A package of documents presented by the Commission today provides support to EU countries in implementing the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). Its effective implementation will help to strengthen energy independence, lower energy bills, and lower grid investment needs. It will also help the EU to achieve the energy efficiency goal of reducing energy consumption by 11.7% by 2030 and stimulate the roll-out of renewables in buildings. Moreover, it should create a stable environment for investment decisions and make the EU’s construction industry and cleantech companies more competitive. 

Comprising a delegated regulation, an implementing regulation and a comprehensive set of guidance documents, the package offers practical guidance as EU countries look to transpose the directive into national law by May 2026. 

Today’s publication comes on the same day that the new Housing Advisory Board (expert group) meets for the first time to look at the broader issue of lowering energy bills and making housing more sustainable and affordable.

Based on the changes made in the directive as part of the European Green Deal, the package consists of the following implementation measures:

: This provides the frame for EU countries to set energy performance requirements that are cost-effective for building owners, both for new and existing buildings, taking into account national specificities such as the local building stock characteristics and climatic conditions. The Delegated Regulation is accompanied by guidelines which provide relevant additional information.

This will ensure that the EU Building Stock Observatory will receive high-quality, comparable data and thereby provide a solid data basis for assessing progress in the building sector across the EU.

: This takes a closer look at the new and substantially modified provisions of the recast directive, and provides interpretative and practical guidance in response to questions raised by EU countries.

Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan Jørgensen said:

'More than half of gas consumption in Europe happens in buildings, which are responsible for around 40% of energy use and emissions. Improving the energy performance of our buildings is good for the climate and is good for our citizens. A more efficient house means lower energy bills and better quality of life. The measures we adopt today will help Member States to implement the pathway we have chosen together to make the European buildings sector decarbonised and more competitive.'

At the occasion of the launch of the EPBD support implementation package and of the Danish EU Presidency, the Commission and the Danish Energy Agency jointly invites for an inspiring webinar to showcase concrete examples of how digitalisation can increase productivity, simplify EPBD implementation and offer entirely new commercial offers of relevance to energy renovations of buildings. Registration and programme details are available online. 

The revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) sets the buildings sector on the path towards full decarbonisation by 2050. It does so via a range of measures, from energy performance standards over better information tools to effective financing and has a specific focus on triggering building renovation. Eurostat figures for 2023 show that 85% of EU buildings were built before 2000 and 75% have a poor energy performance. 

It entered into force on 28 May 2024 and will need to be transposed into national legislation by 29 May 2026.