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New report: EPBD revision a ‘make-or-break’ opportunity

(eceee news, 3 Sep 2021) A new report from the Buildings Performance Institute Europe (BPIE), highlights that now is a make-or-break opportunity to make the EPBD fit to respond to the climate emergency, with 60% reduction in GHG emissions by 2030.

By the end of 2021 the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), will open for revision. The aim is to align legislation with the Renovation Wave objectives to at least double the annual energy renovation rate by 2030, and to foster deep energy renovations.

According to the BPIE, the revision should at once ensure the buildings sector will contribute to the achievement of the updated 2030 climate target, and make the EPBD a milestone towards reaching climate-neutrality by 2050. This means reaching an annual 3% deep renovation rate and a 60% reduction in GHG emissions by 2030. This requires a comprehensive legislative review, as opposed to ‘cherry picking’.

The report  envisages a people-centred approach that supports energy-poor, low- and middle-income households; the integration of whole-life carbon considerations next to the Energy Efficiency First principle. According to the Renovation Wave, nearly 34 million Europeans were unable to afford keeping their homes adequately warm, in 2018.

Building performance requirements should also be guided by climate neutrality rather than cost optimality, BPIE argues.

The recently published report from the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) signals ‘a code red for humanity’ and greenhouse gas emissions need to decrease as soon, as quickly and as deeply as possible. The EU must now deliver on announced targets by taking bold actions and showing results, BPIE writes. The ambition of the EPBD revision should therefore go beyond simply ‘aligning’ with the Renovation Wave, which was published before the new 2030 climate target of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by at least 55%, was agreed.

View the report here here