The plenary session of the European Parliament recently made a significant decision by voting in favor of the recast Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, marking an important milestone in the ‘Fit for 55’ package.
This directive, once formally adopted at the ministerial level, will pave the way for its implementation.
On 12 March, the European Parliament approved the political agreement on the revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) with 370 votes in favor, 199 against, and 46 abstentions. The agreement, which was validated on 7 December 2023, sets the ambitious objective of achieving a zero-emission EU building stock by 2050.
To reach this long-term goal, several intermediate targets have been established. For residential buildings, these include a primary energy reduction of 16% by 2030 and 20-22% of the total energy consumption of the building stock by 2035. Member States will be tasked with developing minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) to meet these targets. Moreover, they will need to establish one-stop-shops to provide citizens with access to information on renovation paths, financial schemes, and zero-emission standards.
Simultaneously, the European Commission will be working on guidelines for calculating the energy performance of transparent building elements, such as glass, that are part of the building envelope. Glass for Europe is committed to supporting this work to ensure that the unique characteristics of glazing are appropriately considered.
The recent vote in the European Parliament represents a crucial step towards the final adoption of the recast directive by EU ministers, which is anticipated to take place around mid-April. This decision underscores the EU’s commitment to advancing energy efficiency and sustainability in the building sector.
For further insights, you can access the joint statement with windows stakeholders here.
Stay tuned for more updates on the implementation and impact of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive as it progresses through the legislative process.
Adrien Carton | Photo: Glass For Europe
Adrien Carton | Photo: Glass For EuropeSource: Glass for Europe with additional information added by GlassBalkan
