Content index
Goal: A sustainable future
The cornerstone of this directive is the clear commitment to the goal of zero emissions by 2050 for the entire European building stock. This will be achieved through a number of targeted measures, including:
- National Renovation Plans: Each member state will be required to develop a national renovation plan by 2026, with the aim of reducing the energy consumption of residential buildings by 16% by 2030 and 20-22% by 2035. These plans will be updated every 5 years to maintain progress towards net-zero emissions targets.
- Elimination of Fossil Fuels: The directive progressively bans the use of fossil fuels in homes, with a particular focus on natural gas boilers. As early as next year, tax incentives for these technologies will be abolished, while hybrid solutions and the electrification of heating systems will be promoted.
- Solar-Ready Buildings: All new buildings built in the European Union will have to be prepared for the installation of photovoltaic or solar thermal systems on roofs. In addition, for eligible existing buildings, the installation of solar panels will be gradually mandatory starting in 2027.
- Exclusions: The following types of properties are exempt from the obligations imposed by the new EPBD Directive: buildings subject to constraints and protection, buildings of historical value, temporary constructions, places of worship such as churches, detached dwellings with an area of less than 50 square meters, holiday homes (secondary residences occupied for less than 4 months a year). There is also the possibility of exempting public social housing, in the event that the redevelopment works result in a disproportionate increase in rents compared to the savings that can be achieved on energy bills.
The Current Situation and the Challenges Ahead
In Italy, as in many other European countries, most residential buildings have an advanced average age and low energy efficiency. This makes it urgent to implement renovation measures to reduce environmental impact and improve efficiency.
According to Istat, more than 82% of buildings in Italy are for residential use, and most of them have an average age of about 59 years and a poor energy class. This means that a large part of the Italian building stock will require significant interventions to comply with the new energy efficiency standards.
Next Steps and Financial Support
EU member states will now have to transpose the directive and develop their own national strategies to achieve the set targets. Financial support and access to grants and finance will be key to facilitate the transition to more sustainable buildings.
The European Commission has stressed that existing European funds, such as the NRRP and the Cohesion Funds, will be crucial to support this transformation. In addition, additional measures could be taken to offer concessional loans and financial support to households and property owners to address the costs of renovations.
In Italy
The table set up by MASE in August 2023 to improve the energy efficiency of public and private buildings will conclude its work by next May. Deputy Minister Vannia Gava of MASE provided an answer to the question posed by Mazzetti in the Chamber of Deputies' Committee on Productive Activities, Commerce and Tourism on 20 March.
The MASE has set up a working group to develop proposals to achieve the energy efficiency objectives set out in the PNIEC. In addition to MASE, other ministries and institutions actively participate in this table.
Estimates have been drawn up on the investments needed to achieve the objectives of the new directives and measures are being considered to accompany the energy upgrading of buildings, involving private resources and promoting financial instruments such as EPCs and ESCOs. The work also aims to assess the economic and employment effects of the measures envisaged.
The new building efficiency policy is expected to have a significant impact on the growth of the construction, plant engineering and energy service companies.
Conclusions
The Green Homes Directive is a significant step towards a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future for Europe. With ambitious targets and concrete measures, the aim is not only to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption, but also to improve the quality of life of citizens and create new economic opportunities in the field of renovation and renewable energy.