Harnessing Harmony: Energy Performance Criteria Alignment in the EPBD Recast
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Energy Performance Criteria
One of the most contingent points in the EPBD is harmonising the Energy Performance Criteria (EPC). Indeed, the current labelling system significantly varies across countries. These differences make it very difficult for the Union to set harmonised minimum energy performance goals. It also hinders the building stock comparison between Member States.
The current EPC labelling significantly hinders comparison between countries
This is even the case between regions as in Belgium with three different scales
The provisional agreement states that EPCs shall be based on the common EU template with common criteria. The scale shall be between letters A and G, with A corresponding to zero-emission buildings and G to the worst-performing building of the national building stock at the time of enforcement. Classes B to F must have an appropriate distribution of energy performance indicators among each class.
Zero-emission buildings are defined as buildings with a very high energy performance, requiring zero or a very low amount of energy, producing zero on-site carbon emissions from fossil fuels and producing zero or a very low amount of operational greenhouse gas emissions.
Nearly zero-energy buildings are defined as buildings with a very high energy performance which cannot be lower than the 2023 cost-optimal level reported by MS and where the nearly zero or very low amount of energy required is covered to a very significant extent by energy from renewable sources, including energy from renewable sources produces on-site or nearby.
MS that already implemented A0 as a zero-emission building may keep this designation instead of A. Furthermore, MS that have rescaled their EPC classes on or after January 2019 and before the enforcement of the EPBD IV may postpone the rescaling of their EPC until December 2029.
The review also specifies that financing measures should be enforced to incentivise the renovation. Those should specifically target vulnerable homeowners and worst-performing buildings in order to mitigate energy poverty. It also underlines safeguards for tenants, reducing eviction risks and disproportionate rent increases at MS level
