EPEE, the European Partnership for Energy and the Environment, welcomes the proposal for a recovery plan for Europe, which recognizes the urgent need to boost the renovation of public and residential buildings to boost the EU economy and reduce emissions, thus establishing the right direction to prioritize clean air.

The COVID-19 crisis has taught us many lessons, but one is particularly surprising: when the consumption of coal and oil plummeted in Europe, air pollution levels improved dramatically. The improvement in air quality resulted in 11,000 fewer deaths and avoided many other negative health effects caused by air pollution caused by the combustion of less coal and oil. This is what the latest results from the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) say.

Heating and cooling play an important role in this context, as the sector is responsible for almost half of the final energy consumption in Europe, of which about 80% is still based on fossil fuels, particularly in heating. This share can be radically reduced with a short-term effect, as sustainable heating and cooling technologies are readily available to be widely used, especially in energy building renovations.

Andrea Voigt, general manager of EPEE, said: «Heat pumps, district heating and cooling, recovery of residual heat: they are all solutions to use energy more efficiently, adopting an integrated approach to heating and cooling and supporting the gradual elimination of fossil fuels. They also present an important additional and often underestimated "side effect": the significant improvement in the air we breathe. This is true of our external environment, but even more inside, where Europeans spend an average of 90% of their time working, learning, shopping and socializing ".

HVACR installations help to ensure reliable circulation of fresh air in internal spaces by supplying outside air and increasing air exchange rates. Filters integrated into HVACR equipment also help capture particles and reduce their transmission. The highest standards of quality and comfort of indoor air, provided by efficient and cutting-edge heating, cooling and ventilation systems are essential to guarantee the health and productivity of users of the building and increase their work and learning.

Voigt concluded: "Investing in sustainable heating and cooling is a real win-win solution in the broader context of Europe's green recovery. It will guarantee an improvement in the health, productivity and well-being of citizens, while promoting the economy and achieving energy and climate objectives ".