Green Homes Directive: what it is and how it will change the sustainability of buildings
The Green Homes Directive, also known as the 4th version of the EPDB (Energy Performance of Buildings Directive), is a key feature of Europe’s policy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote energy efficiency in the construction industry.
It is part of a wider legislative strategy which is already well-established, (including Italy’s adoption of Legislative Decree 192/2005 ) and aims to make European buildings achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
Main objectives of the Green Homes Directive
The Green Homes Directive has two main objectives: on the one hand it is designed to improve people’s lives by reducing energy consumption so they save money on bills, while also aiming to accelarate the decarbonisation of European buildings. This is happening in a scenario of increasingly rapid climate change and the EU’s drive to drastically reduce CO2 emissions by 2050.
The most significant aspects of the Directive include a focus on energy poverty. The most energy efficient buildings not only reduce their operational costs for their owners and tennants but also enable the population to access better living conditions, without significant energy expenditure. This is a crucial aspect in combatting social inequality and ensuring that the transition to a green economy does not leave more vulnerable families behind.
In order to reach the ambitious targets mentioned above, the Green Homes Directive includes a series of intermediate steps with precise deadlines, obliging member states to define a decarbonisation strategy for the coming years until 2050. This strategy must include primary energy consumption targets for 2030 and 2035. Furthermore, the Directive establishes revised minimum requirements for new buildings and for the renovation of existing ones.
Another crucial point regards the introduction of zero emission buildings by certain deadlines: 2028 for public buildings and 2030 for private ones. These buildings will not be allowed to produce local emissions and must have low energy consumption, thanks to the integration of renewable energy sources such as solar panels and advanced automation and energy systems .
The Renovation Passport
One of the most interesting new measures in the Green Homes Directive is the Building Renovation Passport. It will provide a sort of personalised progress report for each building and help the owners plan the work required to enable the buiding to achieve net zero by 2050. The passport will offer detailed information on costs, estimated savings, the investment return timescale and greenhouse gas emission reductions.
It will therefore be essential when planning largescale, progressive renovations, enabling the owners to manager the work in different phases and get a clear picture of the energy saving and financial benefits. It will also help unify energy efficiency standards throughout Europe and contribute to providing improved transparency and reliability in the construction industry.
Impact on the property market
The Green Homes Directive will inevitably have a considerable impact on the property market, as it will influence the value of buildings according to their energy class. Most suburban buildings put up for sale are currently in the lower energy classes (E,F,G), while properties in more affluent areas tend to be in a higher energy efficiency category.
This gap may get wider still, making properties in lower energy classes less attractive to potential buyers, unless renovation work is carried out. As a result, buildings with poor energy efficiency may lose value, especially in light of increasingly strict building regulations.
Nevertheless, the introduction of financial incentives, subsidised mortgages and the Renovation Passport could help to mitigate these negative effects, theirby encouraging property owners to update their homes.
Translated by Joanne Beckwith
