The Council formally adopted today a revised directive on the energy performance of buildings. The directive will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy poverty in the EU.
The Directive will boost Europe's energy independence, in line with the REPowerEU Plan, by reducing our use of imported fossil fuels. The revised Directive will make ‘zero-emissions' the standard for new buildings. All new residential and non-residential buildings must have zero on-site emissions from fossil fuels, as of 1 January 2028 for publicly-owned buildings and as of 1 January 2030 for all other new buildings, with a possibility for specific exemptions. The strengthened Directive contains new provisions to progressively phase-out fossil fuels from heating in buildings and boost the deployment of solar power installations, taking into account the national circumstances. Member States will also have to ensure that new buildings are ‘solar ready'. Subsidies for the installation of stand-alone boilers powered by fossil fuels will not be allowed as of 1 January 2025. It will also boost the uptake of sustainable mobility thanks to provisions on pre-cabling, recharging points for electric vehicles and bicycle parking spaces.
NEXT STEPS
The directive will now be signed and published in the Official Journal of the EU. Member states will have two years in which to incorporate the provisions of the directive into their national legislation.
The Commission will review the directive by 2028, in the light of the experience gained and progress made during its implementation.