The European Parliament has adopted the directive on the energy performance of buildings, which aims to reduce “energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in buildings”. However, Law and Justice politicians warn that this is another blow to Europeans, as the new regulations will leave Europeans in “housing and energy poverty”.
615 MEPs took part in the vote: 370 voted in favour, 199 against and 46 abstained. This is another Green Deal document.
New directive
Under the plans adopted on Tuesday, new buildings must be emission-free from 2030 and new buildings occupied or owned by the government must be emission-free from 2028, the EP stressed. According to the assumptions, construction must be climate neutral by 2050. The amendment to the directive also aims to “lead to the renovation of more buildings with the worst parameters” and to improve “the exchange of information on energy performance”.
In the case of residential buildings, Member States will have to take measures to reduce average primary energy consumption by at least 16%. by 2030 and at least 20-22 percent until 2035.
According to the new rule, EU countries will have to “renovate 16% of buildings by 2030”. non-residential buildings with the worst energy performance, and 26 percent of such buildings in 2033.”
Where technically and economically feasible, Member States will have to gradually install solar energy installations on public and non-residential buildings – depending on their size – and on all new residential buildings by 2030
– indicated in the announcement.
Fossil fuels
The new directive forces member states to take measures “that will contribute to the decarbonization of heating systems and the phasing out of fossil fuels for heating and cooling.”
Fossil fuel boilers must be completely phased out by 2040. From 2025 it will no longer be possible to subsidize independent fossil fuel boilers. Financial incentives may still apply to hybrid heating systems, for example systems that combine a boiler with a solar system or a heat pump
– reported the European Parliament.
As indicated, “the new regulations may not apply to agricultural and historic buildings.” It added that EU countries “may also decide not to apply these rules to buildings protected because of their special architectural or historical interest, temporary buildings and churches and places of worship.”
MEPs warn
PiS politicians warn that the new regulations will significantly affect the lives of Europeans.
MEP Anna Zalewska warns that financing the installation of fossil fuel boilers “will, among other things, have consequences for the operation of the Clean Air program in Poland.
An important part of the program, under which almost 700,000 Poles have submitted subsidy applications, is the replacement of coal boilers with gas boilers.
– she wrote on the X platform.
She also stressed that “this is just the beginning of restrictions on the operation of fossil fuel boilers.”
The directive also requires Member States to set out actions aimed at phasing out fossil fuels in heating and cooling, with a view to completely phasing out fossil fuel stoves by 2040.
– she pointed.
The PiS MEP also referred to the regulations surrounding new construction and existing construction.
In practice, this means the end of fossil fuel boilers, as on-site carbon dioxide emissions are incompatible with the definition of a zero-emission building in Article Two.
– she explained.
Zalewska also referred to the pledge to decarbonise all buildings in the EU by 2050.
Part of this process will be to outline the trajectory of the renovation of residential buildings, expressed in terms of reducing the average demand for primary energy. Two goals were set: reducing this demand by 16%. by 2030 and by 22 to 25 percent until 2035. At least 55 percent These savings should be achieved through the renovation of buildings with the worst energy performance. These are very lofty goals that entail enormous costs
– she noted.
She also referred to the obligation to install photovoltaic installations on the roofs of buildings. As she noted, “especially the date December 31, 2029” is important in this matter.
These installations will then apply to all new residential buildings and to all covered parking spaces adjacent to the buildings. It should be noted that these requirements were subject to the condition of feasibility from a technical and financial point of view. Nevertheless, it is again a financial, logistical and technological burden for Member States
– she assessed.
The PiS politician also drew attention to “new requirements regarding energy performance certificates.”
Now such certificates will have to use the same assessment scale across the EU, which will require administrative changes. Certificates will also be issued more frequently (also for major renovations) and contain more detailed information, which will lead to an extension of the terms for issuing these certificates and price increases. Currently, certificate prices in Poland amount to several hundred zlotys, depending on the location or type of building
– wrote Anna Zalewska.
Consequences for Europeans
Other PiS members also commented on the EP’s approval of the document
The liberal-left majority in the European Parliament has just adopted the so-called directive. ‘build’, which will ultimately lead millions of EU residents, including millions of Poles, to poverty and the loss of their own homes
– wrote Beata Szydło.
Jacek Saryusz-Wolski pointed out that the adopted directive is a continuation of the European Green Deal.
The building code was adopted disastrously
– he assessed.
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Source: wPolityce