COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT Executive summary of the evaluation of Directive 2010/31/EU on the energy performance of buildings Accompanying the document Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2010/31/EU on the energy performance of buildings
Date: 2016-11-30
Institutions: Directorate-General for Energy, European Commission
Subjects: building, building services, energy consumption, energy efficiency, energy saving, improvement of housing, innovation, reduction of gas emissions, technological change

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   EUROPEAN COMMISSION  Brussels, 30.11.2016  SWD(2016) 409 final   COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT Executive summary of the evaluation of Directive 2010/31/EU on the energy performance of buildings  Accompanying the document Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council  amending Directive 2010/31/EU on the energy performance of buildings   {COM(2016) 765 final} {SWD(2016) 408 final}  
 
 
The aim of Directive 2010/31/EU (the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive – EPBD) is 
to promote the improvement of the energy performance of buildings in the EU. Its impact was 
evaluated  as  a  direct  follow-up  to  the  Energy  Union  Communication1  and  pursuant  to 
Article 19  of  the  Directive  itself.  The  evaluation  covers  the  whole  EU  and  is  based  on  the 
latest available data. 

1.  EFFECTIVENESS 

The  evaluation  shows  that  the  overall  architecture  of  the  EPBD,  combining  minimum 
requirements  and  certification,  is  working.  With  48.9 Mtoe  additional  final  energy  savings 
and a reduction of 63 Mt of CO2, the EPBD is likely to deliver the expected impacts by 2020. 

Furthermore, the EPBD has been the main driving force behind significant improvements in 
the  energy  used  in  EU  buildings,  with  stricter  minimum  energy  performance  requirements 
(based on ‘cost optimality’) in all Member States and a major updating of national building 
codes with a view to ensuring ‘nearly zero energy’ buildings. 

Very  large  cost-effective  saving  potential  remains,  however,  and  the  transformation  of  the 
building  stock  is  still  proceeding  at  a  relatively  slow  pace,  as  a  combination  of  factors  (the 
effects  of  the  economic  crisis,  the  long  lifetime  of  buildings,  the  influence  of  local  and 
climatic conditions, and divergent ownership arrangements) weighs on renovation rates. 

2.  EFFICIENCY 

The  evaluation  identifies  potential  for  improving  the  efficiency  of  national  implementation. 
There  is  scope  for  improving  compliance  with  minimum  requirements,  in  particular  for 
existing  buildings  and  building  elements.  National  certification  schemes  are  sending  a 
demand-driven market signal for energy-efficient buildings, but could be further strengthened. 
Independent control systems are still at early stages in several Member States and they could 
be  improved,  e.g. with  supporting  energy  performance  certificate  (EPC)  databases  or 
registers.  EPC  schemes  should  be  more  systematically  integrated  in  the  overall  national 
frameworks  so  as  to  facilitate  checks  on  compliance  with  minimum  energy  performance 
requirements and act as a door-opener to financial support. 

The  evaluation  also  identifies  opportunities  to  simplify,  update  and  streamline  existing 
provisions in the light of technological developments. 

3.  RELEVANCE 

The evaluation  shows that the general  objective, framework  and boundary conditions of the 
EPBD  remain  relevant.  The  EPBD  could  do  more  to  improve  the  quality  of  the  indoor 
environment and support the decarbonisation of the economy. 

1   http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:52015DC0080  

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4.  ADDED VALUE 

to  steer  existing  national  energy  performance  requirements 

The  evaluation  shows  that  EU  policy  in  this  area  adds  value.  The  use  of  a  ‘cost-optimal’ 
methodology 
towards 
cost-efficient levels is seen as a proportionate approach. Adopting a pan-European ambition 
for all new buildings to be ‘nearly zero energy’ by 2020 has sent a strong signal, stimulating 
innovation  Europe-wide,  rather  than  in  a  fragmented  market.  Similar  market  signals  are 
lacking,  however,  when  it  comes  to  the  existing  building  stock,  where  there  is  the  most 
potential for cost-effective improvements. 

5.  COHERENCE 

The  evaluation  concludes  that  the  EPBD  is  coherent,  both  internally  and  externally.  The 
provisions  on  minimum  requirements,  EPCs  and  more  general  measures  to  address  market 
barriers can be implemented effectively to work in synergy within the EPBD framework and 
with other pieces of EU legislation. 

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