EU Shifts Sights on Energy-Efficient Buildings from 2030
The European Parliament has agreed upon new energy requirements for buildings, with the aim that all new constructions will be climate-neutral from 2030. Notably, this commitment is set to be implemented earlier for publicly owned buildings, which should be climate-neutral by 2028. The broader goal is to have an entire building stock that's climate-neutral by 2050.
In Germany, the European Commission's proposal for mandatory refurbishments for energy inefficient buildings sparked debate. Initially, the German government supported this proposal, but during discussions on the Building Energy Act, it eventually withdrew its support.
As a result, the agreement now only requires a reduction of the average energy consumption by at least 16% in the building sector by 2030 and 22% by 2035. Despite this, the responsibility of achieving these targets remains with the individual EU member states.
For non-residential buildings specifically, the agreement mandates that at least 16% of the worst renovated structures must undergo refurbishments by 2033, and solar systems must be installed if the situation is economically viable. Furthermore, heating systems that rely on fossil fuels must be replaced by 2040. From 2025, financial incentives for installing gas or oil heating systems cease to exist, but those for hybrid solutions are still possible.
Additional Insights
- While the EU Parliament's agreement allows for remediation of the worst renovated non-residential buildings by 2033, it is obligated only for new EU Member States.
- The European Commission encourages member states to establish facilities for the exchange of knowledge and best practices related to energy-efficient construction and renovation.
- There will be no direct aid or financial support from the EU Commission to meet the energy reduction goals.
Further Reading
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