The European Council of Shopping Places (ECSP) has issued a set of proposals in response to the upcoming European Parliament’s committee vote on the review of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD).
Europe’s retail property sector association endorses the principal goal of the draft revision, which aims to ensure that all new buildings will be CO2 neutral by 2030.
According to the European Commission, buildings account for around 40% of the EU’s total energy consumption and 36% of its GHG emissions.
For the ECSP, any new zero-emission buildings (ZEB) and nearly zero-emission buildings (NZEB) guidelines must take into account the various real estate asset classes and their unique emission and energy use characteristics, a process that must engage both landlords and tenants.
To improve awareness and understanding on Europe's climate ambitions, the association has selected five main areas in which it is eager to collaborate with the EU institutions.
First, rather than attempting to create or impose any new procedures, the Brussels-based organisation requests that the EU cooperate with the industry to enhance the current systems surrounding energy renovation roadmaps.
Second, the two parties should identify and create a pan-European strategy for producing energy renovation roadmaps and a solid legislative system to draw in long-term investments.
Thirdly, the ECSP supports the harmonisation of Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) standards across Europe, as well as clarification on its terminology and categorisation of different kinds of renovation and development.
Additionally, it demands that all pertinent national and European databases be made accessible to the public and that member states carry out research to enhance data collecting.
A fourth suggestion is that the new sustainable mobility requirements be progressive but flexible, phasing in more electric car infrastructure gradually while taking into account differences between individual member states.
It suggests the establishment of an initial ratio of one recharge point per 100 conventional parking spots as an aim rather than fixed limits.
Finally, the European retail property sector invites the relevant authorities to ensure comprehensive information and advice on available public funding matching ambitions to reduce sector emissions.
In this sense, the political framework for GHG reduction should be underpinned by a clear cost/benefits analysis, while energy renovations across all assets should be eligible for public financial support.
The European Parliament’s committee vote is due to take place in January 2023, while a final agreement is expected before summer 2023.
Peter Wilhelm, chairman of ECSP, commented: ‘While many in the retail property sector are focused on economic recovery following the pandemic, the reality is this new regulatory framework will soon be upon us.
'When it comes to buildings, 2030 is just around the corner. Under these new provisions, all new buildings across the EU will have to be carbon neutral. Whilst shopping centres are traditionally very complex environments, we need to be doing considerably more to reduce the carbon emissions from our existing assets.
'We hope our paper will help facilitate closer dialogue between our industry and the EU institutions to ensure our existing efforts to transition to net-zero better support the EU’s climate targets.’
