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DRAFT OPINION (COM(2021)0802 – C9xxxx – 2021/0426(COD))

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

ENVI-PA-731545

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

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✦ In short · AI summary of this text, generated 26 Sept 2026

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The Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety proposes amendments to the Commission's recast directive on the energy performance of buildings, calling for a zero-emission building stock by 2050. It introduces a 'Pay-as-you-Save' loan scheme where repayments never exceed energy savings, and prioritises financial support for low-income and vulnerable households. It changes the definition of the worst-performing class G from 'the last 15%' to 'minimum last 15%' of the national building stock. It delays the zero-emission requirement for new public buildings to 2030 and for all new buildings to 2050, and relaxes minimum performance deadlines for existing buildings. It adds indoor air quality to the directive's scope, requires renovation passports free of charge for low-income owners, and extends energy performance certificate validity.

Committee position. The committee calls on the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy to take into account amendments that strengthen social safeguards, introduce Pay-as-you-Save schemes, adjust deadlines and definitions, and add indoor air quality requirements.

Key points

  1. Buildings account for 40% of final energy consumption and 36% of energy-related greenhouse gas emissions in the Union.
  2. The rapporteur proposes a 'Pay-as-you-Save' financial scheme guaranteeing that loan repayments never exceed energy savings on a monthly or yearly average.
  3. Financial support and technical assistance should give clear priority to vulnerable households, low-income owners, elderly and retired property owners, single parents and people in social housing.
  4. The definition of class G (worst-performing buildings) is changed from 'the last 15%' to 'minimum last 15%' of each Member State's national building stock.
  5. Member States should ensure that all new buildings are zero-emission from 1 January 2050, and new buildings occupied or owned by public authorities from 1 January 2030, prioritising schools, kindergartens and hospitals.
  6. Existing buildings should meet at least energy performance class F after 1 January 2033 and class E after 1 January 2035.
  7. Member States should provide financial guarantees to financial institutions to promote targeted financial products for people in energy poverty, vulnerable households and owners in worst-performing multi-apartment buildings and rural areas.
  8. The Commission should develop a common Union standard for Pay-as-you-Save financial schemes, setting mandatory minimum requirements for public and private actors.
  9. Member States should ensure that renovation passports do not create an economic or administrative burden and are issued free of charge to low-income and vulnerable homeowners and to owners of a principal residence.
  10. The directive should include a definition of indoor air quality, and inspections of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems should include an assessment of indoor air quality.
  11. Member States should promote requalification programmes for employees in fossil fuel mining, energy production, distribution and energy accounting firms whose activities will be phased out.
  12. The validity of energy performance certificates should not exceed 10 years, or 15 years for buildings with class A, B or C.

Who is affected

  • Low-income and vulnerable households, who should receive priority financial support, free renovation passports and free energy performance certificates.
  • Owners of worst-performing buildings, who may face minimum energy performance standards and benefit from targeted financial products.
  • Member States, which must establish national building renovation plans, set minimum energy performance standards and provide financial guarantees.
  • Public authorities, whose new buildings should be zero-emission from 2030, prioritising schools, kindergartens and hospitals.
  • Tenants and property owners, who should receive energy performance certificates and information on renovation.

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%.
  • The deep renovation rate is 0.2% of the building stock per year.
  • 275 billion Euros per year of additional investments are needed for building renovation to meet the 2030 emission reduction target of 55%.
  • Renovations should transform a building to a zero-emission building or the best results that a renovation costing up to 50% of the value of the respective building could provide for.
  • New buildings occupied or owned by public authorities should be zero-emission as of 1 January 2030; all new buildings as of 1 January 2050.
  • Existing buildings should meet at least energy performance class F after 1 January 2033 and class E after 1 January 2035.
  • Energy performance certificates should be valid for no more than 10 years, or 15 years for class A, B or C buildings.