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The European Directive on energy performance of buildings (EPBD)--the EPBD Buildings Platform.

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THE ENERGY PERFORMANCE OF BUILDINGS DIRECTIVE

The Directive 2002/91/EC (EPBD 2003) of the European Parliament and Council on Energy Efficiency of Buildings was adopted after a lively discussion at all levels and with overwhelming support from member states and the European Parliament on December 16, 2002. It was entered into force on January 4, 2003. The Directive is considered to be a very important legislative component of energy-efficiency activities of the European Union. It is designed to meet the Kyoto Protocol and responds to issues raised in the recent debate surrounding the green paper on energy supply security.

Estimates project a cost-effective savings of around 22% within the building sector by 2010. If this potential is realized, around 20% of the EU Kyoto commitment could be met. Transposition of this Directive by 2006, at the latest, will allow a portion of this potential to be translated into reduced energy consumption.

The Directive is set to promote the improvement of energy performance of buildings with the following requirements to be implemented by the member states:

* The general framework for a methodology of calculation of the integrated energy performance of buildings

* The application of minimum requirements on the energy performance of new buildings

* The application of minimum requirements on the energy performance of large existing buildings that are subject to major renovation

* Energy performance certification of buildings

* Regular inspection of boilers and of air-conditioning systems in buildings and an assessment of the heating installations in which the boilers are more than 15 years old

Within these general principles and objectives, it is the individual responsibility of each EU member state to choose measures that correspond best to its particular situation (subsidiarity principle). However, it is clear that collaboration and information exchange can help facilitate the implementation.

The Directive is a measure that impacts several parties, who all have different motivations. These parties include: designers, housing associations, architects, providers of building appliances, installation companies, building experts, owners, tenants, and essentially all energy consumers in the EU.

It will greatly affect awareness of energy use in buildings, and is intended to lead to substantial increases in investments in energy-efficiency measures within these buildings. The Directive presents a great challenge for the transformation of the European building sector toward energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy resources.

January 4, 2006, was the official deadline for the 25 member states to transpose the Directive into national law. However, Bulgaria and Romania, the...

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