EPB standards under Systematic Review and update expected to improve the alignment with EPBD IV

In 2017/18 all EPB standards have been published. As usual for CEN and ISO standards, after 5 years the standards have to be reviewed to decide if the standards should stay as they are, be updated or withdrawn. Beginning December 2022 this review process has ended and it is up to the various involved TC’s to decide on basis of the received reactions. Based on this and the already expected reactions it is clear that many standards need an update.

The still ongoing revision of the EPBD is also a driver to revisit the EPB standards.

Fundamental change of the standards is not expected. The allowance in the EPBD on the hourly approach which is needed for a proper grid interaction towards a total decarbonisation of our buildings, may require some adaption. More emphasis on IEQ declarations that could be reported at the building Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)

Will the expected improvements lead to more direct use of the EPB standards?

Yes, as they are already used in all EU MSs, but not always in a direct way and not always following the EPB standards for 100%. This leads to the situation that the energy labels in Europe cannot be compared, in fact there are 27 or more methods and not just one as intended by developing and publishing the set of EPB standards. Also, the EPC classification system (the A to G score) is not harmonised, which is expected to improve given the expected EPBD IV requirements. EPB experts working at national level on their national procedures confirm this. These experts are also in favour of having an EU universal software kernel available. A software package that is fully in line with the set of EPB standards. The task that then remains for experts and regulators at national level is to agree on the national input values, climate data, user patterns, IEQ classes for the different building uses, etc. For the software houses remains the task to build the user interface as they did for the current national methods. This national interface includes the national choses and is adapted for the typical national practises, languages, building traditions, with links to product databases including the data needed as input for the calculation etc. This all will contribute to the harmonisation of the EP assessment procedure. A great asset for our industry optimising their energy saving products and services. The current 27 different national procedures hamper a real open EU market in Europe. This leads to suboptimal solutions and higher costs of energy saving technology. A freely available EPB software kernel will overcome this and will lead to decarbonisation of the European building stock. It will also stimulate innovative solution as the way to reward them will be similar throughout Europe and possibly at more global scale.