The European Parliament passed the regulations on buildings. The challenge of uninsulated “energy vampires”

On Tuesday, the European Parliament adopted the so-called building directive, which is to lead to a reduction in energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. The rules will affect both new and existing building requirements. On its basis, Member States are to introduce regulations on reducing energy consumption in buildings (e.g. through thermal modernization), as well as abandoning heating by burning coal and gas.

– We waste a lot of expensive energy in a pointless way. In Poland, according to the data of the Polish Smog Alarm, out of 6.3 million of all single-family houses, as many as 1.8 million have no thermal insulation of the walls, and another approx. has a very low standard of insulation – says Paweł Wróbel, an expert on EU subsidies from PORT PC. He admits that “the scale of challenges related to the transformation of buildings is huge.” – Importantly – the scale of benefits for citizens, the economy and the environment that can be achieved is equally large – he adds.

What does the Buildings Directive assume?

The directive assumes objectives, the specific implementation of which will depend on what individual countries will do.

According to EU rules, all new private buildings should be zero-emissions from 2028, and in the case of public buildings, this deadline is 2026. This means that new buildings will need a high standard of energy efficiency and heating without coal or gas. In addition, from 2028, new buildings should be equipped with photovoltaic panels (if technically feasible and economically justified).

Existing buildings will have to be gradually renovated. Energy classes will be introduced (Poland is the only EU country where they do not apply yet) according to which buildings will be divided into categories, from the most efficient to “energy vampires”. The lower the efficiency, the more energy needs to be used for heating, and thus the higher bills or fuel costs.

Class G buildings, i.e. 15 percent, will have to be renovated first. least effective. Also in this category, the requirements for public buildings are higher than for residential houses. Efficiency improvement (e.g. by thermal insulation) would take place at the time of sale of the building or major renovation, or signing the lease. Specific actions to achieve the target are to be laid down by governments in their National Renovation Plans.

One of the biggest challenges is that old, uninsulated “energy vampires” are often the homes of the poorest people. The aim of the directive is to tackle energy poverty at the same time, national renovation plans “should include support schemes to facilitate access to subsidies and finance”, informs Parliament. States are also to set up free information points.

Although the cost of renovation is high, it later translates into savings, experts explain. – The difference in the cost of heating a building with energy class A and energy class F or G is huge. The level of heating costs can be more than 5-6 times higher. In addition, in the case of the highest energy classes, it will be possible to obtain better interest rates on loans and, for example, it will be easier and at higher prices to sell the building – explains Paweł Lachman, president of PORT PC.

Where will the money for these grants come from? Some of it may come from European funds, KPO, but also from other funds. Experts also point to the billions of zlotys that the government obtains from the sale of CO2 emission allowances, which could be allocated for this purpose.

– In addition to uncertain funds from the KPO for the renovation of buildings, we also have “standard” funds from the cohesion policy – i.e. European funds available under national and regional programs in the 2021-2027 perspective. In addition, Poland continues to generate income from the sale of allowances in the EU ETS system, and in the second half of the decade it will also start selling allowances under the ETS2 and will obtain funds from the Social Climate Fund. In total, we are talking about amounts reaching tens of billions of zlotys a year, entirely dependent on decisions taken at the national level. It is worth focusing primarily on reaching people with the lowest income, socially excluded – emphasizes Aleksander Śniegocki, president of the Reform Institute.

Work on the regulations is not finished yet. The vote adopted the position of the European Parliament, but now the final shape of the law will be negotiated between it and the Council, i.e. a body composed of representatives of the governments of all countries. The final adopted regulations will then be translated into national law in individual countries.