Buildings consume more than 40 % of Europe’s energy use. The Directive on Energy Performance in Buildings (EPBD) is the main legislative instrument affecting energy use and efficiency in the building sector in the EU and is important as it tackles both new build and the existing housing stock.

Given its share in European energy end-use, buildings are a natural focus area for the European Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, eceee. The policy brief follows a consultation among eceee’s members, and provides the association’s position on the directive as well as recommendations for its further development.

As is well-known, transposing the EPBD into national legislation has been slower than was envisaged.  eceee therefore wants the EU and national governments to fully implement and benefit from the existing directive as soon as possible and we make detailed recommendations to achieve this. In particular, we want to see an effective enforcement system in place for compliance with building regulations and a speeding up of the introduction of Energy Performance Certificates.

Legislation alone cannot achieve the full energy saving potential in buildings. It needs to be accompanied by efforts to change attitudes and behaviour to energy use within buildings without which the maximum benefit of sustainable energy technologies will not be achieved. 

Furthermore, to achieve rapid takeoff of the savings that should arise (e.g. from the introduction of building Energy Performance Certificates), there needs to be information and awareness raising campaigns aimed at building owners and training campaigns targeted at all market agents in the building sector.

Finally, it is important that the energy and carbon dioxide savings arising from the implementation of the EPBD are reported in a harmonised reporting framework such as that being agreed under the EU Directive on End Use Efficiency and Energy Services.