
BUILD UP Board of Ambassadors: discussing EPBD implementation at a national level

BUILD UP Board of Ambassadors: discussing EPBD implementation at a national level
The BUILD UP Board of Ambassadors is a selection of experts in renewable energy and energy efficiency in buildings. They act as a sounding board, advising on detailed matters in their specific field of expertise. Belonging to institutions and organisations located throughout geographical Europe, they are key actors in disseminating BUILD UP and a vital link at the national level.
On 16–17 January, BUILD UP Ambassadors gathered in Brussels to discuss current trends and the latest developments in energy efficiency and renewable energy in the building sector. The two-day event revolved around a recurring theme that featured prominently in all discussions and activities: the implementation of the EPBD recast at the Member State level.
The event provided an opportunity for enrichment and dialogue. Following introductory speeches by Luca Angelino and Hans Rhein, Project Adviser and Head of Unit at the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA), as well as Miguel Ángel Gómez Zotano, Partner and Head of European Organisations at NTT DATA, the discussions were initiated by Pau Garcia Audi, Policy Officer at DG ENER (Directorate-General for Energy, European Commission), and moderated by Zia Lennard, EU Project Manager at R2M Solution.
García Audi presented an update on the revised EPBD, addressing several topics ranging from energy poverty to the Commission’s forthcoming guidance documents. He emphasised the directive’s call to create new professions within the building sector, highlighting, in particular, the need for project managers skilled in coordinating the diverse aspects of sustainable renovation and construction processes.
Focus on the Renovation Wave and decarbonisation targets
The Renovation Wave and the decarbonisation objectives for 2050 were a key focus. 'We can do it,' Garcia Audi asserted optimistically. 'It’s going to be tough, but there are many benefits. The challenge is very clear: if we fail, we’ll have a much bigger problem.'
When asked about challenges, Garcia Audi highlighted the issue of data: 'We don’t have much information about the buildings. After 20 years of EPBD, we’re still not sure about the number of buildings. Member States need support to feed the new Building Stock Observatory.'
The session continued with an opportunity to share key insights on implementing the EPBD, highlighted through different national case studies (Croatia, Denmark and Slovenia) presented by BUILD UP ambassadors.
Slavica Robić, Assistant Managing Director at REGEA, shared notable results Croatia has achieved in sustainable renovation, presenting concrete figures on energy savings. A central focus of Robić's presentation was the CROSS (Croatian One-Stop-Shops) project, which aims to establish regional One-Stop Shops (OSSs) to accelerate the renovation wave by providing technical, financial, and legal advice.
Another key aspect was the Green Deal Building Design Project Guidelines, which provide a holistic approach to applying the principles of the Green Deal throughout the life cycle of a building, whether renovated or newly built.
Brian Taammoli, CEO of Neuroject, presented the Danish case, highlighting the national district heating model. He noted that during a building's construction phase, annual energy consumption is five times higher than that of simple household heating. Taammoli then discussed a case study on optimising energy consumption during the construction of a university hospital. The impressive savings he outlined were achieved using advanced technologies, such as IoT sensors and digital twins.
Ana Tisov, Project Manager at the Institute for Innovation and Development of the University of Ljubljana, focused on the Slovenian case, emphasising that Slovenia serves as a particularly virtuous example. However, Tisov identified challenges in implementing the Directive, such as aligning it with existing national strategies and addressing the operational difficulties of applying specific articles, especially due to the lack of clear definitions or examples - for instance, in the case of zero-emission buildings. Tisov also showcased projects related to the implementation of OSSs to promote fair and sustainable building renovation.
EPBD implementation: the vision of industry
A lively panel discussion followed, featuring Hélène Sibileau (BPIE - Buildings Performance Institute Europe), Céline Carré (Saint-Gobain), and Jozefien Vanbecelaere (European Heat Pump Association - EHPA).
Sibileau spoke about the ‘mindset’ needed to approach the implementation of the directive: ‘This is not so much about discussing materials or technologies,’ she said, ‘but about asking the right questions.’ Specifically addressing the question of ‘Why?’, apart from the fact that implementing the EPBD is a legal requirement, she explained that it is essential for achieving decarbonisation goals. ‘We are currently off track,’ she noted, referencing data from a BPIE report.
Carré outlined Saint-Gobain's role in supporting the EPBD, addressing key topics such as National Building Renovation Plans, the concept of Energy Efficiency First, OSSs, and whole-life carbon assessment.
Finally, Vanbecelaere discussed how heat pumps are framed within the Directive, the next legislative steps regarding heating, and the concept of heat pumps as a service, which could lead to lower upfront installation costs.