Green houses: definitive approval for the EU directive, Italy votes against

Green houses, the EU directive is approved, Italy votes against. The Commission welcomes the final adoption of the strengthened Directive on the energy performance of buildings, ‘another milestone in the European Green Deal’. This legislation – explains the European executive – defines the framework that allows Member States to reduce emissions and energy consumption in buildings across the EU, from homes and workplaces to schools, hospitals and other public buildings . This will help improve people’s health and quality of life.

Green houses, definitive approval for the EU directive, Italy votes against

European ministers at the EU Council Ecofin confirmed the agreement reached with the European Chamber in December on the new rules for make the EU building stock carbon neutral by 2050. Italy and Hungary voted against the agreement, while the Czech Republic, Croatia, Poland, Slovakia and Sweden abstained. “We voted against the directive, the process has been concluded. The issue is who pays, we have unfortunately known experiences in Italy”, commented the Minister of Economy, Giancarlo Giorgetti. “It’s a beautiful, ambitious directive, but in the end who pays?” Giorgetti remarked. “We have experiences in Italy in which a few lucky ones have renovated their houses thanks to the money that the State, that is, all the other Italians, put in and let’s say that it is an experience that could teach us something”.

The revised directive sets ambitious targets to reduce the overall energy consumption of buildings across the EU, taking into account national specificities. It leaves it in the hands of the Member States which buildings to target and which measures to take. It will stimulate demand for clean technologies produced in Europe and create jobs, investment and growth.

What does the EU directive provide

Starting from 2030, all new residential buildings will have to be built to be zero-emission, while for public buildings the standard will apply from 2028. The EU has decided that at least 16% of the worst performing public buildings will be renovated by 2030 and 26% by 2033. For homes, an energy consumption reduction target of 16% from 2030 and 20-22% by 2035 will apply. To give governments flexibility, renovation measures taken from 2020 will count towards the target and states will be able to choose to apply exemptions for historic buildings, agricultural buildings, military buildings and those used only temporarily.

Better restructuring planning and technical and financial support – highlights the Commission – will be fundamental to trigger a wave of restructuring across the EU, as foreseen by the directive. To fight energy poverty and reduce energy bills, financing measures will have to incentivize and accompany renovations and be particularly targeted at vulnerable customers and the worst performing buildings, where a greater share of families in conditions of energy poverty live .