The European Commission presented the new EPC framework introduced with the revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), highlighting Articles 19–21 and 27 as well as Annexes V and VI. Key changes include:

• A common EU-wide A–G scale, with Class A reserved for zero-emission buildings
• A template with mandatory and optional elements for EPCs
• Broader trigger points for issuing EPCs, including sales, rentals, and major renovations
• Stronger quality control mechanisms and independent verification systems.

Commission guidance, published in June 2025, provides Member States with practical steps for rescaling EPCs and reinforcing compliance.

Efficient Buildings Europe's (EBE) Implementation Guide

Efficient Buildings Europe (EBE) shared recommendations from its EPBD Implementation Guide, focusing on:

• Comprehensive coverage: ensuring all buildings have an EPC by 2030
• Quality control: training certifiers, embedding liability rules, and using digital tools for more reliable data
• Driving improvements: shortening EPC validity for worst worst-performing buildings and linking EPCs with renovation passports

Examples of good practice included Ireland’s risk-based audits and France’s liability rules for certifiers.
 

National perspectives and case studies

Portugal: ensuring quality

Portugal’s EPC system was presented by ADENE as a robust model of quality assurance. A four-stage verification approach ranges from site visits to detailed technical audits. Between 2021 and 2024, nearly 4,000 EPCs were checked by ADENE, with 80% being fully compliant. The Portuguese system prioritises guidance over sanctions, correcting errors and strengthening trust.

Integrating water efficiency

Hansgrohe Group underlined the importance of hot water efficiency in EPCs. Technologies such as efficient taps and showers can reduce household energy use by up to 6%. Proposals to integrate these savings into EPC methodologies would better align energy and water policies.

Hungary: data-driven insights

Hungary presented a study combining EPC data with census and transaction information to estimate the primary energy demand of the residential stock and assess property value impacts. The findings show how EPCs can inform financial and policy decisions, such as in the cases of MBH Mortgage Bank and UniCredit Bank.
 

Key takeaways

The webinar confirmed that EPCs are a cornerstone of the EPBD, with growing importance as tools for compliance, market transformation, and data analysis. Key messages included:

• EPCs should be affordable, reliable, and accessible to all citizens.
• Quality assurance and enforcement are essential to maintain trust.
• EPCs must integrate new indicators, such as water efficiency and indoor environmental quality.
• Databases can unlock EPCs’ potential as a resource for policy, finance, and citizens.