Europeans spend the majority of their lives indoors. The quality of our homes, workplaces and public buildings is therefore central to public health and everyday wellbeing. A healthy building will provide the right conditions for people to flourish, from thermal comfort, and good air quality, to adequate daylight, social spaces and accessibility.   

To understand how healthy buildings are experienced in practice, Buildings Performance Institute Europe, in collaboration with VELUX, conducted a Citizens’ Survey across six European countries. We asked people how their buildings perform, how indoor environments affect their health, and what changes they want to see. 

The results send a clear signal: citizens recognise the importance of healthy buildings, and want to see action from their governments. 

Key findings 

Indoor environments directly affect wellbeing 
39% of respondents say their physical and mental wellbeing is strongly affected by the conditions in their homes. More than half of workers report similar impacts in their offices. Healthy buildings are therefore not only an energy or housing issue: they are a public health priority. 

Buildings struggle with climate extremes 
Nearly half (45%) of respondents believe their homes are not equipped to handle extreme heat, while 25% say their homes cannot cope with cold conditions. With no clear north-south divide across Europe in people’s perceptions, this highlights growing concerns about comfort, resilience and climate adaptation. 

Strong support for healthier standards 
Six in ten Europeans believe there should be stricter regulations to ensure buildings are designed and maintained to support health. Citizens see a clear role for policy in raising standards. At the same time, 70% of people say they are not aware of current healthy buildings standards – a major gap between public support for action and the perceived opportunities for implementation.  

Practical barriers get in the way of healthy renovations 
The main obstacles preventing people from improving their homes are financial constraints and a lack of knowledge about effective solutions. This underlines the need for targeted financial support and accessible information. 

Renovation over relocation 
Only 35% would consider moving to a healthier home. Many people are deeply attached to where they live, reinforcing the importance of renovation, better standards and awareness-raising rather than relying on relocation. 

The Healthy Buildings, Healthy Lives Citizens’ Survey demonstrates that Europeans understand the link between buildings and health. The challenge now is to translate this awareness into policies and investments that deliver healthier indoor environments.