Climate Resilience Through Social Housing Renovation: Insights from the Basque

A recent study conducted in the Basque region examines how renovating social housing buildings can improve climate resilience, enhance energy efficiency, and reduce carbon emissions. The research, focusing on real user consumption and environmental impacts, assesses the effectiveness of passive and active renovation strategies under different climate change scenarios.

With climate change expected to moderately warm the region, the study finds that reducing heating demand remains crucial, while active measures play a key role in maintaining indoor comfort levels.

Key Findings from the Study

📌 Energy Efficiency Gains

• Deep passive renovations can cut heating demand by up to 82.2% in worst-case climate scenarios.
• Despite projected warming, passive renovations remain essential for reducing energy consumption.

📌 Indoor Comfort and Active Measures

• Climate change alone may help tenants achieve better indoor temperatures in winter, but passive renovations are still needed to reduce energy use.
• Active renovation measures, such as improved heating systems and ventilation, are necessary to maintain stable thermal comfort across seasons.

📌 Environmental Impact and CO₂ Reduction

• Using sustainable materials in renovations can reduce Non-Renewable Primary Energy Consumption (NRPEC) by up to 6.5% and cut CO₂ emissions by 3.7% over a building’s lifecycle.
• The operational energy savings from deep renovations significantly outweigh the environmental impact of construction materials.

📌 Future Climate Adaptation

• While heating demand is expected to drop, the risk of overheating remains low in the Basque Country, with less than 4% of annual hours exceeding 26°C.
• A balanced approach combining passive renovations and active systems is needed to ensure buildings remain resilient in changing climate conditions.

Policy Implications and Next Steps

The findings highlight the need for targeted renovation policies that prioritize passive efficiency measures while ensuring active systems support long-term climate adaptation. The study reinforces the importance of holistic renovation strategies that integrate energy efficiency, thermal comfort, and environmental sustainability in social housing projects.

📌 Source: Journal of Building Engineering (2024)