According to the directive approved today by the European Parliament in plenary session, all new buildings will have to be zero emissions from 2028. For new buildings occupied, managed or owned by public authorities, the deadline is 2026. All new buildings for which it will be technically and economically possible will also have to be equipped with solar technologies by 2028, while for residential buildings undergoing major renovations the deadline is 2032.
The aim of the directive is to act as a priority on the 15% of the most energy-intensive buildings, which will thus be placed by the various Member States in the lowest energy class, G. In Italy there are about 1.8 million residential buildings (out of a total of 12 million, according to Istat). The trialogue process, i.e. the phase of negotiations between European institutions that will lead to the final text, is still missing.
According to Parliament's position, residential buildings will have to reach, as a minimum, energy performance class E by 2030, and D by 2033. For non-residential and public buildings, the same classes must be achieved by 2027 (E) and 2030 (D) respectively.
To take into account the different starting situations in which national building parks are located, in the energy efficiency classification, ranging from letter A to G, class G will have to correspond, as mentioned, to 15% of buildings with the worst energy performance.
According to Ance (National Association of Building Constructors), despite the exceptions, the objectives remain unattainable in Italy: estimates predict 630 years only to reach class E for all houses, while even 3,800 for D. Carrying out the interventions would require a considerable effort, as also shown by the estimates of Enea (National Agency for New Technologies, energy and sustainable economic development), 74% of Italian homes, i.e. 11 million would be in energy class lower than D.
Measures to improve energy performance (e.g. in the form of insulation or renovation of the heating system) will have to be carried out - according to the directive - at the time of entry of a new tenant, or at the time of sale or renovation of the building.
Individual states will determine how to achieve the targets
EU countries will set out the measures necessary to achieve these objectives in their national restructuring plans. MEPs argue that national restructuring plans include support schemes to facilitate access to grants and finance. Member States will have to set up cost-neutral information points and restructuring programmes. Financial systems will have to provide for a substantial premium for so-called deep restructuring.
Among the exceptions, the new legislation does not apply to monuments, and EU countries will also have the right to exclude buildings protected by virtue of their particular architectural or historical value, technical buildings, those used temporarily, churches and places of worship.
Member States will also be able to extend exemptions to public social housing buildings where renovations would lead to rent increases not offset by greater savings on energy bills.
Member States will be allowed, for a limited percentage of buildings, to adjust the new targets according to the economic and technical feasibility of renovations and the availability of skilled labour.