EU adopts new standard for commercial buildings’ energy performance

The Council of the European Union has formally adopted a revised directive on the energy performance of buildings, which it said would help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy poverty in the EU. The new rules state that by 2030 all new buildings across EU member states should be zero-emission, and by 2050 the EU’s building stock should be transformed into zero-emission building stock. For non-residential buildings, the revised directive introduces minimum energy performance standards to ensure buildings do not exceed the specified maximum amount of primary or final energy that they can use per square metre annually. According to the new rules, in 2030 all non-residential buildings will be above the 16% worst performing buildings and by 2033 above the 26% worst performing buildings in terms of energy performance. Member states can choose to exempt specific buildings from the rules, such as historic buildings, places of worship or buildings owned by the armed forces. Under the new directive, member states will also be required to make sure that the average primary energy use of residential buildings has been reduced by 16% in 2030 and by 20-22% in 2035. At least 55% of the energy reduction should be achieved through renovation of the 43% worst performing residential buildings, said the council. Member states will have two years to build the new directive into their national legislation. Photo by Pexels