Minimum energy efficiency standards
Legislative changes member states have made in recent years in response to the increase in volume of European legislation on the energy efficiency of buildings.
This article first appeared in the 2016 edition of The International Comparative Legal Guide to: Construction & Engineering Law; published by Global Legal Group Ltd, London.
Introduction
The volume of European legislation on the energy efficiency of buildings has increased in recent years and has required Member States to make legislative changes in response. The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive 2010 (2010/31/EU - “EPDB”) expanded on the energy performance certificate regime introduced by an earlier 2002 directive (repealed by EPBD) but went significantly further, the principal requirements being that Member States should set and apply minimum energy performance requirements for new and existing buildings, and ensure that new buildings are nearly zero-energy by 2021.
The Energy Efficiency Directive 2012 (2012/27/EU - “EED”) is part of a framework of measures designed to support the EU’s energy efficiency target of cutting annual consumption of primary energy by 20% by 2020; each Member State is required to set a national energy efficiency target (“NEET”) and report annually to the European Commission on its progress towards meeting that NEET and to establish a strategy for encouraging investment in improvements to existing building stock to improve energy efficiency, with the public sector being required to lead the way.
