The Directive aims to improve the energy performance of buildings and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, targeting a zero-emission building stock by 2050 within the EU. It seeks to ensure that outdoor climate conditions, local conditions, the requirements for indoor environmental quality, and cost-effectiveness are met in achieving this target (Article 1). It sets out rules for calculating energy performance; establishing minimum energy performance standards for new and existing buildings and building units; calculating and disclosing the life-cycle global warming potential of buildings; using solar energy in buildings, introducing renovation passports and national building renovation plans; and promoting smart buildings, among other things (Article 1(2)).
The Member States must ensure that the minimum energy performance standards guarantee that all non-residential buildings are at least 16% below the threshold by 2030, and 26% below the threshold by 2033 (Article 9 (1)). For residential buildings, they must ensure that the average primary energy consumption in kWh/(m^2.y) of the entire residential building stock decreases by at least 16% compared to 2020 by 2030, decreases by at least 20-22% compared to 2020 by 2035, and by 2040, and every 5 years thereafter, is equivalent to, or lower than the nationally determined value derived from a progressive decrease in the average primary energy use from 2030 to 2050, in line with the transformation of the residential building stock into a zero-emission building stock (Article 9 (2)).
Member states have until 29 May 2026, to incorporate the directive's requirements into their national laws.
