The building sector is crucial for achieving the EU's energy and environmental goals.  At the same time, better and more energy efficient buildings improve the quality of citizens' life while bringing additional benefits to the economy and the society.

To boost energy performance of buildings, the EU has established a legislative framework that includes the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive 2010/31/EU (EPBD) and the Energy Efficiency Directive 2012/27/EU. Together, the directives promote policies that will help

• achieve a highly energy efficient and decarbonised building stock by 2050
• create a stable environment for investment decisions
• enable consumers and businesses to make more informed choices to save energy and money

Following the introduction of energy performance rules in national building codes, buildings today consume only half as much as typical buildings from the 1980s.

Both directives were amended, as part of the Clean energy for all Europeans package, in 2018 and 2019.  In particular, the Directive amending the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (2018/844/EU) introduces new elements and sends a strong political signal on the EU’s commitment to modernise the buildings sector in light of technological improvements and increase building renovations.

EU countries need to transpose the new and revised rules into national law by 10 March 2020.  The UK had already implemented the Directive as it stood in 2012 prior to departing the EU.

The Commission has introduced a renovation wave of public and private buildings, as part of the European Green Deal.  It aims to take further action and create the necessary conditions to scale up renovations and reap the significant saving potential of the building sector.