Changes from report parliamentary committee draft to plenary report

RemovedArticle 15 – paragraph 9 – point e: (e) the results of another relevant, transparent and proportionate method that shows the improvement in energy performance, including metered energy performance.

AddedWith regard to the first draft building renovation plan, the Commission may issue country-specific recommendations to Member States no later than six months after the Member State has submitted that plan.

RemovedThe amendment is inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

Added5. At each revision, Member State shall take due account of any recommendations from the Commission in its final building renovation plan. If the Member State concerned does not address a recommendation or a substantial part thereof, it shall provide a justification to the Commission and make public its reasons.

RemovedArticle 15 – paragraph 9 a (new): 9a. Member States shall ensure that the level of financing corresponds to the level of energy and GHG emission savings achieved, with the highest financial participation reserved for those renovations leading to a ZEB especially renovations of worst performing buildings leading to a ZEB, in accordance with Annex III.

Added6. Every five years, each Member State shall submit its building renovation plan to the Commission, using the template in Annex II. Each Member State shall submit its building renovation plan together with its integrated national energy and climate plan referred to in Article 3 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 and, where the Member States submits an update, its update referred to in Article 14 of that Regulation. By way of derogation from Article 3(1) and Article 14(2) of that Regulation, Member States shall submit the first draft building renovation plan to the Commission by 30 June 2024 and final building renovation plans by 30 June 2025.

RemovedThe amendment is inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

Added7 Each Member State shall annex the details of the implementation of its most recent long-term renovation strategy or building renovation plan to its ▌ final building renovation plan Each Member State shall state whether its national targets have been achieved.

RemovedArticle 15 – paragraph 10: 10. By ... [the date of entry into force of this recast Directvie], Member States shall not provide any financial incentives for the installation of boilers and other technical building installations powered by fossil fuels.

Added8. Each Member State shall include in its integrated national energy and climate progress reports, in accordance with Articles 17 and 21 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999, information on the implementation of the national targets referred to in paragraph 1, point (b) of this Article and the contribution of the building renovation plan to achieving the Member State's binding national target for greenhouse gas emissions pursuant to Regulation (EU).../… [revised Effort Sharing Regulation], the Union’s energy efficiency targets in accordance with Directive (EU)…/… [recast EED], the Union’s renewable energy targets, including the indicative target for the share of energy from renewable sources in the building sector in accordance with Directive (EU) 2018/2001 [amended RED], and the Union’s 2030 climate target and 2050 climate neutrality goal in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2021/1119.

RemovedArticle 15 – paragraph 11 – subparagraph 1: 11. Member States shall prioritise deep renovation, sizeable programmes that address a high number of buildings and, in particular, the worst performing buildings, including through integrated district renovation programmes. This shall result in all buildings attaining the ZEB standard in accordance with Annex III with higher financial, fiscal, administrative and technical support.

AddedAn integrated district approach to building renovation

RemovedArticle 15 – paragraph 12: 12. Financial incentives shall target as a priority vulnerable households, people affected by energy poverty and people living in social housing, in line with Article 22 of Directive (EU) .../…. [recast EED]. In particular, Member States shall ensure that lowest income households benefit from cost-neutral renovation schemes, for instance through fully publicly subsidised renovation schemes, or blends between grants and energy performance contracting and on-bill schemes.

Added1. Member States may empower regional and local authorities to identify integrated districts in order to roll-out integrated renovation programmes (IRPs) at district level. The IRPs shall address social pattern, energy, mobility, green infrastructures, waste and water treatment, and management and other aspects of urban planning to be considered at a district level, and shall take into account local and regional resources, circularity and sufficiency.

RemovedArticle 15 – paragraph 13: 13. When providing financial incentives to owners of buildings or building units for the renovation of rented buildings or building units, Member States shall ensure that the financial incentives benefit both the owners and the tenants. They shall introduce effective social safeguards and guarantees, in particular to protect vulnerable households by providing rent support or by imposing caps on rent increases, and by avoiding renoviction.

Added2. The IRPs shall take into account the comprehensive heating and cooling assessments referred to in Article 14(1) of Directive 2012/27/EU, the refurbishment or construction of efficient heating and cooling systems as referred to in Article 24 of Directive (EU) …/... [recast EED], and the required infrastructure, as well as installations and infrastructures of renewable energy communities. Member States shall consider at a district level the optimisation of the energy system in accordance with the energy efficiency first principle, while promoting demand-side flexibility.

RemovedArticle 15 – paragraph 13 a (new): 13a. Member States shall take appropriate measures to remove regulatory, statutory, and administrative barriers to the scaling up of not-for-profit housing cooperatives. Member States shall ensure the eligibility of such housing cooperatives to financial incentives. The Commission shall facilitate the exchange of best practices among Member States on the creation of an operational status for not for profit housing cooperatives and shall provide guidance on measures to streamline their introduction.

Added3. Member States shall implement local level integrated mobility plans and sustainable urban mobility plans that are aligned with IRPs and encompass public transport planning and deployment with other means of active and shared mobility, as well as the related infrastructure for operating, recharging, storing and parking.

RemovedThe amendment is inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

Added4. One-stop shops established pursuant to Articles 15a may inform decisions regarding the design of IRPs with a view to revitalising, targeting and supporting communities.

RemovedArticle 16 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2: The energy performance certificate shall include the energy performance of a building expressed by a numeric indicator of primary and final energy use in kWh/(m2.y), and the life-cycle GWP by a numeric indicator of whole life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions in kgCO2e/m2 and reference values such as minimum energy performance requirements, minimum energy performance standards, nearly zero-energy building requirements and zero-emission building requirements in order to make it possible for owners or tenants of the building or building unit to compare and assess its energy performance. The energy performance certificate shall include additional numeric indicators notably total annual energy consumption (kWh/year), energy consumption per square metre per year (kWh/m2/year), and energy needs for heating, cooling, ventilation and hot water, deducting losses and adding gains according to EN ISO 52000 in kWh/m²/year, and may include additional efficiency and safety requirements for appliances.

AddedAdoption of a methodology for calculating the energy performance of buildings

RemovedThe amendment is inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

AddedMember States shall apply a methodology for calculating the energy performance of buildings in accordance with the common general framework set out in Annex I. That methodology shall be adopted at national or regional level.

RemovedArticle 16 – paragraph 2: 2. By 31 December 2025 at the latest, the energy performance certificate shall comply with the template in Annex V. It shall specify the energy performance class of the building, on a closed scale using only the letters A+, A, B, C, D, E, F and G. The letter A+ shall correspond to 'energy plus buildings' as defined in Article 2, point 2b (new). The letter A shall correspond to zero-emission buildings as defined in Article 2, point (2) and the letter G shall correspond to the 15% worst-performing buildings in the national building stock at the time of the introduction of the scale. Member States shall ensure that the remaining classes (B to F) have an even bandwidth distribution of energy performance indicators among the energy performance classes. Member States shall ensure a common visual identity for energy performance certificates on their territory.

AddedSetting of minimum energy performance requirements

RemovedArticle 16 – paragraph 3: 3. Member States shall ensure the quality, reliability, and affordability of energy performance certificates. They shall ensure that energy performance certificates are issued in a clear and easily legible manner by independent experts following an on-site visit.

Added1. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that minimum energy performance requirements for buildings or building units are set with a view to at least achieving cost-optimal levels and higher reference values such as nearly zero-energy building requirements and zero-emission buildings requirements. The energy performance shall be calculated in accordance with the methodology referred to in Article 4. Cost-optimal levels shall be calculated in accordance with the comparative methodology framework referred to in Article 6.

RemovedArticle 16 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1: The energy performance certificate shall include recommendations for the cost-optimal improvement of the energy performance and the reduction of operational greenhouse gases emissions of a building or building unit, unless the building or building unit already complies with the relevant zero-emission building standard.

AddedMember States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that minimum energy performance requirements and renovation obligations are set for all building elements that ▌ have a significant impact on the energy performance of the building ▌ when they are replaced or retrofitted, with a view to achieving at least cost-optimal levels and higher reference values, such as nearly zero-energy building requirements and zero-emission building requirements. The energy performance of building elements shall be calculated in accordance with the methodology referred to in Article 4.

RemovedArticle 16 – paragraph 6: 6. The recommendations shall include an assessment of the remaining economic lifetime of the technical building -systems, and an assessment of whether the heating or air conditioning system can be adapted to operate at more efficient temperature settings, such as low temperature emitters for water based heating systems, including the required design of thermal power output and temperature/flow requirements.

AddedWhen setting requirements, Member States may differentiate between new and existing buildings and between different categories of buildings.

RemovedThe amendment is inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

AddedThose requirements shall take account of healthy indoor climate conditions based on optimal indoor environmental quality as well as local conditions and the designated function and the age of the building.

RemovedArticle 16 – paragraph 7: 7. The energy performance certificate shall provide an indication as to where the owner or tenant can receive more detailed information, including as regards the cost optimality of the recommendations made in the energy performance certificate. The evaluation of cost optimality shall be based on a set of standard conditions in line with Article 6, such as the assessment of energy savings and underlying energy prices and a preliminary cost forecast. In addition, it shall contain information on the steps to be taken to implement the recommendations. Other information on related topics, such as energy audits or incentives of a financial or other nature and financing possibilities, or advice on how to increase the climate resilience of the building, and the safety of installed appliances may also be provided to the owner or tenant.

AddedMember States shall review their minimum energy performance requirements at regular intervals which shall not be longer than five years and shall , if necessary update them in order to reflect technical progress in the building sector, the results of the cost-optimal calculation set out in Article 6, and updated national energy and climate targets and policies.

RemovedThe amendment is inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

Added1a. Member States may adopt an intermediate minimum energy performance requirement, including the achievement of a minimum building envelope efficiency level, the maximum energy use per kWh/ m2/y, the readiness to operate low temperature heating, heat pumps or flexible electric space heating, and minimum demand response capacity.

RemovedArticle 16 – paragraph 7 a (new): 7a. Once the relevant reporting mechanisms and targets under Articles 7, 8 and 11a are in force, the energy performance certificate shall include recommendations for the improvement of indoor environmental quality, the cost effective improvement of the reduction of life-cycle and embodied greenhouse gases emissions and advice on how to increase the circularity, sufficiency, and climate resilience of the building.

Added2. Member States may decide to adapt the requirements referred to in paragraph 1 to buildings officially protected as part of a designated environment or because of their special architectural or historical merit, in so far as compliance with certain minimum energy performance requirements would unacceptably alter their character or appearance. Member States shall ensure that the renovation of monuments are carried out in accordance with national conservation rules, international conservation standards and the original architecture of the monuments concerned.

RemovedThe amendment is inextricably linked to other admissible amendments.

Added3. Member States may decide not to set or apply the requirements referred to in paragraph 1 to the following categories of buildings:

RemovedArticle 16 – paragraph 10: 10. The validity of the energy performance certificate shall not exceed five years. However for buildings with an energy performance class A+, A, B or C established pursuant to paragraph 2, the validity of the energy performance certificate shall not exceed 10 years.

Added(a) buildings used as places of worship and for religious activities;

RemovedArticle 16 – paragraph 11 – subparagraph 1: 11. Member States shall make simplified procedures for updating an energy performance certificate available where only individual elements are upgraded (single or standalone measures) in order to reduce the cost of issuing the updated certificate.

Added(b) temporary buildings with a time of use of two years or less, industrial sites, workshops, depots and non-residential service buildings with very low energy and heating or cooling demand, infrastructural supply stations, such as transformer stations, substations, pressure control plants, railway constructions, as well as non-residential agricultural buildings which are in use by a sector covered by a national sectoral agreement on energy performance;

RemovedArticle 16 – paragraph 11 – subparagraph 2: Member States shall make simplified procedures for updating an energy performance certificate available where measures identified in a renovation passport are put in place, in order to reduce the cost of issuing the updated certificate.

Added(c) residential buildings which are used or intended to be used for either less than four months of the year or, alternatively, for a limited annual time of use and with an expected energy consumption of less than 25 % of what would be the result of all-year use;

RemovedArticle 16 – paragraph 11 – subparagraph 2 a (new): Member States shall ensure that renovations passports are easily available to building owners as part of the Energy Performance Certificates.

Added(d) stand-alone buildings with a total useful floor area of less than 50 m2.

RemovedArticle 17 – paragraph 7 a (new): 7a. Member States shall require that when the refinancing of a mortgage for individual homeowners or multi-unit buildings is opened, the owners benefit from properly factored in improved solvency from energy retrofit to assess the resulting debt ratio from their mortgage lender or intermediary, based on the energy performance certificate issued at that time.

AddedCalculation of cost-optimal levels of minimum energy performance requirements

RemovedThis amendment is necessary for pressing reasons relating to the internal logic of the text, linked to Article 15.

Added1. The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 29 supplementing this Directive by establishing a comparative methodology framework for calculating cost-optimal levels of minimum energy performance requirements for buildings and building elements. By 30 June 2024, the Commission shall revise the comparative methodology framework for calculating cost-optimal levels of minimum energy performance requirements in existing buildings undergoing major renovation and for individual building elements which are in line with the national pathways set out in the national energy and climate plans submitted to the Commission pursuant to Article 14 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999.

RemovedArticle 19 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2: The database shall allow data to be gathered related to energy performance certificates, inspections, the building renovation passport, the smart readiness indicator and the calculated or metered energy consumption of the buildings covered. In order to augment this database, building typologies and energy building benchmarking may also be gathered.

AddedThe comparative methodology framework shall be laid down in accordance with Annex VII and shall differentiate between new and existing buildings and between different categories of buildings.

RemovedArticle 19 – paragraph 2: 2. The database shall be accessible by stakeholders who have a legitimate interest in the information contained therein, in compliance with Union and national data protection rules. Member States shall ensure access to the full energy performance certificate for building owners, tenants and managers, energy assessors who issue the Energy Performance Certificates, and to the public provided that the data is aggregated and anonymised as well as to financial institutions as regards the buildings in their investment portfolio in a machine readable format. For buildings offered for rent or sale, Member States shall ensure access to the full energy performance certificate for prospective tenants or buyers.

Added2. Member States shall calculate cost-optimal levels of minimum energy performance requirements using the comparative methodology framework established in accordance with paragraph 1, taking into account the life-cycle GWP, and relevant parameters, such as climatic conditions and the practical accessibility of energy infrastructure, and compare the results of that calculation with the minimum energy performance requirements in force

RemovedArticle 19 – paragraph 3: 3. Member States shall make publicly available information on the share of buildings in the national building stock covered by energy performance certificates and aggregated or anonymised data on the energy performance, life-cycle GWP, and energy consumption of the buildings covered. The public information shall be updated at least twice per year. Member States shall make anonymised or aggregated information available to public and research institutions such as National Statistics Institutes, upon request.

Added▌