85% of the EU’s buildings were built before 2000, and 75% have a poor energy performance. Furthermore, our buildings use around 40% of all the energy that we consume, and 80% of this energy is used for heating and cooling alone, be it for water or space. Buildings therefore affect a huge part of our lives, and poorly performing buildings negatively affect indoor air quality and health, our energy bills, and even our children’s learning capabilities.

To modernise the EU’s building stock, the recast EPBD will increase the rate of building renovations (focusing on the worst performing ones first), support better air quality, digitalisation, and the roll-out of renewable energy, and e-mobility in buildings. It also puts the process of home renovations in the hands of citizens and their energy communities, expanding the EU’s energy democratisation process into the realm of home renovations. Crucially, it will facilitate financing to fight energy poverty and help bring all of our buildings in line with Europe’s net-zero targets, while aiming to leave no one behind.

Member States will have until April 2026 to transpose the updated EPBD, and until the 1st of January 2025 to transpose Article 15(10), which asks Member States to not provide financial incentives for the installation of stand-alone fossil fuel boilers.

In this briefing, REScoop.eu analyses the relevant provisions for energy communities in the recast Energy Performance of Buildings Directive and shares recommendations for the national and EU level.