EU Directive: Energy Efficient Buildings by 2050

The Council has officially endorsed a revised directive aimed at enhancing the energy performance of buildings, with the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and energy poverty in the EU.

By 2030, all new buildings should be zero-emission, and by 2050, the EU aims to transform its building stock into zero-emission.

Minimum Energy Performance Standards

The directive introduces minimum energy performance standards for non-residential buildings to ensure they do not exceed specified energy usage limits per square meter annually. By 2030, all non-residential buildings are expected to surpass the 16% and 26% worst-performing buildings in terms of energy performance.

Progressive Renovation Trajectories

Member states are required to reduce the average primary energy use of residential buildings by 16% in 2030 and by 20-22% in 2035. At least 55% of energy reduction should be achieved through the renovation of the poorest performing residential buildings.

Solar Energy and Sustainable Mobility

The directive promotes the deployment of solar energy installations in new buildings and existing non-residential buildings undergoing renovation. It also requires sustainable mobility infrastructure, including electric car charging points and bicycle parking spaces.

Next steps include the signing and publication of the directive in the Official Journal of the EU, followed by a two-year period for member states to incorporate the provisions into their national legislation. The directive will be reviewed by the Commission in 2028 to assess progress and experiences gained during its implementation.

This directive, part of the ‘Fit for 55’ package, aligns with the vision of achieving a zero-emission building stock by 2050 and reinforces the ‘energy efficiency first’ principle outlined in the Renovation Wave Strategy published by the European Commission in October 2020.