BRUSELAS, 25 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) -
The Twenty-seven have agreed this Tuesday to defend during the revision of the community regulations on energy efficiency in the construction sector that from 2030 the goal of zero emissions be imposed on all newly built buildings, a challenge of neutrality in emissions that they believe should be required of the entire building stock in 2050.
In this way, the governments align themselves with two of the challenges proposed by the European Commission last December in its initiative to review the Directive on the energy performance of buildings and which must still be negotiated with the European Parliament before finalizing the definitive reform.
In the mandate that the EU energy ministers have closed at their meeting in Luxembourg, it is detailed that the "zero emissions" objective must be more ambitious for new buildings built for public administration, since they must comply with that neutrality already in 2028.
However, the Member States open the door to exceptions to the deadlines and objectives in the case of certain buildings, for example places of worship, historic buildings or constructions for defensive purposes.
For existing buildings, Member States want to introduce minimum energy performance standards corresponding to the maximum amount of primary energy that buildings can use per m2 per year.
The objective of this measure is to encourage the renovation of the oldest buildings with the worst energy rating and even lead to the gradual elimination of those with the worst performance, so as to generate a renovation of the building stock.
Within the framework of the harmonization of energy certification, the Twenty-seven advocate creating a new category 'A0' for buildings that meet the objective of neutrality and offering the category 'A' for those buildings that, in addition to meeting the requirement of zero emissions contribute to the generation of renewable energy to the electricity grid.
Another of the initiatives that is intended to be promoted with the revision of the regulations is to ensure that the design of new buildings optimizes their potential as generators of solar energy.
Thus, for example, the countries propose that before the end of 2026 all public buildings and offices have a useful area for solar energy of at least 250 m2; a threshold that would increase to 400 m2 for the same types of property that undergo extensive renovation from December 2027. By 2030 it would apply to all newly constructed buildings.
The third vice-president and head of Ecological Transition, Teresa Ribera, has expressed her opinion regarding this negotiating position that the Member States have chosen to be "as ambitious as possible" when setting objectives, although they have provided room for progress be "gradual" in each country depending on its real estate and energy reality.
"The large differences in energy consumption per square meter must be taken into account. It is not reasonable to ask families for an effort that may be disproportionate in relation to the results in terms of savings, in a hasty way," Ribera explained in statements to the press in Luxembourg, at the end of the meeting of EU energy ministers.
For this reason, the vice president has indicated, progress towards the objectives must be "gradual, non-linear", taking into account factors such as the climatological or geographical factors of each country, so that "all" buildings are neutral in emissions in 2050 but "each adapting it to their reality".
