The REHVA Brussels Summit 2025, held at the European Economic and Social Committee in Brussels, provided a platform for policymakers, experts and market actors to reflect on the implementation of the revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive and its implications for indoor environmental quality, affordability and renovation financing. The programme opened with a session dedicated to the relationship between IEQ and decarbonisation, where Niels Ladefoged, Deputy Head of Unit B.3 Buildings and Products at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Energy, delivered the first keynote on the Commission’s perspective.
In his keynote address, Niels Ladefoged highlighted the central role of Europe’s building stock in meeting energy and climate objectives. He noted that buildings are responsible for:
approximately 40 percent of Europe’s total energy consumption
52 percent of the EU’s natural gas use
roughly one third of energy-related greenhouse gas emissions
He also stressed that low-performing buildings have significant social consequences. According to available assessments, one in four Europeans lives in buildings where indoor air quality does not meet national standards, and 10 percent of citizens are unable to keep their homes adequately warm.
Against this background, the recast Energy Performance of Buildings Directive aims to contribute to energy security and independence while advancing sustainability, affordability, job creation and competitiveness.
Ladefoged underlined that the recast EPBD raises both the requirements and the visibility of indoor environmental quality in the legislation, with explicit references in Articles 1, 2, 5, 7, 8, 13, 20, 23 and the annexes. A definition of indoor environmental quality is provided in Article 2(66). He also emphasised that the Directive addresses IEQ across the entire life cycle of buildings, not only during design and construction, but also during operation.
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Gusts Kossovics, Harm Valk, Livio Mazzarella, Thomas Kattnig, Jarek Kurnitski and Niels Ladefoged.