MEPs at the plenary session on Thursday 17 September approved an own-initiative report by Ciarán Cuffe (Greens/EFA, Ireland) calling for maximisation of the energy efficiency potential of the EU building stock.
“Today the European Parliament sent a strong signal to the Commission of what is expected in the upcoming Renovation Wave [a Commission initiative scheduled for 14 October]”, Cuffe said after the vote.
According to Cuffe, renovating Europe's building stock “will significantly reduce import dependencies, cut energy bills for households and will also reduce our emissions”, as well as “create employment and boost SMEs as they emerge from the Covid-19 crisis”.
Minimum energy performance standards
The European Parliament resolution, which was adopted by a huge majority (by 526 votes to 77, with 94 abstentions) mainly calls for the Energy Efficiency Directive (2018/2002) and the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (2018/844) to be revised in line with the EU's new climate ambition (see EUROPE 12561/5).
Revising Directive 2018/844 should include a new method for setting minimum energy performance standards for buildings, which will gradually increase, say MEPs.
MEPs also call on the Commission to propose minimum annual renovation rates and policy measures ensuring major renovations that create financial triggers and investment stability.
Tackling energy poverty
The resolution highlights the fact that 50 million households in the EU are living in energy poverty, and stresses the social aspect of renovating buildings to reduce energy bills.
Parliament believes that it is particularly important to ensure that construction and renovation policies do not lead to an unbearable rental cost burden for tenants.
Other measures
The text also calls for renewable energies to be fully integrated into the building sector.
Lastly, Parliament recommends that a digital building renovation passports be introduced as a common European tool by 2025 and that a “EU climate calculator” be developed to ensure “accurate and easily understandable labelling for building materials, products and services related to the renovation of the EU building stock in the run-up to 2050” (see EUROPE 12522/15).
The resolution can be found at: https://bit.ly/2ZMxVSH (Original version in French by Damien Genicot)