How to make energy performance of buildings directive more effective?

Published on February 5, 2016

Check out 9 ways to make the energy performance of buildings directive (EPBD) more effective from BPIE analysis (Building Performance Institute Europe).

BPIE analysis that would make the EPBD more effective in improving the energy performance of European buildings, while enabling Member States to develop and implement ambitious policies.

Briefing

The European Commission announced a proposal for a revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) to be part of the Energy Efficiency Package expected to be published in October 2016. This provides an opportunity to evolve and to strengthen requirements in the current version of the EPBD which would result in higher energy savings and reduced CO2 emissions from the sector. Some essential changes are suggested below, concluded from BPIE’s extensive research made these past years:

Including an unambiguous long-term vision for buildings: the EU building stock should meet high efficiency and zero carbon standards by 2050.
Stimulating higher and deeper energy renovation rates of the current building stock, with the necessary attention to technical and economic feasibility, health and comfort issues.
Introducing further compliance and quality assurance measures:

- Reform the cost-optimal methodology and take into full consideration other benefits (energy security, employment creation, reduced air pollution, health and comfort) of better building performance.

- In Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs), Member States should ensure that, inter alia:

a) The requirements for qualified experts are harmonised across Member States;

b) The certifier needs to be physically present onsite (for new buildings as a part of a verification process);

c) The quality check of EPCs is strengthened and harmonised;

d) Digital tools are used for quality checks of the EPC data, such as plausibility checks in a calculation software and/or the EPC registers.

Ensuring that future buildings are smart and interconnected with the energy system.
Addressing the problem of fuel poverty across the EU with a carefully designed and more effective policy landscape.

Read full brochure here.