The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), revised and published as EU 2024/1275, has become a key element in the European Union’s strategy to reduce emissions and move towards climate neutrality by 2050. For more than two decades, this directive has provided the legal framework that promotes higher levels of energy efficiency in buildings. Still, the latest revision significantly expands its scope: it is no longer limited to operational energy consumption but now includes carbon across the entire life cycle of buildings. This means that both the embodied carbon associated with materials and construction, and the carbon linked to use over time, must be accounted for and managed in a mandatory way, using standardised methodologies aligned with norms such as EN 15978 and the Level(s) indicator framework.

The EPBD sits within the broader context of the European Green Deal and the Fit for 55 package, which set ambitious goals: reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared with 1990, and achieving climate neutrality in 2050. Since the construction sector accounts for a significant share of both total energy consumption and associated emissions, its transformation is not only desirable but also essential for meeting these objectives.

Zero-emission buildings (ZEB)

One of the central innovations of this revision is the introduction of zero-emission buildings (ZEB) as a binding standard. From 2028, public buildings must comply with ZEB criteria, and from 2030, this requirement will extend to all new buildings. At the same time, new targets are established for refurbishing and improving the energy performance of the existing stock, focusing on the least efficient buildings and promoting substantial reductions in consumption and emissions in both residential and non-residential sectors.

The directive not only demands better outcomes, but it also requires transparent measurement and communication of a building’s impact throughout its life cycle. This has direct implications for many stakeholders: design teams and contractors must integrate carbon assessments from the earliest project phases; property owners must provide reliable data as part of energy performance certification requirements; and construction product manufacturers are encouraged to produce verified Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) aligned with the standards referenced by the EPBD.

The implementation timeline reflects the ambition of these changes: in addition to the transposition of the directive into national law before May 2026, the first binding requirements for life‑cycle analysis will apply to large buildings from 2028, extending to all new buildings in 2030. Later, between 2033 and 2035, renovation targets across the entire building stock are expected to become more stringent.

Taken together, the reformed EPBD represents a profound shift in how the EU approaches buildings: from a focus on energy efficiency alone to comprehensive management of climate impact, demanding in measurement, transparent in outcomes, and oriented towards concrete changes in design, construction, and operation. The directive places carbon accounting at the heart of building policy, pushing the sector to adopt more sustainable practices with defined deadlines and greater regulatory harmonisation across Europe.