© Bernd Lauter / Greenpeace

Brussels – The EU’s housing strategy, proposed by the European Commission today, must focus on affordability for people to live, not simply free up property developers to boost their business, Greenpeace has warned.

Energy bills account for around a fifth of people’s housing costs in the EU, while transport costs people on average half as much as housing. The energy efficiency, how easy a home is to heat or cool, as well as if affordable transport options are available, contribute significantly to how much it costs to live somewhere.

Greenpeace EU spokesperson John Hyland said: “There is clearly a housing crisis in Europe, and solutions are long overdue, but there is a serious risk that the EU’s plans serve unscrupulous property developers instead of families in need of a home. Homes must be affordable to heat and cool, and to get to and from, as well as to buy or rent – energy performance standards and good planning are crucial for this. Getting more homes on the market must not come at the cost of safety and energy efficiency, or ruining ecosystems we rely on.”

Greenpeace is also calling for the rollout of renewable energy heating systems in homes, to help households move away from fossil-fuel powered heating systems. The residential sector uses about 40% of the fossil gas burned in the EU.

Contacts:

Greenpeace EU press desk: +32 (0)2 274 1911, [email protected]

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Greenpeace is an independent global campaigning network that acts to change attitudes and behaviour, to protect and conserve the environment and to promote peace. We do not accept donations from governments, the EU, businesses or political parties. Greenpeace has over three million supporters, and 26 independent national and regional organisations with offices in more than 55 countries.

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