EPBD set to become tougher

Speaking at a stakeholders' meeting at the European Commission's UK office, Katrien Prins, European Commission energy expert, had the following warning for EU members: "Compliance with the EPBD is likely to be made more onerous."

These changes will not come into effect immediately, because many member states have yet to familiarise themselves with the requirements of the current directive.

Prins said the EU will give countries "a reasonable amount of time to implement the current version before more onerous requirements are introduced".

Any proposed changes are likely to be detailed in an energy action plan, which the EU is due to have published by September. According to Prins, this action plan "will give an indication of what the EU is planning to do over the coming six years".

Changes are likely to affect existing a well as new buildings.

Prins said: "The challenge is not new but existing buildings as these are a much bigger C02 saving than new buildings".

The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive was introduced to promote energy savings in order to reduce Europe's dependence on external energy suppliers and to cut harmful emissions to the environment.

The EU estimates that energy savings of up to 22% can be made in the building sector by 2010.

Designers are now able to share information on energy efficiency improvements and energy efficient solutions to the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive on a new EU website (linked below).

The website, which went live last month, includes tools to support the Commission and Member States in the evaluation of the impact of the Directive; a help desk and concise versions of EPBD Information Papers; EPBD implementation by both topic and country; a synthesis of reports of major conferences and reports on specific topics.