EU Adopts Rules Requiring All New Buildings to Be Zero Emissions by 2030

The European Council announced that it has formally adopted the revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), with new rules aimed at reducing energy use and emissions from buildings across the EU.

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• Buildings currently contribute over one third of greenhouse gas emissions in the EU, and these new rules aim to tackle this issue. By 2030, all new buildings are required to be zero-emission, and by 2050, the entire EU building stock is expected to be transformed into zero-emission buildings.

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• For non-residential buildings, the directive introduces minimum energy performance standards to ensure they meet specified energy efficiency targets. By 2030, all non-residential buildings will surpass the energy performance of the 16% worst performers, gradually phasing out inefficient structures.

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Member states have the flexibility to exempt certain buildings, such as historical or religious structures, from these rules.

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The new regulations also prioritise the deployment of solar energy installations in new buildings, public structures, and renovated non-residential buildings. Additionally, sustainable mobility infrastructure, including electric car charging points and bicycle parking spaces, will be incorporated.

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The directive will be signed and published in the Official Journal of the EU, giving member states two years to integrate its provisions into their national legislation. Furthermore, the Commission will review the directive in 2028 to assess progress and gather insights for future improvements.

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To learn more about  the revised directive on the energy performance of buildings, click here.