Energy Performance in Buildings Directive
The Directive 2002/91/EC (EPBD, 2003) of the European Parliament and Council on energy efficiency of buildings ("Energy Performance of Buildings Directive", EPBD) came into force January 2003.
The European Commissions Action Plan for Energy Efficiency ("Realising the potential", Oct. 2006) identifies energy efficiency in the building sector as a top priority. This is because in the buildings sector there are potential energy savings in the order of 28%, which if delivered could reduce the total European Unions energy use by 11%. The EPBD is viewed as an important Directive for being a driver for the realisation of energy efficiency opportunities in buildings.
What does the Directive require?
-
Member States shall ensure that, when buildings are constructed, sold or rented out, an energy performance certificate is made available to the owner or by the owner to the prospective buyer or tenant, as the case might be. The validity of the certificate shall not exceed 10 years.
-
The energy performance certificate for buildings shall include reference values such as current legal standards and benchmarks in order to make it possible for consumers to compare and assess the energy performance of the building.
-
Member States shall take measures to ensure that for buildings with a total useful floor area over 1,000 m² occupied by public authorities and by institutions providing public services to a large number of persons and therefore frequently visited by these persons an energy certificate, not older than 10 years, is placed in a prominent place clearly visible to the public.
EPBD Buildings Platform has all the latest information on the Directive.