Lto EU directive on green homesThe measure put forward by the European Commission to improve the energy performance of buildings and redevelop the building stock is about to come into force. The definitive text of the EPBD will be approved between 11 and 14 March.Energy performance of building directive which aims to act as a priority on the 15% of the most energy-intensive buildings in each member state, located in energy class G, the lowest. In Italy there are around 5 million residential buildings, according to Istat.
What does the green homes directive provide?
With the measure the European Union intends to reduce harmful emissions by 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels and achieve zero emissions by 2050.
The text provides that all new buildings will have to be zero emissions starting from 2028while the existing ones will have to reach energy class E by 1 January 2030 and D by 2033. For heating, there will be a ban on the use of fossil fuels by 2035 and the abolition of subsidies for the installation of gas boilers. fossil fuels by 2024.
More autonomy for Member States
Compared to the previous ones, the latest version of the Directive grants greater autonomy to Member States, who will be able to decide how to achieve the set targets. The art. 9 establishes that Italy will have to reduce energy consumption by 16% by 2030 of its residential stock, and by 20-22% by 2035. The final goal is to achieve zero emissions by 2050.
Despite the freedom left to the States, the Directive, however, imposes an important constraint: the energy efficiency of residential buildings must be achieved thanks to new buildings, but 55% of the reduction in primary energy consumption will have to be achieved with the renovation of older and more energy-intensive buildings. There will be some exemptions from renovations and they will be properties subject to restrictions, religious buildings, temporary ones, those intended for agriculture, second homes used for less than four months a year.
A sustainable building in Barcelona. (Getty Images)
Green homes directive: how many buildings in Italy to be redeveloped
In Italy, according to Istat data, there are approximately 12 million residential buildings. Therefore, it will be a priority to intervene on approximately 5 million buildings with the poorest performance, each of which is composed of one or more real estate units.
Among the challenges to be faced is the fact that currently only a small percentage of homes have an energy certification, since the law requires its processing only in certain cases (such as sale, new rental, complete renovation, new construction, etc. .) and establishes that it expires after ten years.
Costs for families
As regards the costs that families will have to face for renovations, Scenari Immobiliari has done the calculation for Il Sole 24Orand: it would be an expense between 20 to 55 thousand euros per property. With this figure, in any case, we will not reach zero energy consumption, but at least we will meet Europe’s indications.
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