All new buildings to be 'near-zero-energy' by 2020

ENDS Europe Daily, 18 November 2009 - EU governments and MEPs struck a political deal on Tuesday on plans to revise the 2002 energy performance of buildings directive that will force all new buildings constructed after 2020 to consume "near-zero-energy".

Near-zero-energy buildings are defined under the agreement as constructions that have "a very high energy performance". Any energy that they use should come "to a very large extent" from renewable sources generated "either on-site or nearby".

Public authorities will have to lead the way by ensuring that all new buildings they own or occupy after 2018 meet the near-zero-energy standard. Agreement on the targets was a victory for MEPs, as governments had dismissed the goals as being "unrealistic" when first proposed by the European Parliament.

MEPs were less successful in their attempts to force governments to upgrade the efficiency of existing buildings. Governments agreed to "develop policies and take measures such as targets" to transform existing buildings into near-zero-energy buildings when they are refurbished.

The council rejected a proposal to immediately scrap a 1,000 square metre threshold above which existing buildings undergoing major refurbishment must meet minimum national efficiency standards. Parliament sources told ENDS the deadline for scrapping the threshold had been delayed until June 2013, if not later.

There was agreement on a new EU-wide methodology for setting national efficiency requirements on building components such as roofs and windows. But the details will only be agreed later through the EU's comitology procedure. Member states will be exempted from applying the methodology under certain circumstances.

MEPs failed in their bid to secure new cash to fund efficiency improvements in existing buildings. Instead governments will simply have to produce a list of measures and instruments to support the law's implementation. By 2011 the European Commission must say whether additional EU funding is needed.

The deal is expected to be formally approved by EU energy ministers on the opening day of the Copenhagen climate summit on 7 December. On Wednesday the Swedish presidency said the agreement sent a strong signal ahead of the climate talks that the EU "can move from words to action on climate".

Efficient buildings industry association EuroACE said Tuesday's agreement had strengthened the commission's original proposals. But Green MEP Claude Turmes said the EU had "missed an opportunity to boost the renovation of existing structures".

• Follow-up: Press releases from the European Parliament, Swedish presidency, and European Commission. See also reactions from the ALDE group, Greens, EuroACE and EEB.

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Author ENDS Europe Daily Publication Date 18 Nov 2009 Document Type News articles Issue/Topic Energy & Climate Energy Efficiency in Buildings Source ENDS Europe Daily Include In RSS Business & Sustainable Development News Energy & Climate News EEB News