Zero Emissions Buildings is to be the new 2050 standard
The new EU EPBD draft released on 15th December 2021 is a sea change for the built environment. Here we look at the key takeaways for Irish construction.
Buildings consume 40% of Europe’s Energy.
Heating, Hot Water & Cooling account for 80% of the energy consumed in buildings.
Why is Europe taking such drastic action?, because they have determined through assessments that Europe will only achieve 50% of the 2030 emission reduction target.
Here are the headline details: (a review of the implications to the current BER database at the end)
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- All buildings in Europe will be Zero Emissions by 2050 with the caveat that they are still low energy users. (You can have zero-emission and be a high energy user, see the BER review further down)
- As of 2030, all new buildings must be zero-emission buildings; new public buildings must be zero-emission as of 2027. (nZEB is discontinued at this point)
- Only Zero Emissions buildings can be A-Rated and the worst 15% will be G Rated from 2025. (This means by default that over 100,000 current A1, A2 & A3 rated homes could revert to becoming B Rated or worse)
- All Ratings must be aligned by each EU country by 2025 so an A rating in Ireland is the same as an A rating in Poland.
- The life cycle GWP (Global Warming Potential) of a building must be disclosed via the BER certificate, 2027 for buildings over 2,000 sqm & 2030 for all buildings.
- It is also notable that the stand out section on Heat Pumps in the original Directive has been deleted with heat pumps now inserted back into the general heating descriptions along with gas boilers et al.
- Also notable is that Solar Thermal has been added to the new revision as a major part of the renewable heating opportunity in Europe.
- Countries must adopt MEPS (Minimum Energy Performance Standards) which must have a trigger point such as “the building can’t be sold or rented until it is renovated” so for example when the member state cancels G rated homes, you will no longer be able to sell or rent a G Rated home until it is renovated.
- If you have a granny flat or separate living accommodation on the site of a primary dwelling, this will also require a BER.
- Cradle to Grave emissions to become part of the EPBD process. (from the mining of the first material).
- No direct fossil fuel emissions from a new building from 2030.
- Cost-optimal is the chosen model leading to achieving the lowest cost during the estimated economic life cycle, covering initial investment; maintenance, operating & energy costs; environmental & health benefits; earnings produced from on-site energy and waste considerations.
- Mortgage providers will be incentivised to make sure their portfolio increase energy performance.
- Historical buildings are now included in technical upgrades once it does not impact the character and appearance of the building.
- Zero-emission new buildings will be required to monitor internal air quality & existing buildings from when they are retrofitted.
- New & Retrofitted commercial buildings (non-res) with more than 5 parking bays will have to install one EV charge point and the pre-cabling of every parking space for future charge points in addition to providing one bicycle parking space for every vehicle parking space. (cabling has to take into account the multiple uses of these pre-cabled charging spaces in future) EXCEPTION: New and Renovated OFFICE buildings with more than five spaces must provide one EV charge point for every two spaces.
- All non-residential buildings with more than twenty parking spaces, one EV charge point required for every ten parking spaces and a bicycle parking space for every vehicle parking space.
- Multi-residential buildings, new or retrofitted with more than three parking spaces must pre-cable all parking spaces for future EV charging and provide two bicycle spaces per dwelling.
- All data from a buildings energy systems, meters, etc must be made available at no cost to owners, management & tenants upon their request.
- New mortgage products for renovation projects.
- Buildings to get “Renovation Passports” to show how to get to Zero Emissions.
- BER Certificates valid for 10 years if your building meets an A (Zero Emissions), B or C rating and 5 years for all other ratings.
- New inspections of heating systems rated over 70KW, this value being the sum of the heating and cooling equipment. These inspections must take place less than every 5 years, for systems rated above 290KW, inspections no longer than every 2 years. Inspections shall include fans, pumps, circulating systems and all controls.
- Penalties are coming: “Member States shall lay down the rules on penalties applicable to infringements of the national provisions adopted pursuant to this Directive and shall take all measures necessary to ensure that they are implemented. The penalties provided for must be effective, proportionate and dissuasive”.
The main objectives of this revision are reducing buildings’ greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and final energy consumption by 2030 and setting a long-term vision for buildings towards EU-wide climate neutrality in 2050. In order to meet them, the initiative is grounded in several specific objectives: to increase the rate and depth of buildings renovations, to improve information on energy performance and sustainability of buildings, and to ensure that all buildings will be in line with the 2050 climate neutrality requirements.
The life-cycle Global Warming Potential (GWP) of new buildings will have to be calculated as of 2030 in accordance with the Level(s) framework, thus informing on the whole-life cycle emissions of new construction. Whole-life
cycle emissions are particularly relevant for large buildings, which is why the obligation to calculate them already applies to large buildings (with a useful floor area larger than 2000 square meters) as of 2027.
Public & non-residential buildings require EPC class G buildings to be renovated and improved to at least energy performance class F at the latest by 2027 and to at least energy performance class E at the latest by 2030, and the worst-performing residential buildings to at least class F by 2030 and to at least class E by 2033.
Analysis of Irelands BER residential database: Dec 17th.
Approximately 1 million homes with energy rating certificates. If Zero emissions on its own were the only deciding factor, then a current C3 1988 home in Waterford would be the best home in Ireland, it would go straight to an A-Rating under the new system if it was based on emissions alone. As it is a high energy user, it probably won’t achieve that but we need to see how that process unfolds.
So would, one C3, two C2’s, two B1’s, five B2’s, two B3’s and two C2’s become A Rated.
Interestingly, as 15% of the worst emission homes must be classified as G rated from 2025, this would include homes with current ratings of C3, D1, D2, E1, E2, F and G, approx 150,000 homes. This indicates that less than half of Ireland’s homes currently have an energy rating.
It will be interesting to see how this changeover is managed.
From 2030, no local emissions in a new build so that means no boiler’s, no fireplaces, no stoves, etc. Does that mean existing buildings that still have these devices will become more sought after? Is the new house of the future totally sterilised and boring?
Solar Thermal is growing across Europe at an alarming rate and not surprising to see it added to the new EPBD draft as it will be key in lowering on-site heating & hot water consumption across Europe especially in all residential and commercial buildings. Electric boilers and smart rads will become dominant but only when the grid cleans itself up “supposedly by 2030”. Kerosene and gas still have the lowest CO2 per kWh although you can go totally green with Calor bioLPG right now and even make your own green electricity at home (but that is another story).
Download full EPBD Update Download HERE.