For sustainable construction and affordable housing

Housing should not be a luxury. Everyone deserves a home that offers security and prospects. The building sector is not only an important economic factor, but also one of the biggest levers for climate protection: it accounts for around 40 percent of CO₂ emissions and more than half of all domestic resources. With the Building Energy Act, which I was able to negotiate in this legislative period, we have taken an important first step. But that is not enough. As a civil engineer, I know how cities and villages can be designed so that they remain livable. Millions of apartments could be built if we remodel buildings, use space better and plan more sustainably. Green roofs, expanded supermarkets and converted office space create living space, protect the climate and improve the quality of life. Dresden and Saxony can set an example: climate protection and affordable housing are not mutually exclusive. The “Platte” in Dresden is just one example.