Buildings account for 36% of EU greenhouse gas emissions. Before the June election, the European Parliament passed amendments to the Energy Efficiency of Buildings Directive (EPBD) on the 12th, hoping to further reduce building carbon emissions. The new regulations require that new buildings must achieve zero carbon emissions from 2030, while new buildings used or owned by public institutions must meet the standard in advance by 2028. The bill also includes regulations for energy-saving renovation of old buildings, reduction of gas boilers, and installation of solar photovoltaics.
This important bill on building energy efficiency only has one step left before the EU Council can complete the legislation. However, amid the chaos before the parliamentary election, foreign media said there are still variables.
European architecture strives for net-zero historic buildings to be exempted
The Building Energy Efficiency Directive was first proposed in 2002 and is an important regulation leading European building energy conservation. According to the European Commission, buildings account for 36% of total EU greenhouse gas emissions and 40% of energy consumption. At the end of 2021, the Executive Committee proposed amendments to further reduce building carbon emissions.
On the 12th, the European Parliament passed an amendment by a vote of 370 to 199, requiring all new buildings to achieve zero carbon emissions from 2030, and new buildings used or owned by public institutions must meet the standard by 2028.
EU regulatory member states must formulate policies to reduce energy consumption in residential buildings. The goal is to reduce primary energy by 16% in 2030 and by 20~22% in 2035. The new directive also requires that public and non-residential buildings of a certain size and all new residences be equipped with solar photovoltaics from 2030.
Renovation of old buildings involves complicated issues such as funding, regulations, and willingness, making it difficult to increase the renovation rate. To this end, the EU has specifically set a goal to renovate at least 16% of non-residential buildings (such as offices and schools) with the worst energy efficiency by 2030, increasing to 26% in 2033. However, some agricultural buildings, historic buildings or churches are exempt.
Europe moves to the right, parliamentary elections add variables
The new building directive demonstrates the EU's determination to reduce carbon emissions, but compared with the draft a year ago, it will be found that the EU has extended the target period for net-zero buildings by two years. European news media "Euractiv" reported that the original proposal has been significantly reduced, and the original systematic renovation plan has become a vague goal. Fortunately, the renovation rate of non-residential buildings still remains ambitious.
It is not easy for regulations to reach this stage. In recent years, the European right has risen, and right-wing lawmakers do not support this bill, which is very different from the enthusiastic atmosphere when it was proposed.
Ciarán Cuffe, a member of the Green Party of the European Parliament, pointed out that the new directive will help reduce people’s energy bills, provide thousands of local jobs for the EU, and reduce Europe’s carbon emissions.
The final hurdle for the legislation to pass is the Council. If passed, the bill will take effect at the end of 2026. The council usually does not reverse the situation because it has been negotiated before, but in today's situation, no one is sure. A reporter from "Euractiv" wrote that "the bill's adventure is not over yet."
References:
*European Parliament (2024/03/12), Energy efficiency of buildings: MEPs adopt plans to decarbonise the sector
*Euractiv (2024/03/12), European Parliament votes through controversial buildings law
*Euractiv (2024/03/11), The EU's controversial green buildings law risks failing at the finish line
Source: Environmental Information Center
