The EU, aiming to enhance the energy efficiency of European buildings and ultimately reduce their environmental impact, has worked during this mandate on the revision of

the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (Directive (EU) 2018/844).

The proposed revision aims to gradually decrease greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and energy consumption in the EU building sector, with the goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2050.

Despite the initial ambitions of the European Commission, the legislative initiative was scaled back in terms of its scope due to the needs expressed by Member States during negotiations. Member States secured greater flexibility in terms of “mandatory” interventions compared to what was initially proposed. The directive now requires member states to adopt their own national trajectory to reduce the average primary energy use of residential buildings by 16% by 2030 and 20-22% by 2035.

For non-residential buildings, they will need to renovate the worst-performing 16% of buildings by 2030 and the worst-performing 26% of buildings by 2033. Member States will have the option to exempt certain categories of buildings, including historical buildings or holiday homes.

The most impactful provisions are those stipulating that all new residential and non-residential buildings must have zero on-site emissions from fossil fuels, beginning on 1 January 2028 for publicly owned buildings, and on 1 January 2030 for all other new buildings, with specific exemptions possible. The directive also includes new provisions to gradually phase out fossil fuels from heating in buildings and promote the deployment of solar power installations, taking into account national circumstances. Subsidies for stand-alone boilers powered by fossil fuels will be prohibited as of 1 January 2025.

The directive encourages member states to allocate national and European funding to

support investments in energy efficiency and related interventions, although it does

not provide funds for these purposes itself.

On 12 April, the Council of the EU adopted the revised EPBD. As the text had already been formally adopted by the European Parliament, the directive will now undergo publication in the EU Official Journal before it comes into effect.