(Finance) – Stricter rules on the energy performance of buildings. The Council of the European Union today reached an agreement (general approach) on a proposal for revision of the directive on the energy performance of buildings. The main objectives of the review are that all new buildings should be carbon neutral by 2030 and existing buildings should become carbon neutral by 2050.
The construction sector is fundamental to achieving the EU’s energy and climate objectives for 2030 and 2050. But above all, the agreement reached today – explains the Council in a note – will help citizens achieve significant energy savings. Better and more energy efficient buildings will improve citizens’ quality of life by reducing bills and alleviating energy poverty.
The agreement allows the Council to start negotiations with the European Parliament. Once a political agreement has been reached between the two institutions, the final text will be formally adopted by the Council and the Parliament. On 15 December 2021, the Commission presented a proposal to revise the Directive on the energy performance of buildings, which is part of the “Ready for 55%” package, aimed at putting the EU on the road to achieving climate neutrality by 2050. The proposal is particularly important given that at EU level buildings are responsible for 40% of energy consumption and 36% of direct and indirect gas emissions greenhouse effect related to energy. It is also one of the levers needed to implement the “wave of renovations” strategy, published in October 2020, through concrete measures of regulation, financing and support aimed at doubling, at a minimum, the annual rate of energy renovation of buildings by 2030 and to encourage deep restructuring. The current Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, last revised in 2018, sets minimum requirements for the energy performance of new and existing buildings under renovation. It establishes a methodology for calculating the integrated energy performance of buildings and introduces energy performance certificates for buildings.
As for the new buildings, the Council agreed that: from 2028, new buildings owned by public bodies should be carbon neutral; from 2030, all new buildings should be carbon neutral. But for some buildings, including historic buildings, places of worship and buildings used for defense purposes, exceptions may apply.
For the existing buildings, Member States have agreed to introduce minimum energy performance standards corresponding to the maximum amount of primary energy that buildings can use per m² per year. The aim is to stimulate renovations and lead to a phasing out of the worst performing buildings and a continuous improvement of the national housing stock.
For the existing non-residential buildings, Member States have agreed to set maximum energy performance thresholds, based on primary energy consumption. The first threshold would set a line below the primary energy consumption of 15% of the worst performing non-residential buildings in a Member State. The second threshold would be set below 25%. Member States agreed to bring all non-residential buildings below the 15% threshold by 2030 and below the 25% threshold by 2034. The thresholds would be established on the basis of the energy consumption of the national building stock at January 1, 2020 and can be differentiated according to the different categories of buildings. For existing residential buildings, Member States have agreed to set minimum energy performance standards based on a national trajectory in line with the progressive renovation of their building stock to zero emissions by 2050, as set out in their national development plans. building renovation. There national trajectory it would be expressed as a decline in the average primary energy consumption of the entire residential building stock over the period 2025-2050, with two checkpoints to track Member States’ achievements. This would ensure that the average primary energy consumption of the entire residential building portfolio is at least equivalent: by 2033, to energy performance class D; by 2040, at a nationally determined value resulting from a gradual decline in average primary energy consumption from 2033 to 2050 in line with the transformation of the residential building stock into a zero-emission building stock.
Member States have agreed to add one to the energy performance certificates new category “A0” which corresponds to zero-emission buildings. In addition, Member States will be able to add a new category “A +” corresponding to buildings that, in addition to being zero-emission buildings, make a contribution to the renewable energy network on site. The energy performance certificate for buildings, previously established by the directive, classifies buildings on a scale from A (best performing) to G (worst performing) based on their energy performance.
Member States have agreed to set requirements that ensure that all new buildings are designed to optimize their solar energy production potential. Member States have agreedinstallation of suitable solar systems: by 31 December 2026, on all new public and non-residential buildings with a usable floor area exceeding 250 m²; by 31 December 2027, on all existing public and non-residential buildings undergoing major or deep renovations with a usable covered area exceeding 400 m²; and by 31 December 2029, on all new residential buildings. Member States have agreed on requirements to provide infrastructure for sustainable mobility, including charging points for cars and electric bicycles in or near buildings, cabling for future infrastructure and bicycle parking. They also introduced voluntary renovation passports for buildings.
Finally, the Member States agreed to publish national building renovation plans containing a roadmap with national targets for 2030, 2040 and 2050 regarding the annual energy renovation rate, the primary and final energy consumption of the national building stock and the related reductions in operational greenhouse gas emissions . The first plans will be published by 30 June 2026 and every five years thereafter.