Buildings
Electrifying Europe’s heating, district systems eye new technology opportunity
Est. 5minThough most legacy systems rely on fossil fuels to provide heat for homes and businesses, new systems are looking towards power-to-heat technology as a possible low-carbon alternative.
Tech-driven REPowerEU needs a boost says McKinsey
Est. 5minSuccess for the EU’s REPowerEU strategy will make Europe’s buildings more energy efficient and reduce Europe's reliance on Russian fossil fuels, but McKinsey says tech scale-up is needed to reach targets.
Contested EU green buildings law adopted
Est. 3minThe EU’s buildings directive has been adopted by EU countries, paving the way for national renovation plans amid cheer from the wider energy efficiency industry.
Brussels takes heat pump ‘action plan’ off the agenda
Est. 4minThe European Commission has shelved proposals to boost the roll-out of heat pumps with a dedicated action plan, a move that will likely delay the initiative beyond the EU elections in June.
EU agrees 2040 fossil boiler ban in revamped green buildings law
Est. 6minFossil fuel boilers will need to be completely phased out by 2040 and subsidies cut from 2025 as part of a political agreement reached by EU legislators on Thursday evening (7 December) to revamp the bloc’s Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD).
EU’s contested green buildings law limps towards the finishing line
Est. 4minNegotiations on the EU's Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) are expected to conclude on Thursday evening (7 December), with EU countries set to dilute a proposed mandate to make renovations mandatory.
Legislators water down EU buildings directive after marathon talks
Est. 4minLawmakers made headway during a marathon negotiating session on Friday (13 October) to overhaul the EU’s buildings directive, but progress came at the cost of the proposal’s core mechanism to introduce mandatory renovation benchmarks.
German industry launches last-minute bid to salvage EU buildings law
Est. 4minGermany’s two most influential business associations, BDEW and BDI, have launched a last-minute push in support of the EU buildings directive, in a bid to persuade lawmakers to adopt an ambitious stance on housing renovation.
EU reaches deal on exit schedule from climate-wrecking F-gases
Est. 4minLawmakers in Brussels have agreed on the dates by which heat pumps and electrical equipment must ditch fluorinated gases and switch to more climate-friendly alternatives.
EU Parliament approves lowering asbestos exposure limit
Est. 4minThe European Parliament on Tuesday (3 October) approved a directive stepping up protections of workers from health risks related to asbestos and improving the early detection of asbestos fibres.
Berlin considers slashing electricity tax by 95% to boost heat pump uptake
Est. 3minGermany may slash electricity taxes to near-nothing amid flagging heat pump sales, a move backed by liberal and conservative politicians as well as the renewable energy lobby.
EU Buildings Directive: Germany signals readiness to stop tighter standards
Est. 2minGerman ministers have stepped up their criticism of proposed EU building regulations, as Housing Minister Klara Geywitz (SPD/S&D) made clear her opposition to mandatory renovations after Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP/Renew) made similar comments.
Germany adopts watered-down fossil boiler ban for 2028
Est. 5minThe German parliament adopted on Friday (8 September) a controversial ban on new fossil heaters starting from 2028 at the latest, following months of government infighting and an injunction by the country’s top court.
Mould, fires: Substandard housing threatens health of Europeans
Est. 5minA report published by the Fondation Abbé Pierre and the European federation working with the homeless highlights poor housing conditions in Europe and the threat they pose to the health and safety of those affected, including certain cancers.
‘Deep’ renovations needed to meet climate goals, French industry warns
Est. 5minBuilding renovation needs to be full-scale, particularly regarding residential housing, which too often only focuses on heat-related upgrades, the industry said in reaction to recent government initiatives.
Renovation rates in Germany collapse amid spiralling costs
Est. 5minHigh interest rates and a surge in material costs have seen Germany’s pace of construction falter, prompting industry concerns at a time when talks on EU renovation initiatives are stalling.
Parliament adopts position on EU’s green construction product rules
Est. 4minThe European Parliament passed new rules on Tuesday (12 July) to standardise construction products in the EU, amid criticism from the Greens who say the law does nothing to transform the industry.
France treading carefully on gas boiler ban following German debacle
Est. 4minPrime Minister Élisabeth Borne has sketched a timetable to ban the sale of new gas boilers in France but decision-makers are treading carefully as some fear the government may face similar difficulties as Germany with its own phase-out plan.
France announces more financing for energy renovations
Est. 5minFrench Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne announced on Sunday (9 July) that the government would release an additional €7 billion from 2024 to finance the green transition, part of which will be allocated to energy renovations.
Italy behind schedule in meeting EU green goals, document shows
Est. 3minItaly needs to invest more and step up efforts to meet a European Union 2030 target for lower carbon emissions, a government document showed, highlighting the country's challenges to keep up with EU green ambitions.
Why Austria has yet to pass its 2023 boiler ban
Est. 5minAustria's heating law, which aimed to ban new fossil-fuel heaters from 2023, has been stuck in parliament for months as the government has yet to obtain the necessary backing from the centre-left SPÖ.
German boiler ‘culture war’ looms large over EU buildings directive
Est. 5minAs final talks on the EU’s buildings directive kick off in Brussels, advocates of an ambitious reform are warning against a repeat of Germany’s boiler war that risks hindering ambitious climate action.
Heat pump ‘readiness indicator’ to evaluate savings for consumers
Est. 5minEurope’s power system will face additional strain in winter as the electrification of heating progresses, making the renovation of buildings an essential element to reduce strain on the electricity grid and optimise the performance of heat pumps.
Slovenia extends fuel price regulation by another year
Est. 2minThe Slovenian government has extended the existing system of partial regulation of motor fuel and heating oil prices for another year.