Energy policy

The revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive

The revision of the 2002 EPBD (Energy Performance of Buildings Directive) was initiated by the European Commission in 2008, and concluded in late 2009. The EEB welcomed the proposal as a much needed tool to contribute towards the fight against climate change and to greatly enhance energy savings in the building sector.

We applaud the Commission for increasing the Directive’s scope. We also support the Parliament for their proposals which we believe demonstrate the scale of ambition that is required.

Final outcomes of the recast include: All buildings built from the end of 2020 onwards must have high energy-saving standards ‘Nearly Zero Energy’, with the remaining energy to come from renewable sources ‘to a very significant extent’. Public authorities' building projects are to lead the way two years earlier, after 2018. While the standards are strong, these deadlines are too late to help meet the EU’s emission reduction targets for 2020. But the main opportunity for improvements lie in existing buildings for which no specific targets have been set but new requirements for increased efficiency on all major renovations which are likely to be insufficient. Much is left open to Member States to decide which measures to take to transform the existing building stock. We welcome the recognition that all components of a building, such as windows, roofs, fittings, etc. have a significant impact to the energy performance and are therefore included. 

Despite calls from the EEB and the Parliament, no new funds, or options of innovative fiscal incentives such as reduced VAT for energy saving services and products were introduced. Rather than addressing it in the Directive itself, further assessment of financial resources is expected by the Commission and Member States in 2011 and therefore delaying the urgently required decisions in this area.

Back