From 2030 all new buildings in the EU should have zero carbon emissionsaccording to the new rules for energy-efficient buildings adopted today by the European Parliament, in the context of “Green Deal».

Farm buildings and heritage buildings will be able to be exempted from the new rules which the European Parliament approved, with 370 votes in favor, 199 against and 46 abstentions. The new rules to reduce the energy consumption of buildings and to achieve zero emissions were already agreed between the European Parliament and the Council last December.

The main points of the new rules approved by the EP are as follows:

Emission reduction targets

From 2030 all new buildings must record zero greenhouse gas emissionswhile the corresponding deadline for new buildings housing or owned by public authorities is set for 2028. Member States will be able to take into account how much a building contributes to global warming throughout its lifetime, taking into account all construction products that were used for its construction, from production to disposal.

As for housing, Member States must introduce measures to reduce average primary energy consumption by at least 16% by 2030 and by at least 20 22% by 2035.

According to the new directive, EU countries should establish minimum energy efficiency requirements and ensure that by 2030 16% and by 2033 26% of non-residential buildings with the worst energy performance are renovated.

Until 2030 all new homes should be equipped with solar energy collection technologies. The same will apply to public and non-residential buildings, but only if this is technically and economically feasible, depending on the size of each building.

Fossil fuel boilers are being phased out

Member States must adopt measures to exempt heating systems from carbon emissions and phase out fossil fuels in heating and cooling, with fossil fuel boilers completely phased out by 2040. From 2025, subsidies for stand-alone fossil fuel boilers will be banned. However, financial incentives may continue to be given for hybrid heating systems with a significant share of renewable energy, such as those combining a boiler with a solar thermal installation or a heat pump.

Exceptions

Agricultural buildings may be exempted from the new rules and heritage buildings. On a case-by-case basis, EU countries will also be able to decide to exclude buildings protected for their special architectural or historical value, buildings in temporary use, as well as churches and places of worship.

The rapporteur for the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive Ciarán Cuffe (Greens, Ireland) said: “The directive clearly shows how climate policy can have real and immediate benefits for the least well-off in our society. The new legislation will help reduce energy bills and tackle the root causes of energy poverty, while providing thousands of high-quality local jobs across the EU. Addressing 36% of Europe’s CO2 emissions, it adds an absolutely essential pillar in the European Green Deal. Today’s result shows that Parliament continues to support a Green Deal that pursues both social justice and environmental ambition, on an equal footing.”

The directive approved by the EP will now have to be formally approved by the EU Council of Ministers in order to become law.