The EU Buildings Directivealso known as the Directive on Energy Performance of Buildings (EPBD), aims to improve the energy efficiency of buildings in the European Union and reduce CO₂ emissions. The individual member states implement this EU directive at national level and in Germany, its objectives are set out in the Building Energy Act (GEG) again. When the EU Buildings Directive is amended and updated by the EU Parliament, the GEG is usually also amended. This last happened at the end of May 2024.
Main objectives of the EU Buildings Directive
The EU Buildings Directive is intended to contribute to the implementation of the European Green Deal, in particular climate neutrality by 2050. Its main objectives include reducing energy consumption in the building sector, promoting renovations towards emission-free or low-emission buildings and the introduction of minimum standards for the Energy efficiency. In addition, the use of renewable energies in buildings is increased and digital and intelligent technologies to control energy consumption. Another important goal is to combat so-called energy poverty. To this end, incentives are to be created for the renovation of inefficient buildings, particularly for socially disadvantaged households.
Current developments and the 2024 amendment
To ensure that the entire building stock becomes CO₂-neutral by 2050 in the long term, from 2021 only energy-saving buildings be erected. Public buildings have had to meet this requirement since 2019. When renovating existing buildings with poor energy efficiency, at least 55 % of energy must be saved.
The amendment to the EU Buildings Directive in 2024 brought further tightening for the building sector. From 2030, all new buildings must meet the standard of a Zero-emission building fulfill. The amendment also provides for a staggered reduction in the primary energy consumption of Residential buildings is planned. Consumption is to be reduced by 16 % by 2030 and by 20 to 22 % by 2035.
Another focus is on the Renovation of non-residential buildings. By 2030, 16 % and by 2033 a total of 26 % of the least energy-efficient buildings are to be renovated. However, the EU Buildings Directive does not stipulate a general refurbishment obligation. National regulations can stipulate that refurbishment must take place within five years of a change of ownership.
Current status of the GEG and the EU Buildings Directive
The current requirements of the EU Buildings Directive have not yet been fully incorporated into the German Building Energy Act. The new version of the EPBD came into force on May 28, 2024, and the member states have two years to transpose it into national law. Germany must therefore until the end of May 2026 implement.
The GEG is currently being further developed in order to achieve the full objectives of the EU directive amendment. In particular, this includes increasing energy efficiency and integrating renewable energies into the building sector. The implementation of the EU requirements in Germany is being monitored by scientific Expert opinion and Analyzes supported. This is intended to ensure an economically viable and socially acceptable transformation path.
To date, some aspects of the EU directive, such as the introduction of minimum energy performance requirements and the promotion of zero-emission buildings, have not yet been fully anchored in the GEG. These requirements will have to be implemented in the coming months in order to achieve the EU targets.
Developments in the JIT since 2023
The GEG has already been revised several times in recent years in order to advance national climate protection targets and implement EU requirements. The Photovoltaic obligation for new buildings and renovations to integrate renewable energies, for example, is not yet universal. However, a key change in 2023 was the Reduction of the permissible Annual primary energy requirement for new buildings from 75 % on 55 % of the reference building. In addition, the verification procedure for residential buildings was simplified in the same year and a Primary energy factor of 1.2 introduced for the non-renewable share of large heat pumps.
Since 2024 Heating systems in new buildings at least 65 % be operated with renewable energies, whereby for a Transition period of five years, fossil-fuel heating systems are still permitted. In addition, local authorities are obliged to designate heating network or hydrogen network areas in order to specifically promote the use of renewable energies.
New challenges posed by the EU Buildings Directive
The EPBD plays a central role in the transformation of the building sector towards greater energy efficiency and climate neutrality. The 2024 amendment further tightened the requirements, particularly with regard to zero-emission buildings and the staggered reduction in primary energy consumption.
Germany faces the challenge of transposing these requirements into national law by 2026. The GEG has therefore been amended several times in recent years. The main objectives are the implementation of EU requirements and the promotion of renewable energies in the building sector. Nevertheless, some aspects of the directive have not yet been fully integrated, which is why further legal adjustments are to be expected in the coming years.