The European Commission unveiled the long-awaited “Clean Energy for All Europeans” Package, an extensive set of legislative proposals including the proposal on the revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), a binding 30% energy efficiency target, clarified Ecodesign framework and measures, and smarter finance to help Europe grow while meeting its climate goals.
Revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD)
The European Commission has proposed a revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) and relevant articles of the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED). The proposal sets renovation targets, minimum performance requirements for existing and new buildings. It furthermore adds provisions on energy performance certificates on inspections. A Staff Working Document linked to the proposal shows best practices of improved energy performance in buildings. New elements of the legislative proposal:
- Incorporation of the provisions on long-term renovation strategies (Article 4 of the EED) in the EPBD
- Article 10 is updated to include two new provisions on EPCs to assess savings from renovations financed with public support are to be assessed by comparing EPCs before and after renovation
- Improved provisions on inspections of heating and air-conditioning systems (Articles 14, 15, 16), reinforcing the use of continuous electronic monitoring and building automation and control (BAC). Inspections of the H/C systems shall assess also the sizing compared to heating and cooling the requirements
- Annex I is updated to improve transparency and consistency of energy performance definitions at national or regional level and to take into account the importance of the indoor environment
- Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts on “smartness indicator” (Article 23).
Ecodesign Working Plan for 2016-2019
The new Ecodesign Working Plan for the 2016-2019 period defining new product groups including building automation and control systems, refrigerated containers, Solar panels and inverters and how Ecodesign will contribute to circular economy objectives.
Beside the new work plan the work is ongoing related to minimum energy efficiency requirements for air heating and cooling products and standardisation requests in support of Ecodesign measures for solid fuel boilers and local space heaters.
Accelerating clean energy in buildings – construction initiative
The Commission reinforces its action to support the competitiveness of the construction sector and the benefits of the Energy Efficiency legislation by launching a construction initiative to acceleration the modernisation of the construction sector which will boost growth and jobs. This initiative entails the speeding of the digitisation of the sector, upskilling of workers, functioning internal market and development of the circular economy.
Smart Finance for Smart Buildings Initiative
The initiative includes specific measures to further unlock private financing and enable market actors to realise their projects through attractive and appropriate financing solutions. This initiative can unlock an additional EUR 10 billion of public and private funds until 2020 for energy efficiency and renewables. The 3 pillars of the imitative are:
- More effective use of public funding
- Aggregation and assistance with project development
- De-risking investments