The latest changes in European legislation will lead to unprecedented transformations in the construction sector. Current targets include substantially reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from buildings by 2030, as well as transforming existing buildings into zero-emission buildings by 2050 across the European Union. In order to achieve these extremely ambitious targets, measures with a major impact will be provided for real estate developers, construction companies, public authorities and also home owners. The changes are aimed at increasing the energy performance of buildings and renovating especially the most inefficient buildings, abandoning the use of fossil fuels for heating, the large-scale adoption of technological solutions based on renewable energy and the adaptation of buildings to the effects of climate change, say experts of the Efficient Romania program.

The new obligations expected for all member states, including Romania, are provided in the proposal to revise the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), recently voted in the European Parliament. This directive is the most important European normative act aimed at the construction sector and one of the key legislative instruments for achieving the climate ambitions of the European Union.

Below, in brief, are the main changes provided for in the directive:

The ambition to reach climate neutrality by 2050 also requires a new vision for the construction sector: the zero-emission building (ZEB), whose very low energy demand, thanks to high efficiency, is fully covered by energy from renewable sources, when this is technically feasible. All new buildings should be zero-emission from 2028, with the exception of new buildings occupied, operated or owned by public authorities, for which the deadline would be 2026. The new ZEB standard will replace the current one – nZEB, building almost zero energy consumption, which has also become mandatory in Romania from 2021 for any new construction.

All existing buildings should be converted to zero-emission buildings by 2050. However, member states should take into account the timing of the energy transition and social costs when setting deadlines, the text of the directive states.

All new buildings should be equipped with solar technologies by 2028, if this is technically possible and economically feasible. In the case of residential buildings undergoing major renovations, the deadline would be 2032.

The minimum energy performance standards are introduced, for the progressive increase of the energy performance classes of buildings, especially in the case of rural and isolated areas. The measure aims to improve the quality of life of the most vulnerable households and poorest citizens. On a scale from A to G, the letter G corresponds to the 15% of the worst performing national housing stock in each Member State. On average, an energy class G home consumes about 10 times more energy than a nearly zero-energy building or a zero-emission building, according to data from the European Commission. Thus, all residential buildings should be at least energy performance class E by 2030 and class D by 2033. Non-residential and public buildings should reach the same standards three years earlier, respectively class E by 2027 and class D until 2030. Class A will correspond to buildings with zero emissions.

To facilitate integrated renovation programmes, Member States will draw up a register of buildings with the lowest energy performance, based on energy performance certificates.

“Inefficient buildings are often linked to energy poverty and social problems. Vulnerable households are particularly exposed to rising energy prices because they spend a higher proportion of their budget on energy products. By reducing excessive energy bills, building renovation can lift people out of energy poverty and also prevent it,” the lawmakers explained, according to the text of the directive.

Also in terms of energy performance certificates, a new category A+ will be introduced, for buildings that meet all the following conditions: (a) high efficiency standards, with an energy requirement for heating, cooling, ventilation and hot water of more than 15 kWh/m²/year; (b) higher on-site renewable energy production based on a monthly average; (c) positive balance of carbon dioxide emissions expressed as GWP (global warming potential) over the entire lifetime of the building, including here the construction materials and energy installations used during the manufacture, installation, use, maintenance and demolition of the building.

The validity of energy performance certificates will change as follows: certificates with an energy performance class A+, A, B or C will be valid for 10 years, and those of class D and below, for a maximum of 5 years.

Building renovation passports will be introduced as a voluntary tool. This tool will provide a clear roadmap for phased deep renovation, helping owners and investors plan the best timing and scope for interventions.

Minimum indoor environmental quality standards in buildings will also be introduced. Thus, Member States will require the installation of measuring and control devices for monitoring and regulating environmental quality, if this is technically and economically feasible, in the following buildings: (a) buildings with zero emissions; (b) new buildings; (c) existing buildings that are undergoing major renovation; (d) non-residential buildings with a useful rated power for heating systems, cooling systems or combined space heating and cooling systems of more than 70 kW; (e) public buildings and buildings providing social services of general interest, such as education, health and social assistance.

Another novelty is the requirement to report the global warming potential (GWP) during the life cycle. The indicator will show the building’s overall contribution to climate change emissions. It is envisaged that the GWP will have to be calculated and published in the building’s energy performance certificate from 1 January 2027 for all new buildings. At the same time, the directive emphasizes that priority should be given to strategies that promote the thermal performance of buildings during the summer period. To this end, the focus should be on measures to avoid overheating, such as shading and sufficient thermal capacity in the building construction, as well as the development and application to a greater extent of passive cooling techniques, primarily those that improve the conditions of the indoor environment and the microclimate around the buildings.

Today, two-thirds of the energy used to heat and cool buildings still comes from fossil fuels. To reach zero emissions, it is urgent to phase out fossil fuels used for heating and cooling, the text of the Directive (EPBD) states. Member States should therefore introduce measures to ensure that the use of fossil fuel heating systems in new buildings and in buildings undergoing major renovations, extensive renovations or renovation of the heating system is not authorised. from the date of transposition of the directive and phase out the use of fossil fuel heating systems in all buildings by 2035 and, if this is not feasible, by 2040 at the latest.

The options for meeting the energy needs of an efficient building with renewable energy are many: energy from on-site renewable sources such as solar thermal energy, geothermal energy, solar photovoltaic energy, heat pumps, hydroelectric power and biomass, energy from renewable sources provided by renewable energy communities or citizen energy communities, as well as district heating and cooling based on renewable energy or waste heat recovery from waste water, domestic hot water or air and energy from renewable sources provided by energy networks.

Solar PV and solar thermal technologies should be deployed rapidly to benefit both the climate and the financial well-being of citizens and businesses. Member States should establish robust support frameworks for such systems, including in combination with energy storage systems and heat pumps, based on predictable investment payback periods, which should be shorter than 10 years, it is also mentioned in the text of the Directive on the energy performance of buildings.

Last but not least, buildings can play an important role in promoting green mobility, a key element of the European Green Deal. Thus, the EPBD introduces provisions regarding the provision of the electrical infrastructure intended for charging electric vehicles and bicycles in the parking lots of buildings, as well as the construction of parking spaces for bicycles.

According to the European Commission, buildings in the EU are responsible for 40% of our energy consumption and 36% of our greenhouse gas emissions. The proposed revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive was adopted in the European Parliament in March this year. The approved text can be consulted in its entirety on the Parliament’s website. The final form of the bill will be determined following negotiations with the Council and is expected for the second half of 2023.