A closer look at the European Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD)
Why this Directive ?
The Directive encourages the improvement of the energy performance of buildings, taking into account the indoor climate and the cost-effectiveness of the measures. It contains regulations according to calculation method, minimum requirements for new buildings, for existing buildings undergoing major renovation, for new shell elements and for certain techniques in the building.
Additionally the Directive requires member states to draw up action plans for increasing the supply of near-zero energy buildings. It introduced energy certification for buildings and imposes the regular inspection of heating and air-conditioning systems in buildings, as well as independent systems for the verification of energy performance certificates and inspection reports.
Impact of the EPBD on the building technology sector
The Directive provides for the development of definitions and guidelines for the (re)construction of residential and non-residential buildings. This determines which building technologies may or may not be included in the realisation of a climate-neutral building. The EPBD provides for this mainly by imposing requirements on buildings and technical systems.
Through regulation and public investment, building technologies are promoted or discouraged on the basis of their contribution to the climate target. The performance methodologies and minimum requirements developed through this Directive indicate to the building professional what building technology can be selected to design a climate neutral building. Follow-up is therefore interesting to determine the right R&D investments for building technology.
What does it say?
The Directive contains the following provisions:
Building requirements
- Accounting methodology and minimum requirements for the energy performance of buildings
- Definition for near-zero energy buildings
- Energy performance certificates and implementation requirements
- Smart readiness indicator (SRI)
Building technology requirements
- Technical building systems
- Electromobility
- Inspection of heating and air conditioning systems
Policy requirements
- Long-term renovation strategy
- Financial incentives and market barriers
- Provision for independent experts and monitoring system
Impact of the EPBD on the Belgian policy
Europe requires each member state to transpose the EPBD requirements into national regulations. In Belgium, this is mainly a regional responsibility and is therefore the transposition of this Directive is carried out by the Flemish, Walloon and Brussels-Capital Regions. Each region has drawn up a general regulatory basis for this, with additional implementing decrees.
In Flanders, this basis is laid in the Energiedecreet of 8 May 2009 and the Energiebesluit of 19 November 2010. In Brussels, this is regulated by the Order of 2 May 2013 on the Brussels Air, Climate and Energy Code. In Wallonia, the Décret relatif à la performance énergétique des bâtiments of 28 novembre 2013 is at the basis of the regulation.
A closer look at the transposition of the requirements
Below is a brief explanation of the implementation of the 10 most important requirements:
1. Long-term renovation strategy (Article 2)
The EPBD asks each member state to provide a long-term strategy (LTRS) for the renovation of its building stock. This plan describes how the transition to a near-zero energy building stock will be achieved. It includes statistics on the building stock, incentives for climate renovations and an estimate of energy savings. The strategy is drawn up every 10 years as an annex to the National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP).
In order to transpose the requirements of the EPBD (2018) and the Governance Regulation (2018), an update of the existing renovation strategies was elaborated by the regions; the Long-term renovation strategy by the Flemish Region, the 'Stratégie Wallonne de rénovation énergétique' by the Walloon Region and the 'Strategy for environmental impact reduction' by the Brussels Capital Region. The strategies are available on the European Commission's website.
2. Methodology and requirements for the calculation of energy performance of buildings (Articles 3, 4, 6, 7)
The EPBD asks member states to provide a policy instrument to achieve higher energy efficiency and lower greenhouse gas emissions in new buildings and equivalent renovations. To this end, they have determined the minimum energy performance level a building must achieve and developed a methodology to allow for an objective assessment of whether a design meets these requirements.
In Belgium, this instrument is known as the EPB or PEB. The energy performance regulations are currently managed by the EPB platform, a collaboration between the three regions; as a result, approximately 90% of the calculation method is the same for all three regions. However, the requirements for energy performance are specific to each region. Separate methodologies and requirements have been defined for residential and non-residential buildings.
3. Technical building systems (Articles 6, 7, 8)
The EPBD contains requirements for promoting more energy-efficient technical installations in buildings. This includes ensuring that more energy-efficient alternatives are considered through feasibility analysis for new-builds and major energy renovations. For existing and new buildings, when installing, replacing or upgrading systems, it must be possible to draw up additional requirements and provide a temperature controller for each room.
If, as a result, the energy performance of the building has been altered, the building owner shall be informed and, if necessary, a new energy performance certificate shall be issued. The drafting of the technical requirements is largely transposed through the EPB policy framework. Within the EPB policy framework, requirements apply to residential, non-residential and industrial buildings.
4. Electromobility (Article 8)
The EPBD also included requirements to promote electromobility. This includes imposing requirements for charging stations and conduit infrastructure for new construction and equivalent renovations of non-residential buildings with a specified minimum number of parking spaces. For residential buildings, conduit infrastructure must be provided for each parking space. The roll-out of charging points and batteries should be simplified.
In the Flemish Region, these requirements have been transposed via the Energy Decree and the Energy Decree. In Wallonia, the requirements were transposed via the Decree on Requirements for Electromobility of 17/12/2020. In Brussels, the requirements were mainly implemented through the Order of the Brussels Capital Government establishing the general and special operating conditions applicable to car parks of 25 February 2021.
5. Nearly zero energy buildings (art. 9)
The EPBD asks member states to define a near-zero energy building on the basis of the primary energy consumption expressed in kWh per square meter of usable floor area per year. They must also ensure that all new government buildings meet the definition by 31 December 2018 and all new construction by 31 December 2020.
In the Flemish and Brussels-Capital Regions, the primary energy consumption of a residential home is set at 100 kWh or less per square metre per year. In the Walloon Region, this is less than or equal to 85 kWh per square metre per year. Non-residential buildings must be climate neutral by 2050.
6. Financial incentives (Article 10)
The EPBD calls for financial measures aimed at energy renovations to be linked to the energy performance of the building. The Directive contains a number of suggestions for this, such as the requirements for the installer, standard values for energy savings and the demonstration of achieved improvements through the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). Other options than the ones mentioned are also possible. The requirement applies only to future measures.
The provision of financial support for energy renovations is a regional competence in Belgium. Within the Flemish and Brussels-Capital Regions, no changes have been applied as adjustments for financial support measures are already in line with the requirement. The Walloon Region has adopted the text almost literally in the regulations.
7. Energy performance certificates (Articles 11, 12, 13)
The EPBD requires each Member State to set up a certification system for the energy performance of buildings. This consists of a methodology and a classification of energy performance in categories A+ to G. A+ means very low to no energy consumption. Category F or G means very high energy consumption. This consumption is per m2 per year.
Each region has drawn up its own methodology and definition for the various label categories. In the Flemish Region, the energy performance certificate is known as 'the EPC'. In the Walloon Region it is called "la certification PEB" and in the Brussels Capital Region "le certificat PEB". Separate certification systems have been drawn up for residential, non-residential and public buildings.
8. Inspection requirements for heating and air conditioning systems (Articles 14, 15)
The EPBD also includes requirements for the inspection of heating and air-conditioning systems and combined ventilation and air-conditioning systems with a capacity from 70 kW and 290 kW. For example, a monitoring system should be in place from 2025. It can be chosen to provide requirements in residential buildings as well.
In the Flemish Region, an amendment to the Energy Decree was implemented. In the Brussels-Capital Region, an amendment was made to the requirements for heating and air-conditioning systems. In Wallonia, the regulations already met the requirements and therefore no adjustments were made. The optional measures were not adopted by the regions.
9. Smart Readiness Indicator (Art. 8)
The Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI) is a new policy instrument developed by the European Commission to raise awareness of smart building technology. Member States may choose whether or not to transpose the SRI. In 2020, the European Commission adopted two Implementing Acts containing a definition and an implementation proposal for the measure.
In the three regions there are currently no concrete plans to implement the Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI). An additional study will be launched by the European Commission in 2021 to support the Member States in implementing the measure.
10. Building passport
The building passport is a digital collection point for all (administrative) data on buildings. It is one of the EPBD measures that the Member States can choose whether or not to transpose. In support of this measure, the feasibility study EPBD 19a was published by the European Commission in 2019.
The building passport has already been available in Flanders for residential buildings since 2018 known as the Woningpas. A building passport for non-residential buildings is underway. The Walloon Region is working on a building passport for residential buildings. As part of its Brussels Energy and Climate Plan, the Brussels-Capital Region has announced plans to develop a building passport for residential and non-residential buildings.
Further development of the Directive
In the context of the Renovation Wave, initiated by the Von der Leyen Commission from the European Green Deal, a review is currently underway to bring the Directive into line with the requirements for 2050. From the Directive itself, an additional review is planned for 1 January 2026 with a special focus on increasing energy efficiency through a district-level approach.
This is the third amendment to the Directive. The first version 2002/91/EC has been fully replaced by 2010/31/EU. In 2018, the amendment to the Directive 2018/344/EU was published following the review initiated by the Juncker Commission to better align the requirements with the 2030 climate targets.
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