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OPINION (COM(2021)0802 – C90469/2021 – 2021/0426(COD))

On the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the energy performance of buildings (recast)

ENVI-AD-731545

Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety · Rapporteur: Radan Kanev

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The Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety proposes amendments to the Commission's recast of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. It backs minimum energy performance standards, deep renovation and zero-emission buildings by 2050, with safeguards for vulnerable households. It adds a Pay-as-you-Save loan scheme, free renovation passports for low-income owners, and priority funding for energy-poor households. It sets earlier deadlines for public and residential buildings to reach higher energy classes. It requires solar installations on new and existing buildings, bicycle parking and recharging points, and inspections of electrical installations. It also covers indoor environmental quality, whole life-cycle emissions and circular construction materials.

Committee position. The committee proposes amendments to the Commission's recast directive, supporting minimum energy performance standards and deep renovation while adding social safeguards, a Pay-as-you-Save scheme, earlier deadlines for public buildings, and requirements on solar energy, electrical safety and indoor environmental quality.

Key points

  1. Buildings account for 40% of final energy consumption and 36% of energy-related greenhouse gas emissions in the EU, and renovation is key to cutting bills and emissions.
  2. The committee proposes a Pay-as-you-Save loan scheme where repayments never exceed energy savings, and a common Union standard for such schemes.
  3. Low-income and vulnerable households should get priority financial support, 100% subsidised retrofit works, and free renovation passports.
  4. Minimum energy performance standards should phase out the worst-performing buildings, with class G defined as the minimum last 15% of the national building stock.
  5. Public buildings must reach class E after 1 January 2027, class D after 1 January 2033 and class C after 1 January 2035; residential buildings face later deadlines.
  6. Member States must set national renovation plans with an annual deep renovation rate of at least 2.5%, rising to 3% or more, and audit their building stock.
  7. Financial incentives for fossil-fuel boilers should end from 1 January 2024, except for boilers able to run on renewable energy or installed in combination with renewables.
  8. New buildings must be solar-ready, and Member States must deploy solar installations on new public and commercial buildings over 250 square meters and on new residential buildings.
  9. Non-residential buildings with more than twenty parking spaces must have recharging points and bicycle parking, including spaces for cargo bikes.
  10. Electrical installations must be inspected during building inspections and when equipment such as charging points, heat pumps or solar panels is added.
  11. Energy performance certificates must cover the whole building stock by 2035, include indoor air quality and daylight results, and be valid for 7 years, or 10 years for classes A to C.
  12. The Commission should set a Union-wide methodology for whole life-cycle global warming potential by 31 December 2028, with maximum limits for new buildings five years later.

Who is affected

  • Vulnerable and low-income households, who get priority funding, free renovation passports and protection from eviction and rent increases.
  • Public authorities, whose buildings must meet higher energy classes earlier and display energy performance certificates.
  • Building owners and tenants, who must obtain energy performance certificates and can access one-stop-shops and advisory tools.
  • Construction workers and small and medium-sized enterprises, who need upskilling and asbestos-safety measures.
  • Financial institutions, which must offer green mortgages and loans and specific products for low-income households.

Figures and deadlines

  • 40% of total energy consumption and 36% of energy-related greenhouse gas emissions are attributed to buildings.
  • Deep renovation reduces energy consumption by at least 60% but is carried out at 0.2% of the building stock per year.
  • 275 billion Euros per year of additional investments are needed for the 2030 emission reduction target of 55%.
  • Financial incentives for fossil-fuel boilers should end from 1 January 2024.
  • Public buildings must reach class E after 1 January 2027, class D after 1 January 2033 and class C after 1 January 2035.
  • Residential buildings must reach class E after 1 January 2030, class D after 1 January 2035 and class C after 1 January 2037.
  • Solar installations are required on new public and commercial buildings over 250 square meters and on existing ones by 31 December 2026.
  • Energy performance certificates must be valid for no more than 7 years, or 10 years for classes A to C.