Hausaufgabe für die GroKo: EU beschließt verbindlich Energieeffizienz-Gebäuderichtlinie EPBD

18. Mai 2018/Jörg Lorenz

Wie überall, so ist die Immobilienbranche aktuell voll mit der Umsetzung der EU-Richtlinie zur Datenschutz-Grundverordnung (DSGVO) beschäftigt, da schlägt schon der nächste Blitz ein, diesmal branchengenau im Immobiliensektor:

Das Europäische Parlament hat am 17. April 2018 der überarbeiteten Richtlinie zur Gesamtenergieeffizienz von Gebäuden (auch: EU-Gebäuderichtlinie, EPBD) endgültig zugestimmt. Die vereinbarten Änderungen ermöglichen das enorme Potenzial für Energieeinsparungen im Gebäudesektor – dem energieintensivsten Bereich in Europa – zu erschließen. Die neuen Vorschriften zielen unter anderem darauf ab, bestehende Gebäude schneller mit energieeffizienten Anlagen nachzurüsten und die Energieeffizienz neuer Gebäude durch den Einbau „intelligenter“ Systeme zu verbessern.

Zur Richtlinie in deutsch

So legt diese neue Richtlinie u.a. fest:

“Die Mitgliedstaaten unterstützen die Einführung intelligenter Messsysteme bei der Errichtung oder einer größeren Renovierung von Gebäuden, wobei sie gewährleisten, dass die betreffende Unterstützung mit Anhang I Nummer 2 der Richtlinie 2009/72/EG des Europäischen Parlaments und des Rates vom 13. Juli 2009 über gemeinsame Vorschriften für den Elektrizitätsbinnenmarkt (1 ) im Einklang steht. Die Mitgliedstaaten können gegebenenfalls auch die Installation aktiver Steuerungssysteme wie auf Energieeinsparungen ausgelegte Automatisierungs-, Regelungs- und Überwachungssysteme

unterstützen.”

Und: Die Einführung läuft genauso ab wie bereits bei der Umsetzung der DSGVO bekannt: Es wird einen Stichtag geben, von da an wird es keine Planung (auch im Bestand) mehr geben, die diese Richtlinie nicht Punkt für Punkt umsetzt. Ansonsten drohen Sanktionen. Wie gehabt.

Es macht daher Sinn, schon jetzt die Planungen ab dem kommenden Jahr auf diese Richtlinie abzustimmen. Das bedeutet kurz und bündig: Gehirnschmalz vor Styropor!

Die wichtigsten Neuerungen aus Sicht der EU-Kommission:

Förderung der Nutzung von Informations- und Kommunikationstechnologie (IKT) sowie „intelligenter“ Technologien, um einen effizienten Gebäudebetrieb sicherzustellen, etwa durch Einführung von Automatisierungs- und Steuerungssystemen;
Förderung des Aufbaus der erforderlichen Infrastruktur für Elektromobilität in allen Gebäuden (allerdings in geringerem Umfang als ursprünglich im Vorschlag der Kommission vorgesehen);
Einführung eines „Intelligenzindikators“, der die Fähigkeit eines Gebäudes misst, neue Technologien und elektronische Systeme zu nutzen, die sich an die Bedürfnisse des Verbrauchers anpassen und den Betrieb sowie die Interaktion mit dem Netz optimieren;
Integration und erhebliche Stärkung langfristiger Strategien für die Renovierung von Gebäuden;
Mobilisierung öffentlicher und privater Investitionen;
Bekämpfung von Energiearmut und Senkung der Energiekosten der Haushalte durch Renovierung älterer Gebäude.

Hier zur Original-Richtlinie:

The European Parliament (on 17 April 2018) and the Council of the European Union (on 14 May 2018) formally endorsed the political agreement on the proposed revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive.This revision introduces targeted amendments to the current Directive aimed at accelerating the cost-effective renovation of existing buildings, with the vision of a decarbonised building stock by 2050 and the mobilisation of investments. The revision also supports electromobility infrastructure deployment in buildings’ car parks and introduces new provisions to enhance smart technologies and technical building systems, including automation.

Buildings are responsible for approximately 40% of energy consumption and 36% of CO2 emissions in the EU. Currently, about 35% of the EU’s buildings are over 50 years old and almost 75% of the building stock is energy inefficient, while only 0.4-1.2% (depending on the country) of the building stock is renovated each year. Therefore, more renovation of existing buildings has the potential to lead to significant energy savings – potentially reducing the EU’s total energy consumption by 5-6% and lowering CO₂ emissions by about 5%.

Improving the energy efficiency of buildings can also generate other economic, social and environmental benefits. Better performing buildings provide higher levels of comfort and wellbeing for their occupants, and improve health by reducing illnesses caused by a poor indoor climate. It also has a major impact on the affordability of housing and on the concept of energy poverty. Improvement of the energy performance of the housing stock and the energy savings it brings would enable many households to escape energy poverty.

Investments in energy efficiency also stimulate the economy, in particular the construction industry, which generates about 9% of Europe’s GDP and directly accounts for 18 million direct jobs. SMEs would particularly benefit from a boosted renovation market, as they contribute more than 70% of the value added in the EU building sector.

Main EU policies

The 2010 Energy Performance of Buildings Directive and the 2012 Energy Efficiency Directive are the EU’s main legislative instruments promoting the improvement of the energy performance of buildings within the EU and providing a stable environment for investment decisions to be taken. As Directives, they needed to be transposed by Member States into national legislation.

The 2010 Energy Performance of Buildings Directive has made it possible for consumers to make informed choices that will help them save energy and money, and has resulted in a positive change of trends in the energy performance of buildings. Following the introduction of energy efficiency requirements in national building codes in line with the Directive, new buildings today consume only half as much as typical buildings from the 1980s.

On 30 November 2016, as part of the Clean Energy for All Europeans package, the Commission proposed an update to the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive to help promote the use of smart technology in buildings, to streamline existing rules and accelerate building renovation. The Commission also published a new buildings database – the EU Building Stock Observatory – to track the energy performance of buildings across Europe. In order to direct investment towards the renovation of building stock, the Commission also launched the Smart Finance for Smart Buildings initiative, which has the potential to unlock an additional €10 billion of public and private funds for energy efficiency and renewables uptake in buildings.

Once this revision enters into force, the Member States will have 20 months to transpose its provisions into national law.

Under the new, revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD)

EU countries will have to establish stronger long-term renovation strategies, aiming at decarbonising the national building stocks by 2050, and with a solid financial component
A common European scheme for rating the smart readiness of buildings, optional for Member States, will be introduced
Smart technologies will be further promoted, for instance through requirements on the installation of building automation and control systems and on devices that regulate temperature at room level.
E-mobility will be supported by introducing minimum requirements for car parks over a certain size and other minimum infrastructure for smaller buildings
EU countries will have to express their national energy performance requirements in ways that allow cross-national comparisons
Health and well-being of building users will be promoted, for instance through an increased consideration of air quality and ventilation.

Under the current Energy Performance of Buildings Directive

All new buildings must be nearly zero-energy buildings by 31 December 2020 (public buildings by 31 December 2018)
Energy performance certificates must be issued when a building is sold or rented, and they must also be included in all advertisements for the sale or rental of buildings
EU countries must establish inspection schemes for heating and air conditioning systems or put in place measures with equivalent effect
EU countries must set cost-optimal minimum energy performance requirements for new buildings, for the major renovation of existing buildings, and for the replacement or retrofit of building elements (heating and cooling systems, roofs, walls and so on)
EU countries must draw up lists of national financial measures to improve the energy efficiency of buildings.

National reports on energy performance requirements

EU countries have calculated the cost-optimal minimum energy performance requirements for new as well as renovated buildings in their territory. These requirements must be reviewed every five years and, if necessary, updated in order to reflect technological progress in the building sector.

Buildings under the current Energy Efficiency Directive

EU countries must make energy efficient renovations to at least 3% of the total floor area of buildings owned and occupied by central government
EU governments should only purchase buildings which are highly energy efficient
EU countries must draw up long-term national building renovation strategies which can be included in their National Energy Efficiency Action Plans.

Practical support initiatives

To help EU countries properly implement the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive and to achieve energy efficiency targets, the European Commission has established practical support initiatives:

Energy Performance of Buildings standards (EPB standards)

These include a set of standards for a common methodology calculating the integrated energy performance of buildings, in accordance with the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive.