Commission: Proposal for the renovation of buildings in the EU

The European Commission today presented a proposal for the renovation of buildings in the EU, with the aim of better energy efficiency and the gradual reduction of emissions of buildings to zero emissions by 2050.

The revision of the Buildings Energy Efficiency Directive is part of the Commission’s “Fit for 55” proposals for the implementation of the European Green Agreement and the European Climate Law.

According to the Commission, buildings account for 40% of the energy consumed in the EU and 36% of energy-related greenhouse gas emissions. More than 30 million building units in the EU consume excessive energy (at least 2.5 times the average of buildings), increasing household energy bills. “People living in poorer-performing buildings and those facing energy poverty will benefit from renovated and better buildings, as well as reduced energy costs and will be protected from further increases in market prices and instability,” the Commission said. .

Franch Timmermans, Executive Vice President for Europe Green Agreement, said: “Stimulating the renovation of homes and other buildings supports economic recovery and creates new employment opportunities. financial support for the necessary initial investment, the current energy efficiency proposal for buildings aims to boost energy renewal across the EU. Focusing on the worst performing buildings prioritizes the most cost-effective renovations “.

In particular, the Commission proposes that by 2030, all new buildings should have zero emissions. To take advantage of faster public sector action, all new public buildings must have zero emissions by 2027. This means that buildings must consume little energy, be powered by renewable sources as much as possible, and not emit from fossil fuels and report the potential for global warming based on their entire life cycle emissions in their Energy Performance Certificate.

With regard to renovations, new minimum energy efficiency standards are proposed at EU level, which require an upgrade of 15% of each Member State building stock with the worst performance of Grade G of the Energy Performance Certificate to at least Grade F by 2027 for non-residential buildings and 2030 for residential buildings.

With today’s proposals, Energy Performance Certificates will contain improved information. The obligation to hold an energy efficiency certificate extends to buildings that are subject to radical renovation, buildings for which the lease contract is renewed and to all public buildings. Buildings or units offered for sale or rent must also be certified and the energy efficiency class must appear on all advertisements. By 2025, all certificates must be based on a harmonized scale from A to Z.

The National Building Renovation Plans will be fully integrated into the National Energy and Climate Plans. These plans should include roadmaps for the phasing out of fossil fuels for heating and cooling by 2040 at the latest, along with a roadmap for converting the national building stock to zero-emission buildings by 2050.

Today’s proposal introduces a “renovation passport” of a building – a tool that makes it easier for homeowners to plan for a gradual renovation to zero emissions. The proposal defines “mortgage portfolio standards” as a mechanism to motivate lenders to improve the energy efficiency of their buildings. The Commission also calls on Member States to include renovation issues in public and private funding rules and to put in place appropriate instruments, especially for low-income households.

No financial incentives should be given for the installation of fossil fuel boilers from 2027 and Member States are given the legal possibility to ban the use of fossil fuels in buildings.

Source: ΑΠΕ-ΜΠΕ