Globally, familiarity with sustainable construction has stabilised in 2026, with 67% of stakeholders declaring they clearly understand what it involves, while 94% have heard of sustainable construction at least once. Romania stands out with its high level of awareness, where 86% of industry respondents say they are familiar with the concept.
Among the general population, 65% of Romanian respondents declare familiarity with sustainable construction, compared to a global average of 39% and European average of 33%. In other European markets like Czech Republic, this figure drops to just 14%.
Despite high familiarity levels, Romanian respondents connected to the industry show lower understanding of concrete elements defining sustainable construction compared to European averages. Only 44% associate sustainable construction with reducing buildings' carbon footprint, versus 69% at European level. Similar gaps exist for other practices: using local materials (31% vs 56%), prioritising renovation of existing buildings (31% vs 59%), material reuse (39% vs 69%) and recycling (34% vs 67%).
The data shows 72% of Romanian respondents consider building more sustainably a clear priority, compared to 63% globally. The barometer reveals 47% of involved actors believe sustainable construction creates more value than traditional construction, though this evaluation remains fragile, particularly in Europe and Asia-Pacific.
