'Exemplary role of public buildings: What’s new in the new Energy Efficiency Directive (EU)2023/1791', authored by Jean-Sébastien Broc and Dimitris Athanasiou (IEECP) within the ODYSSEE-MURE project, explores how the public sector can become an active agent in the energy transition, particularly through the renovation of its building stock.

The new Energy Efficiency Directive extends the renovation obligation to all public buildings over 250 m², aiming to meet zero-emission standards. This reinforces the exemplary role of public institutions—not only due to their visibility, but also their capacity to drive institutional and societal change. The report emphasises that renovation must go beyond technical fixes: it requires integrated solutions, digitalisation, energy management, behavioural change, and strategic planning.

The benefits are manifold: direct energy savings, emission reductions, local job creation, and improved comfort for citizens. However, persistent barriers remain: limited budgets, low technical capacity within public administrations, lack of reliable data on public assets, and the absence of mechanisms to reinvest savings into further improvements.

The analysis proposes four key lines of action to overcome these challenges: energy monitoring and management, voluntary agreements or obligations, creation of dedicated bodies or national roadmaps, and the use of multiple funding sources. Examples such as Croatia’s energy management system, Finland’s voluntary commitments, the Netherlands’ decarbonisation roadmaps, and Spain’s PIREP programme illustrate the diverse approaches taken by Member States.

Ultimately, the report calls for the public sector to move from being a passive recipient of policy to becoming a leader. Yet it warns that without institutional adjustments—in processes, roles and oversight—technical and regulatory ambitions may remain unfulfilled.