2023-03-21
The proposed text of the reform of the Building Energy Efficiency Directive contemplates the objective of a minimum energy rating of E for homes in 2030.
The new wording of the Building Energy Efficiency Directive sets two objectives with a revulsive impact on the real estate market: by 2030 all existing residential buildings will have a minimum energy rating of E, and by 2033 a minimum of D. In addition, it introduces the concept of a zero-emissions building and the figure of an Energy Renovation Passport so that the owners can plan the improvement works, in a more demanding text than the one proposed by the Council of Europe itself.
Brussels steps on the accelerator to reach the 2050 goal of climate neutrality. And the improvement of the stock of buildings is essential, it is a challenge of colossal dimensions for which an important mobilization of public money and the creation of financial figures that help the citizen are announced. However, the text approved by the European Parliament does not specify figures.
The Directive will not be approved before 2025
To understand the moment in which the measure is located, it is necessary to dive into the complex legislative process of the EU. On May 14, the European Parliament approved the reform of the Building Energy Efficiency Directive (EPBD), popular for introducing the figure of energy efficiency certification in the purchase, sale and rental.
Its legislative process now opens a period of two to three months of negotiation in the phase called trialogues, with the European Commission and the Council until its final approval. Finally, a period of up to 24 months will be opened for its transposition in each country.
In this way, it will not be until late 2025 or the beginning of 2026 when it finally enters into force, although some of its measures will also take effect during this impasse. An example is that "until all these requirements are applied, Member States must guarantee that newly built buildings have at least almost zero energy consumption", as Marcos Ros, a Socialist MEP, advances.
The energy classification modifies the market
The also architect explains to idealista / news the approved text which, in his opinion, "has been more ambitious than the Commission's proposal". A measure that "serves to align the Directive with the objectives of the 2019 European Green Pact, by which a 55% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions must be achieved by 2030, and by 2050 achieve full climate neutrality".
From an analysis of the impact on the market, Ros advances that "housing throughout the EU is going to undergo a major transformation that will reward owners who are committed to energy efficiency". In his opinion, "a minor aspect up to now such as the energy efficiency certificate will become key, because it will determine the degree of compliance and adaptation of buildings to the standard gradually, until reaching zero emissions in 2050. Buyers and sellers will begin to value more and more the buildings that consume less, and it is likely that there will be a revaluation of the most energy efficient properties”.
While waiting for the measures of the EPBD Directive to materialize, Peio Mendia, director of the General Council of Associations of Property Administrators (CGCAFE), warns that "society is not aware of the obligations of owning a home. It will be necessary to comply with some very restrictive measures on pollution, which will force continuous rehabilitation and maintenance of the buildings.
"It is a challenge and a paradigm shift, and that is why there has been a lot of resistance to this being implemented as something mandatory from Europe, setting the temporary objectives", considers Raquel Díaz, director of Projects of the Green Building Council Spain (GBCe): “But it is a necessity. There is talk that about 85% of the buildings will need this rehabilitation if we want to meet the decarbonization level set, which is zero by 2050”.
That is why Brussels wants to speed up the process. As stated in the preambles of the 160 pages that the Directive has, the European building stock is responsible for 40% of the EU's energy consumption and 36% of emissions, so this action is considered a priority for its ambitions.
News of the new EPBD Directive
Before entering into the deadlines established by the plan, it is convenient to introduce four new concepts of the text with which the European institutions work:
Zero emission building. It is expected that by 2050 this will be the category of all community properties, having as one of its fundamental characteristics covering the low energy consumption required by renewable, self-generated or purchased energy sources. A more demanding figure than the actu
Read more...