Renovation rates too slow to meet 2030 building emissions goals
11 August 2025
Despite pledges to cut building emissions by 2030, a new report shows renovation rates remain below the level needed to meet EU targets.
The analysis from the Buildings Performance Institute Europe (BPIE) shows that only 0.4% of the continent’s commercial buildings get energy‑performance renovations each year – 10 times less than the goal. At this speed, more than 99% of buildings will fail to meet the 2030 benchmark that countries pledged to achieve at COP28 climate summit.
EU law requires that 16% of the least‑efficient buildings be renovated within the next five years. With fewer than 0.5% upgraded annually, even the minimum goal is unreachable, say energy efficiency experts from Exergio, a company developing AI-based platforms for energy optimisation.
Buildings account for around 30% of global energy demand and 26% of energy‑related CO₂ emissions according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). They are the biggest emitters and improving their energy performance can help reach the 2030 COP28 target.
Yet the BPIE report shows recurring problems across regions, such as targets without enforcement and inconsistent performance standards. It also points out that no live operational data exists to support analysis and real‑time adjustments.
“Deep renovations are barely taking place across the built sector. We need to stop pretending they are,” comments Donatas Karčiauskas, CEO of Exergio. “You can’t fix what you can’t see, and right now, no one’s watching the numbers in real time. We need digital intelligence that identifies hidden inefficiencies and optimises entire building energy operations in real time.”
BPIE also recommends that countries go beyond total energy use and analyse how it’s spent across different systems, such as heating, cooling, and lighting, and how building spaces are used throughout the day.
According to experts, Europe’s tracking systems, such as Eurostat and the EU Building Stock Observatory, are still incomplete, but they offer valuable models for how countries can collect and compare building energy data.
BPIE also warns that efficiency can’t be judged by energy use alone – it should reflect how much energy is needed to keep spaces usable and comfortable.
Some of the tools to address these gaps already exist, Karčiauskas adds. Digital energy‑management platforms can monitor HVAC and other systems in real time, identify waste, and adjust operations across multiple buildings.
“Data is the fastest renovation tool we have. By coordinating loads and optimising controls, AI driven platforms can help buildings start operating efficiently without the long timelines and high costs of deep retrofits. This operational‑level approach, in our experience, has helped building owners to cut energy waste up to 29% and regain funds invested in one year. This brings us to the number‑one priority countries should set – to turn pledges into actual progress,” concludes Karčiauskas.
