EU-ASE welcomes agreement on EPBD despite its weakened ambition

Today, two years after its initial announcement, co-legislators have reached an agreement on the revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), a key piece of the Fit For 55 Package.  The political agreement on the EPBD is weaker than what is necessary to fully deliver Europe’s energy security and sustainable economic growth in the building sector. If approved and fully implemented via strong governance and a financial support framework it will still represent an important step for EU just transition.

e welcome the developments marking a pivotal step towards upgrading the efficiency of the buildings sector such as the further integration of digitalization within the EPBD. Embracing existing digital tools is essential for assessing and unlocking the full potential of actual energy performance in buildings. The reinforced provisions for technical building systems (TBS), including heating, built-in lighting, and building automation and control systems, are crucial in raising the energy efficiency level of our buildings.

Regrettably, the agreement on the EPBD misses out on setting an ambitious framework, as proposed by the European Commission and further improved by the European Parliament. The original proposal for Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS), one of the main pillar of the EPBD, offered a powerful path to achieve higher energy classes for worst-performing buildings while harmonizing Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) among Member States. MEPS, as it stands in the political agreement reached today, leaves too much flexibility for Member States to achieve respectively 16% and 20-22% primary energy reduction targets of the overall energy consumption of the building stock by 2030 and 2035. This is a first step towards gradually scaling up the efforts for the entire building stock. A careful monitoring and guidance of the implementation of this centrepiece of the EBPD will be required to deliver the desired objectives. 

Another missed opportunity for the Union`s decarbonization efforts is delaying the phase out of fossil fuels in heating and cooling in buildings. The European Parliament`s step forward to end the use of fossil fuels in heating and cooling in buildings by 2035 was watered down and pushed back to 2040. Without a timely phase-out of fossil fuel boilers in buildings, the EU cannot achieve its 2050 goals. Member States and the EU are currently negotiating intensely to ensure that at COP28 there is a precise commitment to phase out fossil fuels. They need to be consistent with this commitment in EU legislation.

Despite the complexity to converge towards a more ambitious agreement, if correctly and swiftly implemented, the EPBD is capable of improving living conditions, reducing buildings` energy needs, saving billions of euros in energy costs enhancing the EU’s energy security, and boosting sustainable economic growth in the EU.

Monica Frassoni, President of the European Alliance to Save Energy, commenting on the political agreement, said: Even if the directive includes several positive provisions to improve the energy performance of the highly inefficient European building stock and the ultimate goal remains the full decarbonisation of EU buildings by 2050, we regret that minimum energy performance standards have been seriously weakened. The large flexibility and derogations conceded to governments could have been coupled with higher ambition, especially for residential buildings. If the building sector is not fully decarbonized in accordance with a clear plan and sufficient resources by 2050 it would be deleterious for citizens – especially those struggling with energy poverty – and for businesses for which the modernization of the building stock is a unique opportunity for new sustainable economic activities and job creation”.

The political agreement will need to be formalized in the next months. We count on co-legislators’ responsibility for this important final step. After, we must roll up our sleeves, walk the talk and turn our attention to deliver the full EPBD potential through robust institutional governance and private public-partnerships aimed to boost skills development, technological advances and work out innovative financing schemes. The EPBD can instigate renovations across Europe, all stakeholders will have to work together to push up the bar and increase the depth and rate of these renovations, make them cost-effective and valuable for citizens, businesses and the environment” said Quentin Galland, Chair of the European Alliance to Save Energy (EU-ASE).

 

Read the full press release here.

 

Media contact:
Luigi Petito 
Head of Secretariat 
info@euase.eu 

About us
The European Alliance to Save Energy (EU-ASE) is a cross-sectoral, business-led organisation that ensures that the voice of energy efficiency is heard across Europe. EU-ASE members have operations across the 27 Member States of the European Union, employ over 340.000 people in Europe and have an aggregated annual turnover of €115 billion.

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Business leaders call upon the Government of Spain to champion the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD)

We, as members of the European Alliance to Save Energy (EU-ASE) and of the Spanish Green Growth Group, appeal to the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU to focus and give priority to the adoption of an ambitious Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) before the conclusion of its mandate at the end of 2023.

Reaching a timely agreement is vital to prevent further politicisation of the file, provide predictability for businesses and local construction sectors, and avoid delays as we strive to save energy, achieve energy independence and accelerate Europe’s efforts to combat climate change. The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive is a crucial component of the EU’s Fit For 55 package and any delay or resistance to its adoption will substantially impact the EU’s progress toward a zero-emission, climate-resilient future.

Read the full letter here.

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EPBD recast: EU-ASE calls on MEPs to green-light ITRE compromise proposal

In view of the plenary vote in the European Parliament on the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), EU-ASE addressed MEPs in an open letter calling them to confirm the text recently adopted by the ITRE Committee and supported by the main political groups and progressive stakeholders.

The EPBD is a crucial element to make the EU building stock efficient, sustainable and healthy. From a socio-economic perspective, it will drive sustainable growth and job creation in the construction sector, one of the most dynamic of our economy. The broadly supported compromise proposal recently adopted by the ITRE Committee is an important step in the right direction.

As EU-ASE, we support the introduction of Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) for public, commercial and residential buildings. MEPS, with clear targets for the different building segments, are critical to provide predictability to the sector and allow businesses to effectively plan their investments (including the financial sector).

The ITRE compromise adds a derogation (Article 9, 1c) allowing Member States to adjust minimum energy performance standards for residential buildings and publicly owned social housing. Such derogation leaves enough leeway for the Member States and cannot be expanded further without jeopardising the implementation of MEPS.

As a complementary step, it is essential to ensure the harmonisation of energy performance classes (EPC) across Member States, overcoming the current system of different thresholds based on national criteria, which creates enormous comparability issues. Defining the worst-performing 15% of each Member State’s building stock as class G is a good step towards further harmonisation. At the same time, further efforts will be needed to ensure the convergence of the EPC scale.

We support the agreed timelines to ensure that all new buildings are Zero-Emission Buildings, starting from new buildings occupied, operated or owned by public authorities. As public buildings represent 5% to 10% of the EU energy consumption, their contribution to achieving an efficient and decarbonised building stock is crucial. The public sector must showcase the benefits of energy savings to citizens and stimulate investments in the renovation market.

Read the full letter here

Read more on our position on the EPBD recast.

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Act firmly on energy security – Walk the talk on energy efficiency

Fourty-seven business leaders of European frontrunners on energy efficiency strongly encourage EU policy makers to adopt an ambitious and future-proof Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD).

In addition to the climate crisis, Europe is facing a severe energy prices and inflation crisis, hurting households, businesses, and economies. We see this as a pivotal moment where the mid-term objective of carbon neutrality must meet the short-term necessity to phase out fossil fuels. The fragile and inefficient nature of our current energy system and building stock has left Europe exposed. But years of inaction and low renovation rates can be reversed.

Energy efficiency is the best policy to shelter European citizens and businesses from high energy prices, restore European sovereignty while improving living conditions of our citizens. This is why structural measures to stop energy waste must be put in place to guide and help households and businesses before short term economic relief measures are phased out.

Fourty-seven business leaders of European frontrunners on energy efficiency strongly encourage EU policy makers to adopt an ambitious and future-proof Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD).

Read the full letter here.

 

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Revisione EPBD: Lettera congiunta al Ministro Pichetto

Insieme ad altre cinque associazioni italiane ed europee, EU-ASE ha inviato una lettera aperta al Ministro dell’Ambiente e della Sicurezza Energetica Gilberto Pichetto Fratin per chiedere di rendere la Direttiva sulla prestazione energetica degli edifici (EPBD) un volano per valorizzare e modernizzare il patrimonio edilizio italiano.

In vista della revisione della EPBD, le organizzazioni firmatarie chiedono al Ministro di:

1. Supportare l’applicazione dello schema di valutazione SRI come strumento strategico per la riqualifica degli edifici non-residenziali

Pur mantenendo in linea generale un approccio di carattere facoltativo in ambito residenziale, per quanto riguarda gli edifici non-residenziali è auspicabile sostenere un approccio più ambizioso che disponga l’adozione di atti delegati ed esecutivi per prescrivere l’applicazione obbligatoria dello schema di valutazione SRI, e le modalità tecniche per una sua efficace implementazione, di impianti con potenza termica oltre 290kW entro il 31 dicembre 2024, mentre per impianti con potenza termica oltre 70kW l’implementazione effettiva dello schema di valutazione SRI a partire dal 1 gennaio 2030 (art. 13, commi 2 e 4).

2. Sostenere l’indicatore SRI come elemento attivo e premiante per elevare la qualità e il livello prestazionale e di modernizzazione degli immobiliSupportare e promuovere tout courta livello europeo l’indicatore SRI come:

  • motore e termometro della trasformazione degli edifici, anche per un efficace utilizzo dei fondi Next Generation EU e delle Politiche di Coesione,
  • strumento premiante nei processi di finanziamento nazionali ed europei con incentivazione integrativa a garanzia del raggiungimento delle migliori prestazioni dell’indicatore SRI stesso,
  • abilitatore alla modernizzazione degli immobili, utilizzando la leva delle transazioni immobiliari di affitto e vendita degli edifici non-residenziali come base di riferimento per la valutazione dello stato di predisposizione all’intelligenza e volano naturale per accelerare l’attuazione della EPBD anche sugli edifici non sottoposti a ristrutturazioni profonde. 
  1. Prevedere un programma di finanziamento pluriennale e continuativo “Building 4.0” per la trasformazione digitale e la riqualificazione di qualità del patrimonio edilizioVista la portata degli investimenti che, a livello europeo, dovranno essere effettuati per accompagnare il processo di riqualifica dell’intero settore degli edifici in chiave digital & green sino alla neutralità climatica, diventa più che mai necessario disporre di un quadro finanziario stabile e di lungo periodo per assicurare una copertura adeguata degli interventi, legare i finanziamenti, o premialità integrative, a risultati certi e misurabili (anche) grazie all’asseverazione dell’indicatore SRI, con il fine di incrementare il livello prestazionale di efficienza energetica e l’attrattività, nazionale e internazionale, dei nostri immobili.

    4. Assicurare piena implementazione a livello nazionale delle norme sui requisiti minimi legate ai BACS Il decreto legislativo 10 giugno 2020, n. 48 di attuazione della precedente direttiva EPBD prevedeva l’emanazione di almeno un decreto attuativo, necessario a definire i dettagli necessari al fine di implementare le nuove misure, come quelle legate ai requisiti BACS. Entro il 31 Dicembre 2024, tutti gli edifici non-residenziali con una potenza nominale > 290kW dovranno essere equippaggiati con sistemi BACS dotati di determinate caratteristiche (corrispondenti a classe B ed A dello standard EN ISO 52120-1). Questi punti sono stati delineati in dettaglio da una precedente lettera inviata nell’Aprile 2021 al Ministro Cingolani. Auspichiamo che il Ministero possa finalmente dare seguito agli impegni precedentemente presi e dare completa e reale attuazione alla Direttiva, anche al fine di evitare procedure di infrazione.

    Link alla lettera

    Link ai punti principali

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