30/08/2023
“Making our homes and buildings energy efficient and based on renewable energy […] starts with a strong European policy framework,” the signatory organisations stressed in a joint statement published on 29 August. Deploring a lack of policy action to support building renovation in recent decades, they believe that an ambitious directive would help reduce the EU’s dependence on fossil fuels, protect citizens from energy poverty and improve air quality, while tackling the climate crisis. This would involve improving the energy performance levels of residential buildings and mobilising sufficient funding, earmarked for vulnerable households. Their letter comes as the second trilogue on the proposed revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) will take place this Thursday . Presented by the Commission in December 2021, this proposal provides in particular for the establishment, at EU level, of minimum energy performance standards for buildings (MEPS), with a view to achieving a fully decarbonised and zero-emission building stock by 2050.
