Buildings are responsible for 40 % of the EU’s energy consumption and 36% of its greenhouse gas emissions, a subject that the European Union has decided to tackle in order to achieve its carbon neutrality objectives. The Portuguese presidency of the European Union Council has published its conclusions on the renovation wave strategy presented by the European Commission in October 2020, which aims to at least double renovation rates in the next ten years and make sure renovations lead to higher energy and resource efficiency. The document defines more precisely the contours of future building standards and regulations.
As issued by the Commission, the Renovation Wave strategy is based on three pillars, namely fighting energy insecurity, renovating public buildings and accelerating the decarbonation of heating and cooling systems. The Portuguese presidency agrees with these three objectives of the Commission’s strategy but wants to act even further upstream. Its document calls on the Member States to elaborate a monitoring system which will measure the evolution of renovation activities in Europe, based on new indicators.
Furthermore, the directive is setting up a Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI) which is to be included in next generation of energy performance certificates. The SRI, which will be implemented in 2021 throughout the European Union, will be used as a tool to assess how “smart” buildings are, whether they are renovated or newly built.
This should boost investments in smart, energy-efficient technologies for buildings in Europe and enhance the interactions of buildings with energy grids.
At the French level, the new RE2020 regulation will enforce more rigorous environmental standards for buildings construction. RE2020 sets out a gradual ban on gas heating systems in new residential buildings, with a greater emphasis on renewable heat (heat pumps, biomass or heat networks) and more climate-friendly building materials. It will come into force in 2022..
Smart grids, by providing flagship solutions for the energy transition, will have an important role to play in this wave of renovations. The new French and European regulations, as well as the significant share devoted to the “greening” of buildings in stimulus plans, can give a real boost to the digitalization and modernization of buildings in Europe, in order to reduce their energy consumption and carbon footprint.