The International Network
for Sustainable Energy

Updated: 30.06.2008

Recasting of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) 2008

Member States are supposed to have implemented the EPBD since two years now but first assessments show many gaps. By April 2008, the EU Commission has initiated 17 infringement cases against Member States that have failed partially or completely to implement the Directive. Consequently, the EU Commission decided to recast the Directive and launched a public consultation opened until June 20, 2008. The aim of the recasting is simplifying and clarifying the current Directive, strengthening certain requirements, redefining minimum thresholds for the implementation of the Directive, making the role of national public sector and EU policies clearer.

Read INFORSE-Europe's contribution ( pdf file 34kB) (June 2008)

Read the consultation and its background paper on the EU Commission’s web site.

Content:
A Directive to Increase Energy Efficiency of Buildings in the EU (2002)

The main content of the Directive is:

• Application and regular updating of minimum standards for energy performance of buildings based on a common methodology for all new buildings and for existing buildings of more than 1000 square meters that are being renovated. The performance will include energy use for heating, ventilation, lighting, as well as the opportunity of heat recovery and local renewable energy supply used in cost-effective ways.
  
• Common methodology for the preparation of minimum integrated energy performance standards, which Member States will have to adopt for each type of building. This methodology will have to take into account differences in climate and include factors relating to insulation, heating, ventilation, lighting, building orientation, heat recovery, and use of renewable energy sources.
  
• Certification systems for new and existing buildings: energy performance certificates no more than ten years old, containing advice on how to improve energy performance, will have to be available for all buildings when built, sold or leased. These energy performance certificates, together with information on recommended and actual indoor temperatures, will also be displayed in public buildings and in other types of building frequented by the public.
  
• Specific checks and assessment of heating and cooling equipment by experts. Member States will have to make arrangements for regular inspection of boilers of a rated output between 20 and 100 kW. Boilers above this threshold must be inspected every two years (gas boilers every four years).

Read more about the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (2002/91/EC) on the EU Commission's web site.

Status
On October 10, 2002 the EU Parliament supported the Commission's proposal with some amendments. Following this, the Commission adopted the final language agreed upon by the Parliament in October. This concluded a year and a half of debate between the Parliament and the Commission.
The EU countries have also agreed to the text and adopted it at the energy ministers' meeting November 25.

Implementation
Member States had until the 4th of January 2006 to implement the Directive, except Bulgaria and Romania for whom the deadline was January 2007. However for certifications and inspections, Member States can have an additional period of three years if they miss qualified or accredited experts.
Many European countries have updated or are currently updating their energy performance regulations in order to improve energy efficiency of their buildings.
The EU Commission (DG TREN) has formed a committee to oversee the implementation of the Directive, with representatives of EU countries and the trade association EuroAce. The committee had its first meeting in June 2003.

INFORSE Recommendation for Implementation

Given that energy efficiency standards in national building codes have been one of the most efficiency and cost-effective way of raising energy efficiency in most EU countries, this Directive can be very important for future increase in energy efficiency. The effect of it is, however, crucial dependant on the implementation in national legislation. It is important that there is a national debate about the implementation with focus on how to maximize the benefits from the implementation, rather than a debate on how to have the least changes. In all countries current building codes have relatively low requirements for energy efficiency and renewable energy which leads to higher energy consumption than the cost-effective level. Because most houses are built according to the standards, the users are trapped with these unnecessary high costs. New, stronger building codes can correct this problem, to the benefit of users, the constructors and the environment. Thus, NGOs and relevant stakeholders should push the implementation of the new Directive in an ambitious direction, so it will contribute to this.

In the implementation, the countries should give priority to passive solar energy above what is proposed in the Directive. Passive solar energy use should be taken into account in planning, orientation and positioning of houses; as well as in use and heating control of houses. There is also a need for inclusion of passive solar concepts in education. The countries should also give priority to micro-CHP, i.e. building-integrated CHP.

It is proposed that the limit for renovation of buildings to require current energy efficiency standards is set to renovations that costs above 10% of the value of the building.

Read more on EuroACE and on the ENPER-EXIST project's website. EuroAce is the European Alliance of Companies for Energy Efficiency in Buildings. ENPER-EXIST was a project which aims at supporting the take-off of the EPBD.

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