The recast of the Directive on the energy performance of buildings (EPBD) was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on Friday 18th of June. The recast is framed by new considerations on the relation between the building sector and the European objective to reduce by 20 % the Union’s energy consumption by 2020. The 31 articles of the recast (17 in the original Directive) give new provisions such as national plans for increasing the number of nearly zero-energy buildings and independent control systems for energy performance certificates and inspection reports. The cost-effective approach is highlighted by article 5: “Calculation of cost-optimal levels of minimum energy performance requirements”, and Article 10 “Financial incentives and market barriers”.

Local Authorities and the recast

The following should be of interest to the public authorities:

 Acknowledging the leading and exemplary role of the public sector in the field of energy performance, the recast recommends that the national plans:

• Set more ambitious targets for the buildings occupied by public authorities,
• Provide measures to support public authorities to implement the recommendations included in the energy performance certificate as soon as feasible.
• Involve local authorities on planning issues, the development of programmes to provide information, training and awareness-raising, and on the implementation of this Directive at national or regional level.
  
   Article 9, “Nearly zero-energy buildings”, says that “after 31 December 2018, new buildings occupied and owned by public authorities are nearly zero-energy buildings”.
  
   Article 13 confirms 500m2 as the minimum area that a public visited building should have to publicly display its energy performance certificate and that this value will be reduced to 250m2 from 9th July, 2015.
  
   Article 11 recalls that the Commission shall: “…by 2011, in consultation with the relevant sectors, adopt a voluntary common European Union certification scheme for the energy performance of non-residential buildings” - sounds like Display®!
  
   Article 20 (Article 12 in the original EPBD) reinforces the provisions about “Information” to users highlighting the importance of the communication campaigns and awareness efforts - sounds like Display® again!
  
   Very interesting is also the decision stated by Article 20: “… further intensify its [the Commission’s] information services with the aim of facilitating the use of available funds by providing assistance and information to interested stakeholders, including national, regional and local authorities, on funding possibilities, taking into account the latest changes in the regulatory framework” - as requested from Display participants.

It is worth your while to take a look to the whole text of the Recast that can be found in the BuildUp platform.