The European Commission’s new guidelines on indoor environmental quality reinforce the importance of health and comfort in buildings. Discover how this initiative supports a more effective transposition of the EPBD and promotes safer, more sustainable indoor environments across the EU.
The European Commission has published its guidelines for the transposition of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), placing a strong emphasis on indoor environmental quality (IEQ). The initiative has been warmly welcomed by the Informal Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) Gathering, a coalition of experts and organisations committed to promoting health and comfort in buildings.
The new guidance provides much-needed clarity on key parameters such as temperature, humidity, ventilation rates and the presence of indoor pollutants, while encouraging Member States to broaden the scope to include aspects such as lighting, given its relevance to wellbeing and productivity.
The explicit recognition of IEQ within the energy performance framework marks a significant step forward towards buildings that are not only energy-efficient but also healthy and safe for occupants. The IEQ Gathering celebrates this integrated approach and reaffirms its commitment to supporting ambitious implementation at national level. At a time when energy efficiency and occupant wellbeing are increasingly seen as inseparable pillars of the built environment, this guidance places human health at the heart of Europe’s energy transition.
