There is a final decision of the EU regarding the “revolution” regarding buildings. Poland was not in favor

European Union countries have given final consent to changes to the directive on improving the energy performance of buildings. The so-called Building Directive is another key element of the European Green Deal. As much as nearly 40 percent greenhouse gas emissions in Europe are those related to buildings, e.g. from coal and gas heating.

Poland abstained from voting

Previously, Member States agreed to adopt changes to the directive. Now, in a separate vote, the Member States agreed, although there was no unanimity. Italy and Hungary voted against changing the law. In turn, several other countries – including Poland – abstained from voting. However, the required majority was obtained.

The European Commission expressed satisfaction with the adoption of the directive. She emphasized that the new law will increase Europe’s energy independence by limiting our use of imported fossil fuels. The amended directive will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union and will enter into force in the coming weeks. Member States will then have to translate it into national law.

Building Directive. What will change?

According to the EC, the aim of the amended directive is to reduce pollutant emissions and energy consumption in buildings across the EU, from homes and workplaces to schools, hospitals and other public buildings. “This will contribute to improving people’s health and quality of life,” argues the Commission.

According to the directive, all new buildings are to be zero-emission by 2030. This means that a high standard of energy efficiency will be required, and there will be no room for heating with fossil fuels such as coal or gas. For public buildings (e.g. schools or offices), this requirement will come into force in 2028. Also from 2030, it will be mandatory to install photovoltaic panels on house roofs – but only if it is “technically and economically possible”.

The directive sets goals for improving the energy efficiency of existing buildings. This will mean the need for renovations – starting with the so-called energy vampires, i.e. buildings that waste the most energy. The basis for this will be the minimum energy efficiency standard for buildings (mandatory for public buildings, optional for residential buildings).

However, the directive does not impose a strict requirement on how many and which houses must be renovated. Instead, it sets goals for countries to reduce energy consumption in buildings, and governments – including Poland’s – will decide how to achieve them. We can expect, for example, support for deep thermal modernization, especially “energy vampires”, as well as replacement of heat sources. This is already happening to some extent under the Clean Air program.

EU regulations provide for exceptions for agricultural and historic buildings, and member states will also be able to decide to exclude churches or temporary structures from the new requirements. It will also be possible to apply exceptions to the minimum energy requirements in the event of a particularly difficult situation of residents or when renovation would be unprofitable.

Heating without gas and coal

It will be necessary not only to improve energy efficiency, but also to move away from fossil fuels in heating. In accordance with the still applicable Polish Energy Policy, adopted during the PiS government, Poland plans to phase out coal from heating buildings in larger cities by 2030, and in the entire country – by 2040.

However, the directive requires that by 2040 there must be an end to the use of fossil fuels for heating – not only coal-fired furnaces, but also gas and fuel oil furnaces. Starting next year, it will no longer be possible to subsidize, among others: gas boilers. So far, in Poland, it was possible to receive a subsidy under government programs (such as Clean Air) for replacing a gas boiler with a gas boiler (the exception will be hybrid systems, combining e.g. a gas boiler with a solar water heating installation).

At the same time, the use of coal and gas will become increasingly unprofitable. In a few years, the expanded European emissions trading system will come into force, covering heating and transport. In practice, this means an additional fee for gas or coal. These funds will go to the Social Climate Fund, which will be intended to support especially people in difficult situations (e.g. by subsidizing renovation or replacing a coal-fired boiler with a heat pump).