Recast of the Energy Performance of Building's Directive
Previous : Next - 3rd December 2009
The European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission recently announced details on the recast of the Energy Performance of Building's Directive (EPBD). The recast introduces for the first time a European-wide definition of nearly zero energy buildings. Up to now only a handful of Member States had different definitions for low energy/plus energy or zero carbon buildings. This definition requires a decreased energy use in buildings but also entails a renewable energy requirement.
The nearly zero or very low amount of energy required should to a very significant extent be covered by energy from renewable source, including renewable energy produced on-site or nearby. Phasing in of renewable energy in buildings means decreasing our import dependency as about 40% of the EU’s energy is consumed in buildings.
All buildings built after 31st December 2020 must have high energy-saving standards and be powered to a large extent by renewable energy. Public authorities will lead the way two years earlier (2018) and part of the funding for these changes will come from the EU.
By the end of 2020 EU Member States must ensure that all newly-constructed buildings have a very high energy performance under new rules agreed in Brussels. And their energy needs must be covered to a very significant extent from renewable sources, including energy produced on-site or nearby.
The public sector must set an example by owning or renting only this kind of building by the end of 2018 and by promoting the conversion of existing buildings into "nearly zero" standard.
Certificates
Member States will have to ensure that energy performance certificates are issued for any buildings constructed, sold or rented out to a new tenant, and also for buildings where over 500 m2 are occupied by a public authority and frequently visited by the public. Five years after the legislation takes effect, this threshold will be lowered to 250 m2. Buildings that already have a certificate issued in accordance with the previous directive, dating from 2002, will not need to obtain a new one as long as the old one is still valid.
The certificates will have to provide recommendations for improvement and may also include additional information such as annual energy consumption and percentage of renewable energy in total energy consumption.
The certification systems for residential buildings will be the responsibility of national authorities, but the Commission should by 2011 develop a voluntary common European certification scheme for the energy performance of non-residential buildings.
Exemptions
The following are excluded from the directive's requirements:
Small houses (with a floor area of less than 50m2);
Holiday homes used for less than four months a year (or that use less than 25% of all-year energy consumption);
Buildings for religious activities;
Temporary buildings used for two years or less;
Industrial sites, workshops and agricultural buildings with low energy demand; Protected historic buildings where an energy-efficiency measure would 'unacceptably alter their character or appearance'.
Next steps
The draft still has to be formally approved by the Council before the full Parliament gives its final endorsement at the beginning of 2010. Once adopted and published in the EU Official Journal, Member States will have two years to bring their national laws into line with the new directive.
