Following the publication of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD-2024), the European Union has embarked on a pivotal process to guide its harmonised implementation across Member States.

This edition of the REHVA Journal, aimed at professionals in the field, examines the principal technical and regulatory challenges accompanying this transition and its implications for the HVAC sector across Europe.

In this context, the publication addresses key topics such as Zero Emission Buildings, the gradual phase-out of fossil fuel boilers, and the enhancement of energy efficiency through low-temperature heating systems. It also explores the integration of the Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI) into energy performance certification, the standardisation of on-site smart audits, the influence of subsidy schemes, and the assessment of whole life-cycle global warming potential in buildings. Additionally, it presents progress in harmonising key performance indicators for the next generation of Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs), measures to promote grid interaction through solar energy, and a study on indoor air quality. 

The edition concludes with expert interviews, institutional updates, and European projects that reinforce REHVA’s role in driving the energy transition within the built environment.