EU Adopts Plans For New Energy Efficient Building, Revises Solar Standard Rules

EU Adopt Plans For New Energy Efficient Building, Revise Solar Standard

European Union (EU), Member of European parliament (MEP) recently adopted plans, to build energy efficient buildings. These plans were agreed upon by council, to help reduce energy consumption and greenhouse-gas emissions from the buildings sector.

The EU solar standard for new building is to be executed from 2026 which are required to have solar rooftop installations across a significant proportion of Europe’s building stock. The EU solar standard put the power in citizens’ hands and enshrine the energy transition into the places where they sleep, work, and live. The new law requires solar installations on buildings across the European Union. This means that solar installations are to be integrated into building works, and public bodies for this, they ate required to retroactively install PV on their buildings, entering into force gradually from 2026.

According to the European Commission, buildings in the EU are responsible for 40% of our energy consumption and 36% of greenhouse gas emissions. On 15 December 2021, the European Commission adopted a legislative proposal to revise the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, as part of the so-called ‘Fit for 55’ package. A new European Climate Law (July 2021) enshrined both the 2030 and the 2050 targets into binding European law.

The proposed revision of the energy performance of buildings directive aim to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and energy consumption in the EU building sector. They plan to make it climate neutral by 2050. It also aimed to have more worst-performing buildings renovated and improve information-sharing on energy performance.

If technically and economically suitable, member states are required to deploy solar installations progressively in public and non-residential buildings, depending on their size, and in all new residential buildings by 2030. The target also included plan to phase out fossil fuel boilers. In the regulation, member states have to outline plans to adopt measures to decarbonise heating systems, with a view to phasing out fossil fuels in heating and cooling by 2040. Subsidizing stand-alone fossil fuel boilers will be prohibited as of 2025. Financial incentives can still be possible for hybrid heating systems that use a considerable share of renewable energy, such as those combining a boiler with a solar thermal installation or a heat pump.

Emission Reduction Targets

Sharing their emissions-reduction targets, it mentioned, that these building standards include the target to make all new buildings zero-emission as of 2030. These plans include new buildings occupied or owned by public authorities are which are expected to be made zero-emission as of 2028. When calculating the emissions, member states are required to take into account the life-cycle global warming potential of a building, including the production and disposal of the construction products used to build it.

For residential buildings, member states are required to put in place measures to ensure a reduction in the average primary energy used of at least 16% by 2030 and at least 20 to 22% by 2035. According to the new directive, member states are expected to renovate the 16% worst-performing non-residential buildings by 2030. By 2033, the worst-performing 26% through minimum energy performance requirements.

The regulation also laid down exemptions such as, for agricultural buildings and heritage buildings can be excluded from the new rules. While EU countries can decide exclude buildings protected for their special architectural or historical merit, temporary buildings, and churches and places of worship.

Rapporteur for the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive Ciarán Cuffe (Greens/EFA, member of the European Parliament IE) said, “The directive shows clearly how climate policy can have real and immediate benefits for the less well-off in our society. This law can help bring down energy bills and addresses the root causes of energy poverty, while delivering thousands of high-quality, local jobs across the EU. Tackling 36% of Europe’s CO2 emissions, it adds an absolutely essential pillar to the European Green Deal. Today’s result shows that Parliament continues to support a Green Deal that delivers fairness and ambition, in equal measure”. The directive was adopted with 370 votes to 199, with 46 abstentions. It can now have to be formally endorsed by the Council of Ministers, too, in order to become law.