Governance & Policy
Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD)
Definition
The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, recast as Directive (EU) 2024/1275, governs the energy performance of EU buildings. It requires all new buildings to be zero-emission from 2030, obliges member states to renovate their worst-performing stock, phases out fossil-fuel boilers, and mandates energy performance certificates and building renovation plans.
References
Legal text, zero-emission building and renovation requirements
Policy context
Overview
What it means
Buildings — the EU's largest energy consumer — get a legally binding trajectory toward zero emissions, with certificates that make performance visible to buyers and tenants.
How it is used
Property owners plan renovation waves; lenders use EPC ratings in green-mortgage criteria; governments draft national building renovation plans.
Why it matters
Decarbonising buildings is essential to net zero, and the EPBD is the instrument that sets the pace across the EU.