New Healthy Buildings Barometer outlines the way towards healthier, more sustainable and resilient buildings across Europe

Indoor health and comfort in European buildings are severely lagging. One in four Europeans resides in buildings where indoor air quality falls below national standards and more than 30 million citizens are affected by their dwellings being too dark, which can negatively impact both mental and physical health. 

In this context, the 2024 Healthy Buildings Barometer (HBB) launches today with a clear message: Action is needed at EU and national level to deliver healthy homes, workplaces, schools and hospitals. 

Since 2015, VELUX has facilitated the Healthy Homes Barometer project, tracking the state of European homes. The new edition, now called HBB, is developed by Buildings Performance Institute Europe (BPIE). It determines the need for significant action towards healthy buildings across all major building types and provides a way forward, including a definition and framework for healthy, sustainable and resilient buildings.

View the report here. 

Healthy buildings also deliver for the economy and the climate as case studies featured in the HBB show an 11.5% return on investment in renovation for a public building, plus a 30% reduction in climate impact. Moreover, healthier workplaces could lead to an additional €40 billion a year of gross added value to the European economy for every 1% improvement in employee performance.

Pivotal moment for European building and climate policy

The new framework presented in the HBB comes at a pivotal moment for European building and climate policy. It provides a reference point needed by national governments for the implementation of the new Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). 

Buildings that deliver on the five dimensions outlined in the new framework have a measurable impact on mental and physical health. Fewer sick days are taken, and performance in the workplace and in classrooms goes up from healthier workplaces and schools, including 10-18% increase from more exposure to daylight alone.

Introducing the healthy buildings framework: Five dimensions 

To guide EU policymakers on what makes a building healthy, sustainable and resilient, the HBB establishes a landmark new framework based on sound scientific research and illustrated through 12 case studies from across Europe. 

The framework is based on five interrelated dimensions with the following characteristics and objectives: 1) improve mental and physical health, 2) designed for human needs, 3) sustainably built and managed, 4) resilient and adaptive, and 5) empowering people. 

Each dimension is composed of a set of indicators, with a total of 24 indicators, guiding stakeholders in their decision-making process to achieve truly healthy, sustainable and resilient buildings.

Way forward: Building policies must mainstream health alongside climate mitigation 

The HBB takes a holistic approach, presenting several people-centric policy recommendations that call for enhanced collaboration between EU and national governments to develop stricter regulations and standards that prioritise health in addition to energy performance. 

To strengthen existing legislation, healthy building indicators should be integrated into the EU’s central data repository on buildings, the EU Building Stock Observatory (BSO), as well as national policy instruments, including financing. 

Making data accessible so that buildings’ health, sustainability and resilience can be tracked over time and ensuring decision-making tools such as building information modelling, renovation passports, or strategic and procedural tools will also contribute to the progress towards healthier European buildings, the HBB shows.