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