Towards climate neutrality within the European Union: Assessment of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive implementation in Member States

Abstract

The European Union (EU) is accelerating its clean energy transition in order to reach climate neutrality in 2050 through targeted policies, with the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) playing a pivotal role in reducing building energy consumption. This study evaluates the progress of EU Member States in implementing the EPBD requirements, focusing on Long-Term Renovation Strategies (LTRS), Nearly-Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB), Energy Performance Certificates (EPC), and technical building system inspections. Harmonized data enable cross-country comparisons, revealing trends across climatic zones and assessing policy impacts at the EU level. Aligning renovations with 2020 LTRS could cut greenhouse gas emissions by 35% by 2030 and 94% by 2050. Despite the well-established status of NZEB, their energy performance lags behind EU benchmarks in all climatic zones. Moreover, diverse EPC methodologies complicate in-depth comparisons, yet nearly 70% of EU certification schemes define energy classes based on an energy indicator. Finally, over 75% of Member States have implemented heating and cooling system inspection schemes, but few assess their impacts. While progress towards a highly energy-efficient building stock is evident, challenges persist. Member States must intensify efforts, especially in increasing the renovation rate with the aim of achieving zero-emission buildings. The recast EPBD, nearing adoption, will assist Member States by imposing enhanced requirements for building decarbonisation. This effort holds potential to unlock co-benefits, including climate change mitigation, energy resilience, and improved life quality.