Earlier this month, the European Commission marked a major step toward sustainability with the adoption of the updated Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, a key part of the European Green Deal. This directive sets the stage for Member States to reduce emissions and energy use in various buildings across the EU, including homes, offices, schools, hospitals, and public buildings. The goal is to improve public health and raise overall quality of life.
Under the new directive, each Member State is tasked with formulating its own trajectory to decrease the average primary energy consumption of residential buildings by 16% by 2030 and by 20-22% by 2035. For non-residential structures, the focus will be on renovating the 16% poorest-performing buildings by 2030 and the 26% poorest-performing buildings by 2033. Certain categories of residential and non-residential buildings may be exempted from these obligations, including historic structures or vacation homes.
This legislative update strengthens Europe's energy independence and sets a new benchmark for environmentally friendly construction. From now on, all new buildings, both residential and commercial, must produce zero on-site emissions from fossil fuels. Additionally, the Directive aims to gradually eliminate fossil fuels from building heating systems and encourage the use of solar power installations.
Furthermore, the Directive emphasises the importance of better renovation planning and offers technical and financial support to catalyse a Renovation Wave across the EU. To combat energy poverty and reduce energy bills, financing measures will be tailored to incentivize and facilitate renovations, with a particular focus on vulnerable households and poorly performing buildings.
Kadri Simson, Commissioner for Energy, said: “Improving the energy performance of buildings is vital for reaching our ambition of climate neutrality and aims to bring concrete benefits to our citizens. Renovations are investments into a better future. They aim to improve quality of life, allow people to invest their savings elsewhere, and boost our economy. I trust this agreement aims to allow to spur a renovation wave across the whole Union, while respecting the diversity of the EU’s building stock.”
In the next phases, the revised Directive will be published in the Official Journal of the Union and will soon come into effect. Member States will then be responsible for transposing it into their national legislation, thereby propelling Europe towards a greener, more sustainable future.
Read the full press release here.
