EU Parliament adopts plans to increase building energy efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions

On Tuesday, Parliament approved plans already agreed with the Council aimed at reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from buildings.

The planned revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive aims to make the building sector in the EU significantly more environmentally friendly by 2030 and to become climate neutral by 2050. In addition, more buildings with low energy efficiency are to be renovated, while the exchange of information on energy performance is to be improved.

Emission reduction targets:

All new buildings are to be emission-free from 2030, while new buildings used or owned by public authorities are to be emission-free from 2028. Member States have the option of taking into account the life-cycle global warming potential of a building, which includes the greenhouse gas emissions of the products used for construction from their manufacture to their disposal.

For residential buildings, Member States must reduce average primary energy consumption by at least 16% by 2030 and by at least 20 to 22% by 2035.

Under the new directive, Member States must renovate 16% of non-residential buildings with the worst energy performance by 2030 and 26% by 2033 and ensure that they meet the minimum energy performance requirements.

If technically and economically feasible, Member States must progressively install solar panels in public and non-residential buildings, depending on their size, and in all new residential buildings by 2030.

Exit from fossil fuels in the heat supply:

Member states are required to take measures to decarbonize heating systems and phase out fossil fuels in heating and cooling. The use of boilers powered by fossil fuels is to be phased out by 2040. From 2025, stand-alone boilers that run on fossil fuels may no longer be subsidized. However, financial incentives for hybrid heating systems that combine boilers with solar thermal systems or heat pumps, for example, will continue to be permitted.

Exceptions:

Exceptions to the new regulations are possible for agricultural and listed buildings. EU member states have the option of deciding whether buildings that are protected due to their special architectural or historical value, as well as temporary buildings, churches and buildings used for religious services, should also be exempt from these measures.

quote:

Ciarán Cuffe (Greens/EFA, Ireland), the rapporteur for the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, said: "This directive makes a compelling case that climate policy can indeed deliver significant benefits for the most vulnerable in our society. It will help reduce energy costs and tackle the roots of energy poverty, while creating thousands of quality jobs across the EU. With a 36% share of CO2 emissions in Europe, it adds an absolutely essential pillar to the European Green Deal. Today's result shows that Parliament continues to support a Green Deal that is both fair and ambitious."

What's next:

The directive was adopted by 370 votes to 199, with 46 abstentions. It must now also be formally approved by the Council of Ministers before it can enter into force.

Background information:

According to the European Commission, buildings in the EU account for 40% of our energy consumption and 36% of greenhouse gas emissions. On December 15, 2021, the Commission adopted a legislative proposal to revise the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive as part of the "Fit for 55" package. The 2030 and 2050 targets were made legally binding across the EU by the European Climate Law of July 2021.

Source: Homepage of the European Parliament

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