James Debono Any new building in Europe constructed after 2020 will have to rely on renewable energy sources and consume ‘near zero’ amounts of energy.
This is the result of a new agreement on the revision of the 2002 Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, which means new buildings will have to use the latest construction technologies and insulation, with the remaining energy made up from solar and biomass generation.
But the new directive will not apply to older buildings or to the renovation of buildings under 1,000 metres square.
This is the result of a compromise between EU governments and the EU parliament struck a deal that will force all new buildings constructed after 2020 to consume ‘near zero energy’. The agreement defines near-zero-energy buildings as constructions that have “a very high energy performance” with any energy they use coming “to a very large extent” from renewable sources generated “either on-site or nearby”.
Governments will lead the way by ensuring that all new public buildings they own or occupy after 2018 meet the near-zero-energy standard.
But MEPs, particularly the Greens, were less successful in their attempts to upgrade the efficiency of existing buildings. Governments agreed to “develop policies and take measures such as targets” to transform existing buildings into near-zero-energy buildings when they are refurbished.
The council rejected a proposal to remove the threshold (1,000 m²) above which existing buildings undergoing major refurbishment must meet minimum national efficiency standards.
Parliament sources have said the deadline for ending the threshold has been delayed until June 2013 at the earliest.
EU Energy ministers are expected to approve the deal on the opening day of the Copenhagen climate summit on 7 December.
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