The VELUX Group has unveiled an ambitious new experiment called Re:Living, marking the next phase of their Action Leadership agenda focused on reimagining how existing buildings can better serve both human health and environmental sustainability. This initiative represents a significant shift from new construction to renovation, building upon decades of demonstration projects and research into healthy building design, including their successful Living Places project that achieved an ultra-low carbon footprint while maintaining exceptional indoor climate conditions in an affordable and accessible manner.
Re:Living approaches renovation as more than just a technical upgrade, positioning it instead as a comprehensive opportunity to enhance human well-being, support biodiversity, and reduce environmental impact. This forward-thinking experiment is part of VELUX's long-term commitment to leading the building industry toward healthier and more sustainable practices, driven by the belief that simply reducing harm is no longer sufficient in addressing today's environmental challenges.
The initiative addresses several urgent global challenges that demand immediate attention. Currently, the built environment accounts for one-third of all global emissions, pushing our planet beyond sustainable limits. Wildlife populations have experienced a devastating 73% decline since 1970, with construction-related material consumption being responsible for threatening 29% of all endangered species. Simultaneously, one in four Europeans lives in homes with poor indoor air quality, while 146 million buildings across Europe require significant upgrades by 2050 to meet climate targets established under the Paris Agreement.
The scale of these interconnected problems presents both a massive challenge and an unprecedented opportunity for the construction industry to rethink its approach to renovation. Re:Living poses a fundamental question: What if our existing buildings could become part of the solution to create the homes we need for the planet we want? The initiative aims to shift the entire building industry from being a source of extraction to becoming a force for regeneration of both our planet and ourselves.
The Re:Living experiment will begin by systematically identifying key challenges and opportunities within the renovation sector. The program will bring together changemakers, leading experts, and industry pioneers to collaborate in co-creating innovative ideas through a series of specialized events and workshops. These exchanges are designed to cross-pollinate ideas and develop a comprehensive framework and concept that will eventually be tested through full-scale proofs of concept, with plans to scale successful approaches through partnerships with pioneering organizations to drive meaningful impact across the industry.
Central to the Re:Living approach is the People and Planet Model, which emphasizes the critical importance of building for both human inhabitants and environmental health while maintaining affordability. This model focuses on making decisions that not only reduce carbon emissions but also actively restore biodiversity, recognizing the deep interconnection between human health and planetary health.
The People and Planet Model has been specifically developed to elevate the dialogue about buildings toward a more holistic understanding of the built environment. It integrates key scientific frameworks, including the concept of planetary boundaries, to provide a comprehensive approach to sustainable building design and renovation. By applying this scientific foundation, the model offers a practical framework for creating buildings that support both ecological resilience and human health.
The model includes specific indicators for human well-being, encompassing daylight access, thermal comfort, indoor air quality, and acoustic performance. For planetary health, it addresses critical factors including biodiversity loss prevention, CO₂ emissions reduction, and energy efficiency optimization. This dual focus ensures that renovation projects deliver benefits for both occupants and the broader environment, creating a more sustainable and livable built environment for future generations.
