The new European rules on the energy performance of buildings are now in force. The challenge is to turn decarbonisation, renovation and affordability objectives into tangible results on the ground.
The European Commission highlights the entry into force of the new provisions resulting from the revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), a key step towards modernising Europe’s building stock and achieving a fully decarbonised building sector by 2050. The initiative responds to the significant share of energy consumption and emissions attributable to buildings in the European Union, as well as to the ageing nature of the building stock, in which the majority of properties have poor energy performance.
The new framework promotes the renovation of the least efficient buildings, supports the widespread adoption of zero-emission buildings in new construction, encourages the integration of solar energy, and accelerates the gradual replacement of fossil fuel-based systems. It also introduces digitalisation measures, requirements linked to sustainable mobility, and financing and technical assistance mechanisms targeted at vulnerable households.
The Commission underlines that the success of this transformation will now depend on the ability of Member States to effectively implement their national renovation plans and translate the regulatory framework into concrete improvements for citizens by reducing energy bills, strengthening energy security and improving the quality of buildings.
