On Tuesday 3 May, the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union transmitted to the Member States a first draft compromise on the revision of the EU directive (2018/844) on the energy performance of buildings (EPBD).
In its proposal for revision (see EUROPE 12854/13), the European Commission wants to require, among other things, that 100% of on-site energy consumption be covered by renewable energy from 2030 for new buildings, where technically feasible, with earlier adoption (from 2027) for new public buildings.
While the French document does not change this objective, it includes a specific article on “zero-emission buildings” by reintroducing, in a modified version, the article 9 that the European Commission had deleted in its proposal (this article dealt with “near-zero energy buildings”).
Under the new article, Member States would be required to take the necessary measures to ensure that the energy consumption and operational greenhouse gas emissions of a new or renovated zero-emission building each comply with a maximum threshold set at Member State level in their building renovation plans.
States could decide to adjust both thresholds for renovated buildings.
They should also ensure that a zero-emission building does not result in on-site carbon emissions from fossil fuels.
In addition to adding this new article modifying the definition of “zero-emission buildings” proposed by the Commission, Paris also suggests modifying some of the deadlines in the original text.
The deadline for Member States to introduce a renovation passport system would thus be postponed to 31 December 2025, one year later than in the Commission’s proposal.
However, Paris wants to bring forward by two years (from 2027 to 2025) the deadline from which Member States could no longer provide financial incentives for the installation of fossil fuel boilers.
The Presidency also considers that the validity of energy performance certificates should not exceed 10 years, as opposed to 5 years in the Commission’s proposal.
In addition, Paris proposes to reduce the proposed obligations to install sustainable mobility infrastructure.
See the draft compromise (in French): https://aeur.eu/f/1iw (Original version in French by Damien Genicot)