Amending the European Commission's proposal for the recast of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) (EurActiv 14/11/08), the Parliament's industry committee adopted a report by socialist MEP Silvia-Adriana Ţicău (Romania).
They attached conditions for zero-energy buildings, while the Commission originally only proposed that member states should draw national plans, which specify targets for increasing the minimum percentage of buildings which consume low or zero energy. MEPs, however, argued that as of 2019, member states must ensure that all new buildings have zero primary-energy consumption.
The Parliament's definition of zero-energy buildings is buildings "where, as a result of the very high level of energy efficiency of the building, the overall annual primary energy consumption is equal to or less than the energy production from renewable energy sources on site".
The buildings would consequently produce their own energy using renewable energies like solar panels while minimising energy-loss with better insulation, double-glazing and similar measures.
Concerning existing buildings, member states should set intermediate targets for minimum percentages of zero-energy buildings by 2015 and by 2020, the committee agreed.
Moreover, all buildings undergoing a "major renovation" will have to upgrade to minimum energy-performance requirements, according to the report. Smart meters should be installed at the time of renovation and as a default for new buildings, it said.
The minimum energy-performance requirements will, however, only apply to buildings of certain size and not to every individual household. Member states can exempt stand-alone buildings with a total useful floor area of less than 50 m2 from the rules.
More ambitious schedule rejected
WWF regretted that the provisions for new buildings were not as ambitious as many of the tabled amendments to the report.
"Several amendments asked for a clear date for setting standards for zero-energy new buildings," a WWF policy officer told EurActiv, adding that the Greens and Socialists, in particular, advocated 2015 as the deadline year. "The only date all the groups were able to agree was 31 December 2018," they said, lamenting the potential energy savings that will now be delayed for years.
New financing
The committee also added provisions requiring the EU to step up existing financial means to promote energy-efficient building.
If adopted, the amendments would require member states to submit national action plans by 30 June 2011, detailing the financial instruments they plan to use to improve the efficiency of their buildings. These could include low-interest loans, fiscal rebates on income, property taxes or obligation for energy suppliers to assist their customers on financial matters, MEPs said.
As for Community funding, parliamentarians requested the Commission to bring forward legislative proposals that would increase the amount of money from the European Regional Development Fund in support of energy-efficiency to at least 15%. The EU executive should also establish an 'Energy Efficiency Fund' by 2014, backed by the Community budget, the European Investment Band and governments, they said.
Furthermore, MEPs said the Commission should consider reduced VAT-rates for green goods and services. Such proposals were already set to come out this month, together with a revised Energy Tax Directive, but has been dropped in the face of resistance from a number of member states (EurActiv 11/03/09).
_stack2.jpg){kind=small}
