Authorised IMDS & CDX Training & Consulting partner for
The European Council formally adopted the revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), which includes new regulations aimed at lowering building energy use and emissions throughout the EU. Among the regulations are goals to phase out the use of fossil fuels in building heating systems by 2040 and to make all new construction emissions zero by 2030.
Due to their extended lifespan, buildings are one of the main contributors to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and also one of the most difficult to replace. Buildings are responsible for 36% of greenhouse gas emissions connected to energy use in the EU and 40% of energy consumption. Hot water, air conditioning, and heating account for 80% of domestic energy use.
The last stage of the EPBD’s adoption is the member states’ ratification of the new legislation. After that, it will be signed and published in the EU Official Journal, and member states will have two years to implement the new regulations into their own national laws. As part of its “Fit for 55” agenda, the EU Commission first suggested amending the regulation in 2021. The goal of this initiative is to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels.
One of the main features of the revised directive is that by 2030, all newly constructed residential and non-residential structures must have zero on-site emissions from fossil fuels; publicly-owned buildings must accomplish this goal by 2028. The revised regulations also mandate that member states lay out plans for gradually eliminating fossil fuels from building heating and cooling systems, with the goal of doing away with fossil fuel-powered boilers entirely by 2040. The regulation aims to convert all of the EU’s buildings to zero-emission structures by 2050.
Along with reducing primary energy use by 16% by 2030 and 20–22% by 2035, with at least 55% of the decrease coming from the renovation of the worst-performing buildings, the legislation also establishes goals for improving or phasing-out the lowest-performing buildings. Member states are required to adopt a national trajectory for non-residential buildings, which will lead to the renovation of the 16% worst-performing buildings by 2030 and the 26% worst-performing buildings by 2033.
The updated directive also includes steps to encourage a building renovation wave, such as mandating that member states create national building renovation plans to decarbonize their stock of buildings and address obstacles like funding, education, and recruiting more skilled labor, as well as national building “renovation passport” programs to assist building owners in their phased renovations toward zero-emission structures.
The amended regulation also mandates that all new construction be solar-ready, meaning that they must be able to accommodate rooftop solar thermal or photovoltaic systems.