News item | 14-07-2025 | 12:09
In 2026, the third revision of the European directive for the energy performance of buildings, Energy Performance of Building Directive (EPBD IV) must have been converted into national policy. The aim of the EPBD IV is that the built environment in 2050 will be emission -free. This is done, among other things, through other requirements for new construction, improving existing homes and utility construction and an improved energy label. Today, Minister Mona Keijzer of Housing and Spatial Planning (VRO) informed the House of Representatives about how the Netherlands will convert the directive. There are no national heads on European rules.
The energy transition in the Netherlands is already in full swing. More and more homes, offices, schools and other buildings are well insulated and natural gas -free. Anyone who is already investing in the sustainability of a home or other building today benefits from lower energy costs, more comfort and works on a building that is ready for the future. Clarity about the final goal and the intermediate steps to be taken helps the transition to continue.
CO2 emissions throughout the entire life cycle of new construction
From 2030 all new buildings must be energy efficient and emission -free on the plot. Instead of fossil fuels, owners must use as much renewable energy sources as possible, such as solar energy or wind energy. In addition, they can connect their building to a local heat network.
From 2030 rules also apply how many greenhouse gases may be emitted during the entire life of a new building. This is about the emission of the building materials used, the installations in the building and the energy that the building uses. The guideline introduces a new measuring instrument for this: the Whole Life Cycle Global Warming Potential (WLC-GWP). In 2027 there will be a route map in the Netherlands. This states which WLC-GWP requirements apply to new construction from 2030 and how the emission of greenhouse gases can then be gradually reduced to 2050.
Sustainability of existing built environment
Existing buildings must be emission -free from 2050. Good insulation becomes the standard in the Netherlands. In addition, owners are stimulated, via, among other things, information provision and subsidies, to insulate and replace their fossil central heating boiler with a heat pump. There will be a National Building Renovation Plan stating how the Netherlands reaches the sustainability of the built environment between now and 2050. The concept of this plan is ready at the end of 2025.
There will be no obligations for homes. There are, however, requirements for shops, schools and other utility buildings. The buildings with the worst energy performance must be improved by 2030 or 2033 at the latest. The exact obligations will be included in the Bouwwerken Living Environment Decree (BBL) by 2027 at the latest.
New energy label
In 2030 there will be a new layout of the energy label for buildings, which runs from A to G. The current highest energy label classes (A+to A ++++++) will then be canceled. At the same time, there will be a modernized method to determine the energy label. This gives a better picture of the energy consumption and the energy performance of a building.
Planning
The EPBD IV is implemented in phases. The parliamentary letter contains an overview of when which change will be made. With this, building owners and other stakeholders gain insight into what and when will happen.