BPIE: Europe's buildings under the microscope - PU Europe

Implementation (Energy Performance Certificates (EPC’s), Inspections and impacts)
Whilst most Member States already had some form of minimum requirements for thermal performance
of building envelopes before the introduction of the EPBD introduction, few had any prior requirements
for certification, inspections, training or renovation. Indeed, the absence of these requirements meant
that entirely new legislative vehicles were required in most Member States, often with responsibilities
split across different government departments, and in many cases, devolved to regional authorities. As
a result, EPBD was typically implemented in stages over a number of years, from around 2006 to 2010.
For information on the implementation of the energy performance requirements please refer to the
following section (Part 2B Building Codes).
Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs)
The implementation of the EPC schemes has been gradual in almost all Member States due to the
nature of application of the certificates. While most countries set up the first certification relating to
new buildings, the scheme for renovated, existing and new and existing public buildings were usually
left for later implementation. Figure 2B1 shows the timeline of EPC implementation in Europe showing
when countries have started to implement and run EPC schemes, as well as the number of countries
completing and fully implementing the EPC requirements set by the EPBD.
Figure 2B1 - Timeline of the Energy Performance Certificate implementation (EPBD 2002/91/EC)
Source: BPIE survey
30
Number of countries
25
20
15
10
Countries with running schemes for some types of
buildings (cumulative)
Countries with running schemes for all required types
of buildings (cumulative)
Countries with running schemes for some types of
buildings (implemented in that year)
Countries with running schemes for all required types
of buildings (implemented in that year)
5
0
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Year
Before the EPBD was created, both The Netherlands and Denmark had already set up energy certification
schemes for buildings at national level (in 1995 and 1997 respectively). Germany started in 2002 (having
recast it in 2009) and from then on, most of the countries started the implementation and enforcement of
the EPC schemes from 2007 to 2009. Generally, Member States found it easier to introduce requirements
for new buildings, as there are already processes in place to approve new buildings. However, greater
benefit can be derived from identifying and stimulating uptake of energy savings measures within the
existing stock.
64 | Europe’s buildings under the microscope