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Council of Gas Detection and Environmental Monitoring

CoGDEM

EU trade association developing ambitious EU International codes and standards for high quality gas detection equipment services.

Lobbying Activity

Response to Heating and cooling strategy

6 Oct 2025

The Council of Gas Detection and Environmental Monitoring (CoGDEM EU) welcomes the renewed political momentum around building renovations, heating & cooling and affordable/decent housing in current EU policy discussions. There is no question that we need to accelerate both the rate and depth of energy renovations in the EU and decarbonise heating & cooling. However, CoGDEM EU warns that renovations can cause airtight homes and have unintended negative consequences, deteriorating indoor environmental quality (IEQ) and increasing safety risks. For instance, indoor CO and volatile organic compounds (VOC) levels can rise beyond comfortable and safe levels. In this context, it is critical to ensure proper building ventilation and regularly test IEQ levels using EN-certified testing devices. One of the indoor air pollutants requiring close attention from public authorities is carbon monoxide (CO), often referred to as the silent killer. An odourless, colourless gas, CO causes thousands of injuries and fatalities in the EU every year. Intoxications are entirely preventable through simple safety measures though. In light of the still dominant share of natural gas in the heating & cooling energy mix, and given the fact that the transition to a renewables-based heating & cooling sector is going to take years, it is absolutely critical to tackle IEQ, raise awareness on gas/CO risks and take preventive measures such as regular inspections, maintenance and testing of appliances (using EN-certified flue gas analysers and other test equipment), and the use of EN-compliant CO alarms. CoGDEM EU urges policymakers and public authorities to stop CO poisonings by following CoGDEM EUs recommendations, grouped under 5 themes see attached position paper. There is a strong correlation between energy poverty and exposure to domestic safety hazards such as CO leaks and fires, and the ongoing EU discussions on heating & cooling and affordable housing should duly take into consideration such health and 'life safety' considerations (encompassing fire, electrical, gas and carbon monoxide (CO) safety). CoGDEM EU stresses that decent housing should always be safe and not undermine the health of its occupants (humans and pets alike), and that affordability should never come at the expense of life safety. We call for a truly holistic approach to building renovations and H&C system upgrades, not only focusing on energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emission reductions, but also on life safety and the health & wellbeing of occupants.
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Meeting with Adam Jarubas (Member of the European Parliament) and European Chemical Industry Council and

15 Nov 2023 · EFSW2023: Taking stock of progress on fire safety – what should the Commission and Parliament do to improve fire safety in Europe?