The results of the Healthy Buildings Barometer 2024 show that 1 in 4 Europeans live in homes where indoor air does not meet national standards, and more than 30 million European citizens face a lack of adequate natural light in their homes.

In this context, the latest study conducted by Reveal Marketing Research for the Romania Eficienta program analyzes Romanians’ perception of the impact of increasing the energy efficiency of buildings on physical and mental health.

• Protecting health (16%) is the second most important aspect influenced by the energy efficiency of buildings, after reducing the value of bills (19%).

• Hospitals (81%), schools (78%) and apartment buildings (74%) are the main “unhealthy” buildings that should benefit from improving energy efficiency.

According to the study, 21% of Romanians consider that protecting health and reducing pollution are the main advantages of increasing the energy efficiency of buildings.

The most important aspects influenced by improving energy performance are reducing utility costs (19%), improving individual health (16%) and increasing personal comfort (15%). And reducing financial stress, together with a healthier and more comfortable indoor environment, contributes to a general state of well-being, both physically and mentally.

In addition, 7 out of 10 Romanians agree that energy waste contributes to the acceleration of climate change, a view expressed to a greater extent by women (76%), compared to men (64%). These results reveal a high level of awareness regarding the direct relationship between energy efficiency, environmental protection and collective health.

Buildings play an important role in protecting the health of the community, and an energy-Eficienta environment contributes significantly to reducing health risks, improving the quality of life and increasing the comfort of users.

A percentage of 65% – 81% of Romanians therefore recognize the importance of increasing the energy efficiency of all types of buildings. The highest percentages were recorded in the category of people over 45 years old, with an increase of 5-7% for all the indicators analyzed.

In the top of the buildings for which increasing energy performance is the most important we find hospitals (81%), schools (78%) and apartment buildings (74%).

The Reveal Marketing Research study conducted for the Romania Eficienta program was conducted online, between November 21-29, 2024, on a nationally representative urban sample of 1003 respondents over 18 years old.