MEPs debate and vote on a new directive to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse-gas emissions from the buildings sector, and make it climate neutral by 2050. The revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, agreed with the Council in December, aims to substantially reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and energy consumption in the EU building sector by 2030, and have it achieve climate neutrality by 2050. The new rules also mean more of the worst-performing buildings will undergo renovation, and information-sharing on energy performance will be improved. New buildings must be zero-emission as of 2030, and new buildings occupied or owned by public authorities must be zero-emission as of 2028. For residential buildings, member states have to put in place measures to ensure a reduction in the average level of primary energy used of at least 16% by 2030 and at least 20-22% by 2035.

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

vote

CORRAO, Ignazio (Greens/EFA, IT)

energy efficiency (T)

KELLY, Seán (EPP, IE)

PETERSEN, Morten (Renew, DK)

fight against climate change (T)

CUFFE, Ciarán (Greens/EFA, IE)

PENKOVA, Tsvetelina (S&D, BG)

SIMSON, Kadri (EE, EC)

Fit for 55 (T)

Energy performance of buildings: extracts from the debate and from the vote

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/75351773/1710233545200_I254442Chapters%5BSD-EN%5D.srt

Title: Energy performance of buildings: extracts from the debate and from the vote (EbS) 

SOUNDBITE (English), Ciar&aacute;n CUFFE (Greens/EFA, IE), Rapporteur, The EPBD (Energy Performance of Buildings Directive) places the final piece in the fit for 55 package of climate laws. Buildings contribute 36% of Europe's CO2 emissions and nearly three, and for buildings are energy inefficient. So tackling buildings is an essential step to reaching climate neutrality by 2050. This law introduces new measures to deliver a climate neutral building stock by 2050. So what will it do? Firstly, it will modernise Europe's building stock by setting so-called minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) requiring the buildings that waste the most energy to be gradually improved. This is the most cost effective approach with the greatest potential to reduce energy bills and emissions.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ciarán CUFFE (Greens/EFA, IE), Rapporteur, This law sets a fair and ambitious pathway to a climate neutral building stock by guaranteeing priority funding for renovations for the people who need it most, placing those living in Europe's coldest, damp best homes at the top of the queue, and including protections for renters against evictions. This is the just transition in action.

SOUNDBITE (English), Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy, The provisional agreement found on the EPBD presents a good balance between ambition, flexibility and feasability. If the revised DPD sets the standard, there will be a positive domino effect. First, in terms of our growth and competitiveness, there will be greater demand for manufacturing of clean technologies such as heating and cooling solutions made in EU, service providers, technical and financial advisers, and this will create jobs, investments and growth. A substantial number of local jobs will be created in the construction supply industry, a sector which is largely driven by SMEs. And second, the DIrective tackles the root cause of energy poverty and makes energy more affordable in the long term.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sean KELLY (EPP, IE), In 2022, the energy crisis really began to have an impact on our electricity and gas bills due to load and expensive imports for 62.5% of its energy consumption. In Ireland, we spend €1 million every hour on fossil fuel imports. Ending our dependence on external sources for our energy supply is good for the climate, good for jobs, energy security and critically good for our economy and EU competitiveness as well as job creation.

SOUNDBITE (Bulgarian), Tsvetelina PENKOVA (S&D, BG), There's been institutionalisation of the renovation of the building stock in Europe, and that's absolutely key. So as far as renovation, it must be widespread and it must be well-regulated and financed by the member states. There is a text for profound renovation, which needs to take place for buildings in order to reduce energy expenses for households for the domestic bill, in other words.

SOUNDBITE (Danish), Morten PETERSEN (Renew, DK), Gas Consumption can be reduced by millions of cubic metres, per year, we compare the figures for 2023. So we're talking about, a huge amount of money that's going into Putin's war chest. And with the help of this directive, we can help to stop sponsoring this war of aggression and also improve our climate with these ambitious targets.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), Ignazio CORRAO (Greens/EFA, IT), That it's absolutely imperative for the building to be energy efficient, for that to be done in the form of renovation energy to provide for our citizens. So it's totally you do a disservice to the citizens by misinforming them with, things to the effect that it isn't necessary in places that are warmer and so on and so forth. No, I think the moment has come, particularly with the geopolitical circumstances that prevail right now for us to move forward on this piece of legislation: to provide energy saving and energy sufficient buildings for all.

Rusult of the votes: 615 total votes, 370 in favour, 199 against, 46 abstained (1 shot)