Extensive building renovations and the use of heat pumps could nearly halve Europe’s Russian gas use, researchers said on Friday, although industry groups said this would require a substantial increase in policy support and funding. The European Commission this month will unveil plans to end Europe’s reliance on Russian gas, by boosting renewable energy, saving energy and increasing non-Russian gas imports. Renovating Europe’s least energy-efficient buildings and switching their heating systems to heat pumps could aid that goal by cutting annual EU gas demand by about 70 billion cubic metres (bcm), consultancy Guidehouse said in a report which was backed by insulation firm Rockwool. That is equivalent to around 45% of the 155 bcm of gas […]