EPBD adoption in the ITRE Committee limited improvements to the Commission proposal
The European Parliament’s ITRE Committee adopted its Report on the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) today. Following lengthy negotiations, the text provides welcome, albeit limited, improvements to the European Commission proposal. Energy Efficiency industry players now call on the Members of the European Parliament to avoid further delays and give a clear mandate to the Rapporteur during the upcoming vote in Strasbourg.
A year after the start of Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, fewer and fewer policy makers seem to walk the talk on energy efficiency. Grand speeches did not translate into ambition when it comes to the Green Deal’s main tool to reduce Europe’s dependence on Russian gas – the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. The ITRE Committee Report ends up too close to the pre-war Commission proposal.
This sends a contradictory message – the current energy crisis clearly highlights the need for more efficient buildings and price relief measures for vulnerable households and businesses are likely to decrease in the coming months. In this context, interest in energy renovation works is on the rise and the industry stands ready to deliver.
Energy renovations are the best tool we have to sustainably shelter European citizens and businesses from volatile energy prices. A more coordinated industrial policy is now needed to achieve a smooth ramp up towards energy independence and a fully decarbonised building stock by 2050. The EPBD recast is an opportunity to shift from crisis management to systemic change.
Adrian JOYCE, Secretary General of EuroACE
EuroACE acknowledges the work of the ITRE Committee. The adopted Report provides a clear roadmap for owners and industry players for the next 10 years, agreeing to introduce Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) and a harmonised Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) scheme. A few important dispositions have also been improved: the roll out of the Zero Emission Building standard is slightly accelerated and the text now encourages the uptake of digital tools and new financial instruments. It also puts a stronger focus on the multiple benefits of energy efficiency, including health and wellbeing.
However, the far-reaching derogations granted to Member States on MEPS are a clear missed opportunity. Maintaining citizens in worst performing buildings instead of helping them improve their living conditions by renovating their homes is not the forward-looking policymaking Europe needs right now.
