The European Commission has launched the 'New European Bauhaus' – an initiative for sustainable design and climate-appropriate architecture. The program aims to implement the European Green Deal concretely in municipalities and deliberately draws on the Bauhaus tradition of 1919. Relevant for the painting trade: The initiative promotes energy renovation projects where facade paints and insulation systems play a central role.
The program combines three dimensions: sustainability, aesthetics, and social participation. Specifically, this means new business opportunities for painting and coating companies in energy-efficient façade renovation of old buildings. Projects that use climate-neutral materials and involve local craft businesses are supported. The initiative taps into existing EU funding sources, including Horizon Europe and the LIFE Programme.
Austrian businesses can combine the funding with the klimaaktiv renovation subsidy for ETICS. This significantly increases project profitability. German businesses also benefit indirectly: many municipalities use EU funds for pilot projects on district renovation. In addition to traditional ETICS systems, innovative coatings with a low CO₂ footprint are in demand.
Manufacturers such as Keim Farben and Sto SE are already positioning product lines for climate-appropriate renovation. Keim focuses on mineral systems without plastic binders, Sto develops CO₂-reduced dispersion paints. The initiative explicitly calls for circular materials and repair-friendly systems – an advantage for mineral plasters and lime plasters.
Funding flows through multi-year calls. Businesses can participate in projects via architects, municipalities, or housing companies. The first call for proposals is already underway, with details published by the Commission on the program website. For applications, collaboration with planners who can document sustainability criteria is required.
In parallel, the AWS investment subsidy for coating businesses in Austria remains an important pillar for business equipment. The New European Bauhaus complements this national funding with project-related resources. The combination enables businesses to invest in both low-emission spray technology and sustainable material systems.
