EU governments and Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have struck a deal that will force all new buildings constructed after 2020 to consume 'near zero energy'. The agreement, part of the revision of the 2002 Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, defines near-zero-energy buildings as constructions that have 'a very high energy performance' with any energy they use coming 'to a very large extent' from renewable sources generated 'either on-site or nearby'.
EU governments and Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have struck a deal that will force all new buildings constructed after 2020 to consume 'near zero energy'. The agreement, part of the revision of the 2002 Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, defines near-zero-energy buildings as constructions that have 'a very high energy performance' with any energy they use coming 'to a very large extent' from renewable sources generated 'either on-site or nearby'.
Governments will lead the way by ensuring that all new public buildings they own or occupy after 2018 meet the near-zero-energy standard. While MEPs were less successful in their attempts to upgrade the efficiency of existing buildings, governments agreed to 'develop policies and take measures such as targets' to transform existing buildings into near-zero-energy buildings when they are refurbished.
The council rejected a proposal to remove the threshold (1,000 m2) above which existing buildings undergoing major refurbishment must meet minimum national efficiency standards. MEPs agreed on a new EU-wide methodology for setting national efficiency requirements on building components such as roofs and windows, but failed in their bid to secure new cash to fund efficiency improvements in existing buildings.
EU Energy ministers are expected to approve the deal on the opening day of the Copenhagen climate summit on 7 December.
