PROVIDED SERVICES for nZEB BUILDINGS
Nearly zero-energy buildings (NZEB) have very high energy performance. The low amount of energy that these buildings require comes mostly from renewable sources.
The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (consolidated version) requires all new buildings to be nearly zero-energy by the end of 2020. All new public buildings must be nearly zero-energy by 2018.
National plans
EU countries had to draw up and submit nearly zero-energy buildings national plans, describing how they intended to increase the number of NZEBs in their respective country to comply with the directive.
Progress towards nearly zero-energy buildings uptake
The Commission closely monitors the progress made by Member States to increase the number of nearly zero-energy buildings, including through progress reports and studies.
The Commission progress report (COM(2013)483) found that EU countries had to significantly step up their efforts to take advantage of the opportunities presented by NZEBs.
In 2016, the Commission developed guidelines for the promotion of nearly zero-energy buildings in order to ensure that by 2020, all new buildings are nearly zero-energy buildings. In 2016, the Commission’s Joint Research Centre also prepared a synthesis report on the national plans for nearly zero energy buildings (NZEBs).
Nearly zero-energy buildings are moreover one of the topics addressed in the Concerted Action EPBD forum and an overview of national applications of the NZEB definitions (2018) is provided.
In 2019, a comprehensive study of building energy renovation activities and the uptake of nearly zero-energy buildings in the EU was prepared for the Commission.
Information from individual countries
In 2014, the Commission examined progress across EU countries towards the NZEB target. This information was presented using two different templates
• the first, presented as a report, provides information on intermediate targets and policy measures for NZEBs
• the second provides information in a table on the national application of the definition of NZEBs from the energy performance of buildings directive.