Belgium focuses on energy upgrading

As in most countries, from now to 2050 the Belgian construction industry will be driven mainly by the energy upgrading segment, with work required on almost 5 million houses at an average rate of around 143,000 houses/year.

The aim is to reduce average energy consumption from the current level of 149 kWh/m² to between 60 and 100 kWh/m², a goal that will require insulation of the entire building.

The current scale of the work, which will also be extended to non-residential buildings, is currently well below the target volumes for the coming years.

According to the forecasts of the Belgian Federal Public Service (FPS) Public Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment, adopting passive criteria on the new houses will enable greenhouse gas emissions to be reduced by around 80% by 2050.

The new housing trends are also focusing on ever smaller housing units due to the new composition of households, with fewer couples and larger numbers of single and elderly people. According to estimates, the numbers of single-parent families are expected to grow by 2050, driving the small-scale housing market.