High-Rise Refurbishment

The report "Energy Efficiency in the Refurbishment of High-Rise Residential Buildings" by Paul Waide International Energy Agency, Pedro Guertler, and Winton Smith Consultants, part of a series commissioned by the International Energy Agency and EuroACE, focuses on the energy-saving potential in high-rise residential buildings across the European Union. The study identifies a significant cost-effective energy-saving opportunity in refurbishing this sector, estimating a potential of 28% energy savings from energy-efficient upgrades.

Key points from the report include:

• Number of Houses: Around 36 million households in Europe reside in high-rise buildings, accounting for roughly one-sixth of all households.

• Energy Saving Potential: Achieving this 28% saving could reduce Europe's total final energy demand by 1.5% and lead to annual CO2 emissions reductions of 35 million tons.

• Refurbishment Focus: The report highlights that only the least efficient buildings require refurbishment to realize these average stock savings. Typical heating energy savings from refurbishment can reach up to 70-80%.

• Barriers to Refurbishment: Market failures, lack of owner motivation, and difficulty in establishing capital investment agreements contribute to the slow pace of refurbishment. The financial burden falls disproportionately on tenants, who often do not own their properties.

• Quantitative Assessment: While not all energy efficiency improvements were quantified, the study included wall, roof, and floor insulation, window replacement, and heating system improvements, all aimed at reducing heating demands.

• Results Overview:

  • Reduction of Heating Demand: The models showed substantial energy savings, ranging from approximately 70% to 80% of heating demand.
  • Costs: The energy-related investment cost is roughly half the cost of improving energy efficiency separately from general refurbishment.
  • Benefits and Costs: Energy prices are higher in EU15 countries compared to EU10 and Accession states. However, considering reduced household energy expenditure, there is a net benefit resulting from the investment.
  • CO2 Mitigation: The net CO2 mitigation costs are lowest in EU15 countries, while gross CO2 mitigation costs are lowest in EU10 and Accession states.

• High-Rise Stock Assessment: The report suggests substantial reductions in CO2 emissions from the entire European high-rise building stock, with the highest potential found in Eastern Europe.

This comprehensive study underscores the significant energy-saving and environmental benefits of refurbishing high-rise residential buildings in Europe, highlighting the need for policy interventions and incentives to facilitate this process.