EU Adopts Energy Efficient Buildings Directive
The European Parliament voted April 17 for the revised Energy Performance of Buildings directive, signalling the closure of the first of eight legislative proposals for the Clean Energy for All Europeans package proposed by the European Commission (EC) on November 30 2016.
The package is a key element of one of the 2014-19 European Commission's priorities, namely “a resilient Energy Union and a forward-looking climate change policy," the EC said.
The building sector is the largest single energy consumer in Europe, accounting for a third of emissions; and the directive is intended to lower energy bills and cut emissions and it will also create employment.
Once the EU Council of Ministers (ministers from all 28 EU states) has endorsed the vote the text will be published in the EU Official Journal and will enter into force 20 days after publication. Member states will then have to transpose the new elements of the directive into national law within 20 months.
The EU has committed to cut CO2 emissions by at least 40% by 2030 while modernising the EU's economy and delivering on jobs and growth for all European citizens.
Buildings absorb 40% of final energy, and about three quarters of buildings are energy inefficient, the EC says. And the construction industry generates about 9% of European GDP. Construction activities that include renovation work and energy retrofits add almost twice as much value as the construction of new buildings, and small and medium enterprises contribute more than 70% of the value added in the EU building sector.