ll create more efficient homes - meaning lower utility bills and warmer homes. Increased renovations mean more local jobs not only for the construction sector but also for renewable and digital industries. A massive boost for the Covid economic recovery.”Cuffe went on to say “We know renovated homes are energy-efficient homes. The more efficient our buildings are, the less greenhouse gas they emit. Up to 40% of the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions are from the building sector. We need to address this to meet our urgent climate goals. The renovation wave helps us achieve this. It is now up to the Commission and the Member States to ensure that Europe reaps the benefits of increased renovations. If we work together on European, national, and local levels, we can make sure that the Renovation Wave is a success for all”.