EC Proposes Revising Energy Performance of Buildings Directive
November 14, 2008 // Published as a news service by IHS
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The European Commission (EC) proposed revising the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (directive 2002/91/EC) as part of its comprehensive Nov. 13 energy security package for the European Union (EU).
With the proposed changes, energy performance certificates will become a real, active energy label of houses. For instance, the certificate will have to be included in all advertisements for sales or rentals. The certificate, with its energy saving recommendations, will also have to be part of the sales and rental documents.
In addition, inspections of heating and air conditioning systems will need to advise consumers how to better use these appliances or improve their operation. EU member states will have to ensure these certificates and inspections are of good quality.
The EC also plans to broaden the scope of the directive - for example, all existing buildings, when they undergo a major renovation, will need to meet certain efficiency levels, not only those above 1,000 m2 as was the case with the current directive.
The concrete energy performance requirements will come from national or regional building codes. The EC feels their level of ambition should be improved, and for this, a specific benchmarking system will be used.
Member states will develop plans for increased numbers of low- or zero-carbon buildings, such as passive houses. The public sector should show a leading example investing in such buildings.
According to the EC, buildings are at the core of EU's prosperity, important for achieving its energy savings targets and for combating climate change whilst contributing to energy security. However, an enormous unrealized savings potential lies dormant in buildings.
The EC aims to activate this potential by revising the building energy efficiency directive, also thereby boosting sustainable investments and job creation, often in small to medium-sized enterprises across Europe.
More energy-efficient buildings provide better living conditions and save money to all citizens. The estimated impact of the revised directive is energy savings of 60 to 80 million tons of oil equivalent (MTOE) in 2020 and the total EU energy consumption should be reduced by 5% to 6%.
Currently, the energy consumption of buildings varies enormously in the EU; whilst new buildings can need less than 3 to 5 liters of heating oil or equivalent per square meter floor area annually, existing buildings consume, on average, about 25 liters per square meter - and some buildings consume up to 60 liters.
Available construction products and installation technologies can drastically improve a building's energy performance, thereby reducing its energy consumption and creating net benefits. This means that annual energy cost savings can exceed the annual capital costs for the investments. The best moment for energy improvements is when buildings are constructed or renovated.
The existing Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, adopted in 2002, is a key element to improving energy efficiency here. Some EU member states have made promising progress in recent years, but the majority still have an enormous untapped potential for improvements. To this end, the EC sees further room for strengthening the effectiveness and the impact of this directive.
The recast directive will help citizens to improve the energy efficiency of their houses and the construction industry to build better quality buildings. The macroeconomic estimated impacts are also significant: 5% to 6% less energy will be used in EU in 2020 (which equals the total current consumption of Belgium and Romania) and about 5% less CO2 emissions will occur in the EU in 2020.
The EC will continue to help member states implementing this directive, like with the "Buildings Platform" information service (see EPBD Buildings Platform web page).
In 2009, the EC will launch a major "Build-up" initiative to increase the awareness among construction industry representatives, government authorities, and citizens on the savings opportunities in this sector. New financing schemes will also be introduced to overcome investment barriers.
For more information, see the EC's web sites on Second Strategic Energy Review - Securing our Energy Future and on Energy Policy for a Competitive Europe.
Source: European Commission.