With the new EU Buildings Directive (EPBD), owners and builders are under considerable time pressure. From 2028, all new public buildings must meet zero emissions standards, and from 2030 this will apply to all new buildings. The entire building stock is also to be climate-neutral by 2050. Each EU member state must transpose the requirements into national law by 2026.
The scale of the problem is enormous. The building sector is one of the largest energy consumers in Europe. Although around 60 % of existing buildings in Austria are in need of renovation, the renovation rate has stagnated at just 1.5 % for years.
The core objective of the directive is a massive reduction in energy consumption. In the residential sector, savings of at least 16% are to be achieved by 2030 and up to 22% by 2035, compared to 2020. To achieve this, not only stricter building regulations are required, but also huge investments in renovations and energy efficiency measures.
The Buildings Directive therefore not only marks an ecological turning point, but also an economic turning point. Energy efficiency and climate neutrality will determine the financial viability, competitiveness and value development of real estate in the future.
