The Affordable Housing Plan is a forthcoming initiative of the European Commission to find solutions to the current housing crisis. Over the last 10 years, house prices in the EU have risen by an average of 48%. Products such as European-made high-performance glazing for flat glass have a crucial role to play in alleviating housing prices.

Flat glass is an indispensable material in buildings, with 75% of European flat glass production dedicated to the building sector. High-performance glazing improves insulation, reduces energy consumption for heating and cooling, and supports on-site renewable energy generation through solar panels and building-integrated photovoltaics. Beyond these benefits, flat glass products improve occupant comfort and health while also lowering energy bills and increasing disposable income.

With 75% of the EU’s building stock being energy inefficient, many citizens are exposed to soaring energy prices. Given that windows account for up to 30% of energy loss in buildings, high-performance glazing products offer a practical solution to improving living conditions and reducing buildings running costs. Energy efficiency must be seen as an enabler of affordability, not a constraint.

As the European institutions explore policy solutions for the forthcoming Affordable Housing Plan, Glass for Europe believes that the role of sustainable and efficient construction materials should be a key part of the discussion.

This dedicated page brings together all our resources on the role of flat glass in helping to tackle the housing crisis.