February 2025
HouseEurope!

More than 300 citizens joined the kick-off event of the European citizens’ initiative HouseEurope! with Arno Brandlhuber and stakeholders from Luxembourg. 

Globally, the construction sector accounts for 38% of global CO2 emissions. By comparison, the aviation sector accounts for only 3.5%.

Luxembourg is no exception to this trend, as more than 80% of the country’s total waste volume is construction-related. Despite housing shortages, it is estimated that between 5 and 10% of houses in Luxembourg are empty. In this context, renovation must become a first choice.

HouseEurope!, supported by citizens and partners across the continent, has decided to change the situation through citizen mobilisation. The common goal is to collect as many votes as possible, in order to initiate a decisive change and make renovation simpler, less expensive and more accessible than demolition. If one million European citizens support the request, the European Commission will examine its proposal and set up a working group. Luxembourg can play a decisive role in the success of this initiative, by collecting 4,500 signatures.

The University of Luxembourg, through its Master in Architecture programme, joins forces with ten Luxembourg partners, including LUCA, Lëtzebuerger Denkmalschutz, OAI, INPA, the Mouvement écologique and Oekozenter Paffendall to lead the campaign. Coordinated by Prof. Florian Hertweck, the campaign will offer numerous opportunities to get informed and get involved.

How to act?
You can sign the petition directly online:

To better understand the challenges of deconstruction and the benefits of renovation, the University of Luxembourg is launching a series of conferences throughout the year, during which you can engage with experts from various fields.

Read the full article on the website of the University of Luxembourg.

For more information visit HouseEurope! or watch these trailers: Trailer 1 & Trailer 2