Read the joint cross-sector recommendations on the first European Affordable Housing Plan.
Press Release: Affordable Housing has Energy Efficiency at its core
Following Ursula von der Leyen’s political guidelines 2024-2029, read Efficient Buildings Europe Press Release on affordable housing.
The European Year of Skills continues: Europe powered by skills and workforce development
Efficient Buildings Europe, together with other 17 organisations, signed a joint letter addressed to the European Commission and the 27 governments to highlight the importance of addressing skills and labour shortages in key sectors for the European green transition.
Read the full letter
Press Release: Clear Majority Supports the Buildings Directive
The Energy Performance of Building’s Directive has been approved by the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
Buildings account for one third of the EU’s energy-related greenhouse gas emissions and 42% of the EU’s final energy consumption.
The EPBD recognises the importance of energy efficiency in buildings for delivering lower energy bills, bettering living conditions, improving energy security and increasing competitiveness.
What happens next? Member states will vote on the EPBD in April. If they also approve it, we will move on to implementation.
Less than a week after the Buildings and Climate Global Forum and the Declaration de Chaillot, signed by 70 countries, the EPBD brings clarity on the way forward at EU level.
After years of important advocacy and technical work, we have reached a crucial milestone with the EPBD.
Read our full press release here
Deal on the Buildings Directive, no time to lose for its roll-out
Download the Press Release in pdf
The political agreement found on the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) is a positive signal for the efficient buildings industry in Europe. EuroACE now urges the European Parliament and the Council to finalise and formally adopt the text.
As 118 countries are calling for doubling the pace of efficiency improvements this decade, today’s agreement starts to put words into practice in the EU buildings sector. The European Union is finally making progress on structural measures to reduce its dependency on fossil fuels and durably shelter its citizens and businesses from energy price hikes while also improving living conditions.
The political agreement found on the EPBD is a balanced compromise. While the text maintains a clear roadmap for owners and industry players in the non-residential sector through Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS), negotiators opted for a more flexible, so-called “trajectory” approach for the residential sector. EuroACE calls for more clarity and concrete requirements in the early implementation phase to drive finance into decarbonising the building sector.
The text also brings welcome provisions facilitating the energy renovation process – rolling out one-stop shops, clarity on deep renovations as well as improving access to quality information and finance to ensure affordable renovations. It also looks at efficiency in buildings more holistically, with provisions to increase digitalisation, empower occupants with greater control over their energy consumption, address whole-life carbon, and improve indoor environmental quality.
“The EPBD is the final cornerstone of the Fit-for-55 package. It is our roadmap to ensure that Europeans have buildings that are decarbonised, energy efficient, and healthy. The political agreement found today should boost confidence in the renovation market and spur holistic renovations. The technologies to deliver are ready,” said Julie Kjestrup, President of EuroACE and Head of Policy and Thought Leadership at VELUX.
“Together with the Electricity Market Design and the Net Zero Industry Act, the EPBD paves the way to make buildings central actors of the energy system. The promotion of new digital tools and upgrades in both active and passive technologies will empower citizens and businesses to become actors of the transition,” said Bertrand Deprez, Vice-President of EuroACE and VP EU Government Affairs at Schneider Electric.
“Reaching such an agreement in the current adverse political context is a strong achievement. We now urge the co-negotiators to swiftly finalise and formally adopt the text. EuroACE and its members stand ready to support Member States throughout the implementation phase,” said Adrian Joyce, Secretary General of EuroACE.
ENDS