20.9.2023
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
L 231/11
(55)
Given that buildings are responsible for GHG emissions before and after their operational lifetime, Member States should also consider the whole life cycle of carbon emissions of buildings.
That should take place in the context of efforts to increase the attention given to whole life-cycle performance, circular economy aspects and environmental impacts, as part of the exemplary role of the public sector.
Public procurement can thus serve as an opportunity to address the embodied carbon in buildings over their life cycle.
In this regard, contracting authorities are important actors that can take action as part of procurement procedures by purchasing new buildings that address global warming potential over the full life cycle.
(56)
The global warming potential over the full life cycle measures the GHG emissions associated with the building at different stages along its life cycle.
It therefore measures the building’s overall contribution to emissions that lead to climate change.
That is sometimes referred to as a carbon footprint assessment or the whole life carbon measurement.
It brings together carbon emissions embodied in building materials with direct and indirect carbon emissions from use stage.
Buildings are a significant material bank, being repositories for carbon intensive resources over many decades, and so it is important to explore designs that facilitate future reuse and recycling at the end of the operational life in line with the new circular economy action plan.
Member States should promote circularity, durability, and adaptability of building materials, in order to address the sustainability performance of construction products.
(57)
The global warming potential is expressed as a numeric indicator in kgCO2eq/m2 (of useful internal floor area) for each life-cycle stage averaged for one year of a reference study period of 50 years.
The data selection, scenario definition and calculations are carried out in accordance with standard EN 15978.
The scope of building elements and technical equipment are set out in indicator 1,2 of the Level(s) common Union framework.
Where a national calculation tool exists, or is required for making disclosures or for obtaining building permits, it should be possible to use that national tool to provide the required information.
It should be possible to use other calculation tools, if they fulfil the minimum criteria laid down by the Level(s) common Union framework.
(58)
Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council (21) lays down rules on installations that contribute to energy production or use energy for production purposes, and provides that information on the energy used in or generated by the installation is to be included in applications for integrated permits in accordance with Article 12(1), point (b) of that Directive.
Moreover, Article 11 of that Directive provides that efficient use of energy is one of the general principles governing the basic obligations of the operator and one of the criteria for determining best available techniques pursuant to Annex III to that Directive.
The operational efficiency of energy systems at any given moment is influenced by the ability to feed power generated from different sources with different degrees of inertia and start-up times into the grid smoothly and flexibly.
Improving efficiency will enable better use to be made of renewable energy.
(59)
Improvement in energy efficiency can contribute to higher economic output.
Member States and the Union should aim to decrease energy consumption regardless of levels of economic growth.
(60)
The energy savings obligation established by this Directive should be increased and should also apply after 2030.
That ensures stability for investors and thus encourages long-term investments and long-term energy efficiency measures, such as the deep renovation of buildings with the long-term objective of facilitating the cost effective transformation of existing buildings into nearly zero-energy buildings.
The energy savings obligation plays an important role in the creation of local growth, jobs, competitiveness and alleviating energy poverty.
It should ensure that the Union can achieve its energy and climate objectives by creating further opportunities and by breaking the link between energy consumption and growth.
Cooperation with the private sector is important to assess the conditions on which private investment for energy efficiency projects can be unlocked and to develop new revenue models for innovation in the field of energy efficiency.
(21) Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 November 2010 on industrial emissions (integrated pollution prevention and control) (OJ L 334, 17.12.2010, p. 17).