Sign now. Share widely. Renovation needs Europe’s voice before January 31, 2026.

With only weeks left before the deadline, HouseEurope! is calling on everyone working in and around sustainable architecture to help amplify a simple but urgent message: Europe cannot meet its climate, housing, or social goals by demolishing what we already have. This European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) aims to collect one million signatures by January 31, 2026, triggering a formal response from the European Commission and opening the door to policy change.

What is HouseEurope!?

HouseEurope! is a pan-European initiative advocating for a shift from demolition-led development to renovation, reuse, and transformation of existing buildings. Today, buildings account for around 38% of global CO₂ emissions, with a large share coming not from operation but from construction itself. Demolition and new-build projects often erase embodied carbon, displace communities, and destroy cultural heritage. Meanwhile, renovation can cut emissions, preserve affordability, and keep neighborhoods intact.

Why this matters for sustainable architecture

For architects, planners, and designers committed to sustainability, HouseEurope! aligns practice with policy. The initiative pushes for:

• Renovation as the default, not the exception
• Fairer economic frameworks that make reuse viable
• Job creation in skilled, local renovation work
• Protection of social and cultural value embedded in existing buildings

In short: saving energy, saving jobs, saving homes, and saving memories.

Why now

Successful ECIs in the past have shown that signature numbers often grow exponentially in the final weeks. Momentum is building, but reaching one million signatures requires broad visibility beyond the usual circles. That’s where the sustainable design community plays a critical role.

If you believe the greenest building is the one already standing, now is the moment to act. Sign the initiative, share it with your networks, and help make renovation the new norm in Europe.

🕒 Deadline: January 31, 2026

✍️ Sign & share the HouseEurope! ECI: European Citizens’ Initiative – Online Collection System