Description
According to the European Commission, buildings in the European Union are responsible for 40 per cent of energy consumption and 36 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions. On 15 December 2021, the Commission presented a proposal for the revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, which is part of the 'Ready for 55%' package. According to the European climate legislation of July 2021, environmental targets for 2030 and 2050 have become binding for all EU countries.
Today, MEPs finally adopted the new rules to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from the building sector. The aim of the revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive is to gradually reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption in the building sector by 2030 and achieve climate neutrality by 2050. The objectives also include renovating more of the worst-performing buildings and better dissemination of information on energy performance. The directive was finally approved by the Parliament with 370 votes in favour, 199 votes against and 46 abstentions. To become law, the directive must now also be formally approved by the Council of Ministers.
Emission reduction targets
According to the new legislation, all new buildings will have to be zero-emission as of 2030. In addition, new buildings occupied or owned by public authorities will have to be zero-emission as of 2028. When calculating emissions, Member States will be able to take into account the potential impact on global warming of the life cycle of a building, including the production and disposal of construction products used to construct it.
For residential buildings, member states will have to take measures to ensure a reduction in average primary energy used of at least 16% by 2030 and at least 20-22% by 2035. According to the new directive, Member States will also have to renovate 16 per cent of the worst-performing non-residential buildings by 2030 and 26 per cent by 2033 by introducing minimum energy performance requirements. If technically and economically feasible, Member States will have to ensure the progressive installation of solar systems in public and non-residential buildings, depending on their size, and in all new residential buildings by 2030.
Phasing out fossil fuel boilers
Member States will have to explain how they intend to put in place binding measures to decarbonise heating systems by phasing out fossil fuels in heating and cooling by 2040. As of 2025, subsidies for fossil-fuelled stand-alone boilers will be prohibited. Financial incentives will still be possible for heating systems that use a significant amount of renewable energy, such as those that combine a boiler with a solar thermal system or a heat pump.
Exemptions
The new regulations do not apply to agricultural buildings and historic buildings, and member states may also decide to exclude buildings protected for their special architectural or historic value, temporary buildings, churches and places of worship.
Conference on the Future of Europe
Legislation on the energy performance of buildings is directly in line with the objectives and proposals of the Conference on the Future of Europe (CoFE), aimed at improving the EU's energy independence and sustainability. This legislative initiative is linked to various CoFE proposals such as strengthening the role of municipalities in urban planning to support blue-green infrastructure (proposal 2(3)), reducing dependence on oil and gas imports through energy efficiency projects (proposal 3(3)), and actively supporting energy efficiency projects to achieve greater autonomy in energy production and supply (proposal 18(2)).
Source and image: European Parliament Press Office