The European Commission (EC) published a proposal for a new revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) on December 15 – paves the way for heat pumps to become the norm for heating of buildings in Europe

The European Commission (EC) published a new revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) on December 15, as part of the “Fit for 55” Commission Work Programme package for 2021, which aims to make the EU’s climate, energy, land use, transportation, and taxation policies fit for reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 percent by 2030, compared to 1990 levels. The main objective of this revision is to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and final energy consumption in buildings by 2030, as well as to establish a long-term strategy for buildings that would lead to EU-wide climate neutrality by 2050. In order to achieve this reduction, the initiative is focused on several specific objectives such as increasing the rate and depth of building renovations, improving the information on energy performance and building sustainability, and ensuring that all buildings satisfy the 2050 climate neutrality requirements. The levers for achieving these goals include increased financial assistance, modernization, and system integration. Hence, this proposal paves the way for heat pumps to be the most common heating system for buildings in Europe, in line with IEA’s Net-Zero by 2050 Roadmap.