Environmental challenges
for existing buildings

Existing buildings: a new environmental challenge

The worldwide trend towards sustainable buildings, which began in the 1990s, is now gaining speed due to recent climate and energy issues.

Improving the environmental performance of existing properties is commonly recognised today as a priority to meet climate change challenges.

Today, the building industry is at the core of sustainability issues:

  • it produces 40% of CO2 emissions
  • it is responsible for the use of 40% of natural resources
  • it is responsible for 40% of the waste produced
  • the resultant urbanisation has an impact on the environment
  • it has an impact on human health ("sick building syndrome").