The European Union has set a target for itself to increase its energy efficiency by 20% by the year 2020 and by 27% by 2030.
There are two EU directives when it comes to reducing the energy consumption in buildings: the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD, 2010, and to be reviewed before the 1st of January 2017) and the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED, 2012).
EPBD includes regulations on the following points:
- Energy performance certificates for sale or rental of buildings
- Inspection for heating and air conditioning systems
- All new public buildings should be nearly zero energy buildings by 2018
- By 2020 all new buildings must be nearly zero energy buildings
- EU countries must set minimum energy performance requirements for new buildings, for the major renovation of buildings and for the replacement or retrofit of building elements (heating and cooling systems, roofs, walls, etc.)
- EU countries have to define all national financial measures to improve the energy efficiency of buildings
The EED includes:
- The framework for promoting energy efficiency improvements across the EU’s energy system: every year, EU countries are required to renovate at least 3% of the total floor area of buildings owned and occupied by central government.
- EU governments should only purchase buildings which are highly energy efficient.
- Member States must develop long-term national building renovation strategies which can be included in their National Energy Efficiency Action Plans (NEEAPs)
Since 9 July 2015, the total useful floor area requirement was decreased from 500 m2 to 250 m2 for both the energy performance certificates (EPBD, article 12) and the 3% rate of renovations in public buildings (EED, article 5).
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