Eco-friendly buildings

Starting at the end of 2020, new buildings erected in the European Union will have to meet strict energy use guidelines. Representatives of the 27 EU member states meeting in Brussels agreed to the terms of the Energy Efficiency in Buildings Directive (EPBD) on Wednesday following extensive negotiations.

The EU directive will require building designs to have higher efficiency standards, allowing them to operate on very little energy. In addition, any power that would be required by the building must come from renewable sources.

Private buildings, which would include homes and businesses, will be required to meet the new standards after December 31, 2020. Public and governmental buildings must conform two years earlier.

Money saving measures

EU Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs welcomed the measures.

"Energy performance of buildings is key to achieving our EU Climate and Energy objectives for 2020, namely the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the achievement of a 20 percent of energy savings."

Buildings are responsible for 40 percent of energy consumption and 36 percent of EU carbon-dioxide emissions, according to a statement released by the Energy Commission. It estimated that by improving energy performance, the EU could reduce its greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 70 percent of the bloc's current Kyoto target.

In addition to this, the Commission estimates these improvements could save each EU household around 300 euros ($446) per year in their energy bills, while boosting the construction and building renovation industry in Europe.

Environmentalists on the fence

Environmental groups are divided on the new directive. Claude Turmes, who represents the Green party in the German parliament, called the agreement a "breakthrough," and added that there is no where in the world with such building standards.

The environmental organization WWF was, however, less impressed.

WWF acknowledged that new buildings will be at nearly zero energy consumption under the new European directive, and this energy should be supplied by renewable energy sources to a very significant level. However, the group was not impressed by the far-off deadline, it said in a statement to Deutsche Welle.

WWF added that new construction accounts for just 1 percent of all buildings each year and pointed out that the directive is missing clear targets requiring member states to renovate existing buildings in a specific time frame.

mrm/dpa

Editor: Sean Sinico