Introduction
Energy efficiency in buildings and industries are key areas of focus of EU energy policy, as they lead to substantial opportunities to reduce electricity consumption and limit climate impact. Below you can find policies prevalent in the energy efficiency space from an EU perspective.
Key content
Energy efficiency directive
To meet the 2030 climate target, energy efficiency needs to be prioritised. To step up its efforts, the Commission put forward in July 2021 a proposal for a recast directive on energy efficiency as part of the package “Delivering on the European Green Deal”. The proposal promotes ‘energy efficiency first’ as an overall principle of EU energy policy and marks its importance and relevance in both its practical applications in policy and investment decisions.
Nearly zero-energy buildings
The EU has proposed to move from the current nearly zero-energy buildings to zero-emission buildings by 2030. Nearly zero-emission building (NZEB) means a building that has a very high energy performance, while the nearly zero or very low amount of energy required should be covered to a very significant extent by energy from renewable sources, including energy from renewable sources produced on-site or nearby.
Energy performance of building directive
In December 2021, the European Commission proposed a revision to the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), as part of the 'fit for 55' package, to meet a minimum 55% EU reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030, now legally required under the 2021 European Climate Law. This EPBD revision sets out how the EU can achieve a zero-emission and fully decarbonised building stock by 2050, by increasing the rate of renovation for the worst-performing buildings in each EU Member State.
Website https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/ATAG/2023/739377/EPRS_ATA(2023)739377_EN.pdf