This month, we delve into 'Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS)' with Rui Fragoso, Head of Buildings and Resource Efficiency, ADENE | LinkedIn profile

Rui Fragoso joined ADENE (Portuguese Energy Agency) in 2010 as a quality auditor for Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) issued under the Buildings Energy Certification System (SCE). Between 2012 and 2018, he was the Head of the Buildings Department at ADENE and was responsible for managing the SCE and its implementation, following the EPBD recast. Since 2023, he's been responsible for the Buildings and Resource Efficiency department, which is responsible for managing the Energy Performance Certificates (SCE) and the ECO.AP program (Resource Efficiency Program in Public Administration). He is also responsible for the coordination and contribution to ADENE’s participation in current and past European and International projects like the Concerted Action EPBD - CA EPBD, as manager of Energy Performance Certificates and Renovation passports.

Regarding the Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) and their application in Portugal, Rui Fragoso explains that these are rules requiring existing buildings to meet a minimum energy efficiency threshold within a defined timeframe, thereby triggering renovations. In Portugal, MEPS have already been applied in the non-residential sector by requiring buildings to achieve at least a label C in the energy performance certificate, a measure that has had a significant positive impact.

When discussing how MEPS can drive the renovation of the worst-performing buildings, Fragoso highlighted them as one of the main regulatory measures Member States must implement, complemented by financial incentives and other policies. He pointed to examples in Belgium (Flanders), France, and the Netherlands, where MEPS are already part of renovation strategies.

Fragoso also delved into the role of MEPS in making buildings smarter and healthier, noting the opportunity that renovation processes provide to integrate automation and control technologies, as well as to assess indoor environmental quality. He stressed that such improvements directly benefit occupants’ health, well-being, and productivity.

The BUILD UP Expert Talks series is an initiative of the BUILD UP portal and features face-to-face interviews with experts from across Europe, offering diverse perspectives on key topics related to energy efficiency and renewable energy in buildings. These interviews are aligned with the Topic of the Month and delve into it, providing valuable insights, experiences, and expertise to the BUILD UP audience.