At the EU LIFE Info Days - the EU’s funding programme for the environment and climate action - Serena Pontoglio, Policy Officer in the Energy Efficiency Unit of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Energy, explained the objectives behind the use of the funds and the specific calls proposed by the EU to accelerate the energy renovation of buildings.
Minimum standards. Ms Pontoglio pointed out that the EU was planning to establish stricter energy performance standards to encourage the renovation of the least efficient buildings. By targeting these buildings, which offer significant potential for improvement, the EU aims to kick-start a transformation of the energy renovation market.
Energy performance certificates. In addition, Ms Pontoglio provided details on the updating and improvements to energy performance certificates to make them more reliable and credible. In her view, these certificates will play an essential role in providing information to consumers and guiding the decisions of building owners. In addition, they will be used more and more by the financial sector to assess the energy performance of buildings.
National renovation plans. Ms Pontoglio also returned to the proposal to improve national building renovation plans, making them mandatory and updating them every 5 years in each Member State. These plans will be key tools for guiding national energy renovation policies and ensuring a coherent approach at EU level.
Decarbonisation of the sector. “As the building sector is the biggest consumer of energy in the EU, it is crucial to speed up the transition to renewable and greener solutions”, stressed Ms Pontoglio. She explained that the EU was proposing to introduce a new definition for new zero-emission buildings, taking into account the entire carbon life cycle of buildings, including emissions incorporated into the construction and materials used.
Financing energy renovation. In addition, the EU aims to establish a solid funding framework to support the transformation of the building stock. Priority will be given to low-income households and the least efficient buildings. Ms Pontoglio detailed the introduction of new tools, such as energy performance certificates and renovation passports, which would be used to guide the decisions of building owners and facilitate access to financing.
Modernisation of the building stock. Finally, the EU is also proposing measures to modernise the building stock. As Serena Pontoglio explained, this would include measures to improve indoor air quality and ventilation, as well as digitalising information tools and sharing data.
The interinstitutional negotiations on the revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, adopted by the Commission on 15 December 2021 (see EUROPE 12854/13), will start on 6 June. (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)