The EU is expected to introduce new laws that would impose energy efficiency standards on all public buildings from 2018 and all new homes and commercial buildings from 2020.
This measure is expected to significantly improve energy efficiency in public buildings across the EU and provide a major boost to the declining construction sector. The (EU) European Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) Directive Implementation Advisory Group (DIAG) seeks to ensure that the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive is implemented in line with these commitments and with the overall aim of optimising the reduction in carbon emissions.
The EU Parliament has proposed that all new buildings are built to qualify as zero carbon from the end of 2018. Member states said the energy efficiency goal was unachievable and instead will start setting a high energy efficiency standard for public buildings and, then later all buildings. There will also be guidance on how member states calculate the energy efficiency of their public buildings to take account of heating, cooling and hot water.
Energy efficiency standards expected to boost the economy
The EU estimated this public building energy efficiency initiative could create an extra 300,000 direct jobs a year and around 1.1 million indirect jobs, particularly for builders, roofers, glaziers and other small businesses. It also could reduce the EU's expenditure on gas imports, mainly used to heat buildings by over $125bn.
The move to improve energy efficiency in public buildings follows the EU's release last month of a report proposing a wide-ranging programme that would see the European Investment Bank fund energy efficiency makeovers for 15 million European public and private buildings over the next decade. The proposals also mirror plans in the US where energy efficiency standards for buildings are included in the Boxer-Kerry bill currently working its way through the Senate.
Richard Morley, Director of Envido said that "Many energy efficiency improvements pay for themselves in energy savings, reducing carbon emissions and make the UK industry more competitive."
