Overview of Spain’s Energy Efficiency Standards and Future Targets
Every dwelling in Spain is required to have an energy efficiency certificate, with new regulations pushing toward D class by 2033. This ticking clock prompts many homes, especially those built before 1979, to make significant investments to meet evolving standards. Data from the Institute for Energy Diversification and Conservation (IDAE) show that more than four out of five Spanish buildings currently rate E, F, or G on the energy scale. A new Building Energy Efficiency Directive (EPBD) was anticipated to be approved between late 2023 and 2024, aiming for every building to achieve an A or B rating by 2040.
Experts, however, question how quickly existing buildings can be upgraded. Carnation Rose, a specialist in technical inspections and energy certificates, notes that achieving a D rating requires a level of construction quality and finishing that many Spanish homes do not meet. Much of the housing stock dates from before 1980, a period when insulation and safety measures were not mandated. The push for energy optimization is real, but Claverol points out a key hurdle: owner communities often struggle to commit the funds needed for reforms to improve energy ratings. Validators examine everything from wall and window insulation to heating systems. Attaining a D rating also requires permeability analyses to measure energy flow through walls and heat losses, a standard many homes fail to meet.
According to Claverol, owning a boiler installed before 1994 can significantly drop a home’s energy class. Homes from the 60s and 70s often lacked wall insulation, while older heating systems emitted levels that pushed many properties toward F or G ratings.
How can energy ratings be improved? Claverol suggests upgrading to high‑efficiency heat pump systems, which produce fewer emissions and can offset other shortcomings. Glassed enclosures with 12 millimeter air chambers also help. When electricity or natural gas costs drop and comfort rises, the payback period for these investments shortens.
Dolores Huerta, chief executive of the Spanish Green Building Council (GBCe), emphasizes a bold target: by 2050 every building should carry an energy efficiency certificate of A or reach zero emissions. GBCe, a nonprofit, supports the construction sector in adopting sustainable practices and provides tools for building assessment and certification [CITE: GBCe].
Brussels has set MEPS, or minimum energy performance standards, with interim milestones leading to zero emissions from all buildings by 2050. In Spain, the prevalence of energy-inefficient buildings remains high; in regions with the worst stocks, the share rated E, F, or G exceeds 80% again. Basque Country leads at 86.5%, followed by the Canary Islands, Balearic Islands, and others, underscoring the scale of retrofit needs [CITE: GBCe data]. Prior to 1980, regulations were weak, and the Technical Building Code did not come into effect until 2006, delaying improvements. A MEPS framework for non-residential buildings targets upgrading the bottom 15% of stock by January 2030 and the next 10% by January 2034, addressing the bottom quartile of the market [CITE: MEPS guidance].
Spain plans a Building Renovation Passport starting at the end of 2025. This framework will guide energy rehabilitation plans for each building and include a global warming indicator that becomes mandatory for all large buildings from 2027 through 2030. In other words, every building could eventually carry a lifecycle carbon-emission snapshot, akin to a business card for its environmental footprint [CITE: Renovation Passport proposals].