1. How will the EPBD change and what are the challenges ahead?
Recast of the EPBD
How will the EPBD change and
what are the challenges ahead?

2. Original EPBD OBJECTIVES and MEASURES
Promoting the improvement of energy performance of buildings within the EU through cost-effective measures, with no compromise to comfort and Indoor air quality.
Convergence of building standards towards those of Member States which already have ambitious levels.
The measures
Apply a Methodology for integrated building energy performance standards based on common minimum requirements
Application of these standards on new and existing buildings
Certification schemes for all buildings
Inspection & assessment of boilers/heating and cooling installations

3. Status of Implementation of the EPBD
released
Feb. 2009
An update will be available by the end of 2010
Download from

4. Not every MS completed implementation yet.
The Future of the EPBD
Not every MS completed implementation yet.
Some MS implemented the EPBD with less than ambitious goals.
The EU Commission wished to tighten require- ments on MS to achieve a rapid convergence with initial goals and the most ambitious MS.
The recast of the EPBD covers all the essential points to push MS towards its correct and credible implementation, based on best practices identified during the EPBD Concerted Action
But the EPBD recast goes much further, posing perhaps the biggest challenges to MS:
It extends the application of the EPBD to a larger spectrum of buildings;
It requires every new building to become a “Near Zero Energy” building by 2020;
It requires MS to establish ambitious plans to bring the existing building stock to “near zero energy” by 2020.

5. In the current EPBD: Minimum standards for all buildings
New buildings
Application of the minimum energy performance standards to all new buildings. Requirements should become more demanding than pre-EPBD national standards, and revised, at least, every 5 years.
Consider the feasibility of renewable energy, CHP, etc., for all new buildings over 1000 m².
Existing buildings
Application of the minimum energy performance standards to existing buildings larger than 1000 m² when they under-go a major renovation.
Most MS are adopting new, improved, more demanding building regulations.
Integration of Cooling reqs. and difficult issues (e.g., Renewables) still lagging.

6. New developments in the Recast
Minimum requirements, though still defined by MS, must be bounded by the results of a “cost-optimum” methodology, based on the concept of life-cycle cost – this will bring MS towards similar cost-effective levels of demand;
This methodology (to become available in 2011) will take into account climate, local conditions and typical patterns of use (e.g., intermittent use);
Minimum requirements no longer only for the envelope: they must also include technical systems (e.g., ventilation, boilers, A/C,..) – ventilation systems now explicitly included;
Every major rehabilitation must obey minimum require-ments (the 1000 m2 limit is removed – e.g., every small residential buildings must also be improved upon major renovation) –high potential impact in energy savings;
Every improvement in any component with energy implications must be brought up to minimum standards, even if no major renovation (e.g, roof, windows, boiler, ...).

7. In the current EPBD: ENERGY CERTIFICATES
When buildings are constructed, sold or rented out an energy performance certificate is to be made available to the prospective buyer or tenant
Public Buildings to set an example by being certified regularly and visibly
All large buildings (> 1000 m2) visited regularly by the public to display energy certificate prominently

8. Certification of Buildings
The forms of the certificates and the rules for advice on energy efficiency improvements have been designed in many different ways among MS. However, they all seem fit for their desired purpose.

9. What changes in the EPBD recast: ENERGY CERTIFICATES
When buildings are constructed, sold or rented out an energy performance certificate is to be made available to the prospective buyer or tenant
Public Buildings to set an example by being certified regularly and visibly
All large buildings (> 1000 m2) visited regularly by the public to display energy certificate prominently
When buildings are rented or sold, the certificate must be part of the advertisement, not just at the moment of sale;
Definition of buildings with display of certificate more clear and encompassing;
1000 m2 limit to become 500 m2 in 2012 and 250 m2 in 2015.

10. In the current EPBD: Certification of Buildings
The main concern for every MS has been:
keep the costs down
thus:
MS had to make a compromise between accuracy, quality, reproducibility and the costs and the time needed for issuing certificates.
Some of the compromises in some MS were rather drastic…

11. New developments in the Recast Certification Quality Systems
MS to keep central (or regional) databases of issued certificates;
MS required to make a check on the quality of a significant sample of the issued certificates, and issue penalties for errors of the Qualified Experts;
Qualified Experts must be recognised on the basis of their competence (better education and training);

12. In the current EPBD: Inspection and assessment of heating & cooling installations
Heating systems
Inspected regularly: boilers with an effective rated output between 20 kW and 100 kW
Inspected every 2 years: boilers with an effective rated output over 100 kW
Boilers larger than 20 kW and older than 15 years: the entire heating installations should be inspected. Advice should be given on alternative solutions which could reduce energy consumption
Cooling systems
Regular inspection of air-conditioning systems with an output of more than 12kW, including room systems used together.
Inspections of boilers can be replaced by information campaigns.

13. New developments in the Recast - Inspections
The role and quality of the inspections is improved;
Inspections of boilers become inspections of heating systems (gas boilers between 20 kW and 100 kW no longer exempted)
Ventilation systems are included in AC inspections;
An “option B” (replacement by Information Campaigns) also becomes possible for AC systems;
For every inspection, one report, including recomendations;
Inspection reports must also be kept in central databases and subject to quality control as building certificates.
Inspections can be less frequent in systems with electronic monitoring and control.

14. The major challenges of the EPBD recast
Every new building must be a “Near Zero Energy” building by 2020
And every new building occupied by Public Authorities after 2018 must also be a “Near Zero Energy” (Public Buildings as a leading role)
"nearly zero energy building" means a building that has a very high energy performance, determined in accordance with Annex I. The nearly zero or very low amount of energy required should to a very significant extent be covered by energy from renewable sources, including renewable energy produced on-site or nearby.
MS must really start soon an implementation plan to reach this ambitious goal in one decade!

15. The major challenges of the EPBD recast
MS to establish ambitious plans to bring the existing building stock to “near zero energy” by 2020.
And the Public Sector must stimulate the transformation of buildings that are refurbished into nearly zero energy buildings.
The major open issue in the EPBD recast: What is “ambitious”? 1%, 5%, 20%, 50%,...??
Certainly, the level of ambition will vary a lot from MS to MS and by type of building.
This will require major investments. The EC and MS must come up with policies, financial instruments and support schemes.
How to convince private owners to invest in a major retrofit?

16. Implementation
MS have two years to transpose the new recast Directive.
Until 2012, MS must continue (+ improve) implementation of the current EPBD, with a view of the needed changes that must take place after 2012.
MS must provide regular progress reports to the EC (suggested: as part of the national energy plans required by the ESD, every three years).
MS not allowed to support building rehabilitation that does not meet at least “cost-optimum” criteria.
The EC shall review the recast EPBD in 2017.

17. Conclusions
The spirit of the current EPBD is completely kept, but its objectives are strengthened.
The recast EPBD again states that only cost-effective measures are required.
There has been a large effort to remove ambiguity from critical issues (e.g., public buildings, ventilation systems, etc.,…), but other new ambiguous issues are introduced (e.g., cost-optimum measures, ambitious targets, significant sample,…).
The bold objectives for 2020 (zero energy buildings and ambitious rehabilitation of existing buildings) will require a major commitment by Governments and citizens alike.
2020 is tomorrow… MS will have a lot to discuss in the new Concerted Action for the next five years….

18. New reports will be available in March 2010
For updated information from MS views, you are invited to visit regularly the CA website
New reports will be available in March 2010