Revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPDB).
In December 2021, the European Commission published its proposal for revising the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). This revision is a full recast, with many provisions either introduced or modified and covering a broad set of issues.
Buildings are one of the largest sources of energy consumption in Europe. Boosting their energy efficiency would cut emissions, tackle energy poverty, reduce people’s vulnerability to energy prices and support the economic recovery and job creation. The Renovation Wave Strategy (MEMO) presented in October 2020 set out measures aiming to at least double the annual energy renovation rate by 2030.
The revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) is an essential element of this Strategy. It upgrades the existing regulatory framework to reflect higher ambitions and more pressing needs in climate and social action while providing Member States with the flexibility needed to take into account the differences in the building stock across Europe.
The revised directive sets out how Europe can achieve a zero-emission and fully decarbonised building stock by 2050. The proposed measures will increase the rate of renovation, particularly for the worst-performing buildings in each Member State. It will modernize the building stock, making it more resilient and accessible. It supports better air quality, the digitalisation of energy systems for buildings and the roll-out of infrastructure for sustainable mobility. Crucially, the revised directive facilitates more targeted financing to investments in the building sector, complementing other EU instruments supporting vulnerable consumers and fighting energy poverty.
To ensure a decarbonisation of the buildings sector, the EU Climate Target Plan highlights the need to phase out fossil fuels in heating by 2040 when the direct emissions of the buildings sector will have to decrease by about 80%-89%. To encourage the swift deployment of heating systems with zero direct emissions, the EPBD proposal includes the requirement that zero-emission buildings do not generate carbon emissions on-site.
As the lifetime of heating systems is about 20 years, the EPBD foresees that fossil-fuel powered boilers will not be eligible for public support as of 2027. While the EPBD proposal does not mandate an EU-level phase out date for fossil fuel boilers, it introduces a clear legal basis for national bans, allowing Member States to set requirements for heat generators based on greenhouse gas emissions or the type of fuel used. Several Member States consider such measures essential to achieve a decarbonised building stock and to improve air quality and health.
