Directive (EU) 2024/1275 on the Energy Performance of Build

Do our buildings meet the new EU zero-emission standards — and what happens if we miss the 2030 renovation deadline?

Every new building in the EU must be zero-emission from 1 January 2030, and the worst-performing 16% of non-residential buildings must be renovated by the same date — Member States must transpose effective, proportionate and dissuasive penalties by 29 May 2026 [Art. 34].

Short Answer

The recast EPBD sets binding minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) that force non-residential buildings below a 16% worst-performing threshold by 2030 and below 26% by 2033, while residential building stocks must cut average primary energy use by at least 16% versus 2020 levels by 2030 [Art. 9]. All new buildings must be zero-emission from 2030, with public-body buildings hitting that standard already in 2028 [Art. 7]. Solar energy installations become mandatory on new and large existing buildings on a phased schedule from 2026 to 2030 [Art. 10], and financial incentives for stand-alone fossil fuel boilers are banned from 1 January 2025 [Art. 17(15)].

Who is affected

All building owners, operators, and public bodies in the EU and EEA. Non-residential buildings are subject to absolute MEPS thresholds [Art. 9(1)]. Residential buildings fall under a national trajectory with binding milestones [Art. 9(2)]. Exemptions exist for heritage-protected buildings, places of worship, temporary structures under 2 years, military buildings, and stand-alone buildings under 50 m2 [Art. 5(2)-(3)].

Deadline

Transposition into national law by 29 May 2026 [Art. 35(1)]. Next binding milestone: worst-performing 16% of non-residential buildings must be below the MEPS threshold by 2030 [Art. 9(1)(a)]; all new buildings must be zero-emission from 1 January 2030 [Art. 7(1)(b)]. Solar installations on new public and non-residential buildings over 250 m2 by 31 December 2026 [Art. 10(3)(a)].

Risk

Penalties are set by each Member State — the Directive requires them to be effective, proportionate and dissuasive [Art. 34]. No EU-wide ceiling is prescribed. The practical risk is threefold: non-compliant buildings cannot be sold or rented without a valid energy performance certificate [Art. 20], renovation costs escalate the longer owners wait, and public bodies face reputational and legal exposure from 2028 when their new buildings must already be zero-emission [Art. 7(1)(a)].

Proof

Legal status

• In force
• as of 2026-04-17
• Original version published 8 May 2024

Primary sources

• EUR-Lex — Full text
• European Commission — Soil — EU soil policy

What to do now

Legal / DPO

•Review national transposition status and identify gaps between existing building regulations and the new MEPS thresholds by 2030 and 2033 [Art. 9(1)].
•Audit existing lease and sale contracts for EPC disclosure obligations — all advertisements must display the energy performance class from transposition date [Art. 20(4)].
•Assess exemption eligibility for heritage-protected or special-use buildings and document the legal basis under [Art. 5(2)-(3)] before relying on exclusions.

Compliance

•Map the entire building portfolio against the 16% worst-performing threshold for non-residential stock based on 1 January 2020 baseline and prioritise renovation of buildings above that line by 2030 [Art. 9(1)(a)].
•Establish a tracking system for phased solar installation deadlines — new public and non-residential buildings over 250 m2 by end of 2026, existing public buildings over 2,000 m2 by end of 2027 [Art. 10(3)(a)-(b)].
•Ensure all energy performance certificates are rescaled to the A-G format compliant with Annex V and valid for no more than 10 years [Art. 19(2), Art. 19(13)].

IT / Security

•Implement building automation and control systems for non-residential buildings with effective rated output exceeding 290 kW by 31 December 2024, and exceeding 70 kW by 31 December 2029 [Art. 13(9)].
•Prepare digital infrastructure for the smart readiness indicator and data exchange requirements under the EU Building Stock Observatory [Art. 15, Art. 22].
•Ensure all recharging points support smart recharging and, where required, bi-directional charging with appropriate cybersecurity controls [Art. 14(6)].

Product / Engineering

•Design all new building projects to meet the zero-emission building standard from 1 January 2030 — including maximum energy demand thresholds at least 10% below the nearly zero-energy level [Art. 11(3)].
•Integrate life-cycle global warming potential (GWP) calculation into the design process — mandatory disclosure for new buildings over 1,000 m2 from 2028 and for all new buildings from 2030 [Art. 7(2)].
•Plan sustainable mobility infrastructure into new non-residential projects: at least 1 recharging point per 5 parking spaces, pre-cabling for 50% of spaces, and bicycle parking for 15% of average user capacity [Art. 14(1)].

Key Terms

Zero-emission building: A building with very high energy performance, zero on-site carbon emissions from fossil fuels, and total primary energy covered by renewable or carbon-free sources [Art. 2(2), Art. 11].
Nearly zero-energy building (NZEB): A building with very high energy performance where the nearly zero or very low amount of energy required is covered to a very significant extent by renewable sources [Art. 2(3)].
Minimum energy performance standards (MEPS): Mandatory thresholds expressed in kWh/(m2.y) that existing buildings must not exceed by specified deadlines, targeting the worst-performing segments of the building stock [Art. 9].
Energy performance certificate (EPC): A certificate issued by a qualified expert indicating the energy performance of a building on an A-to-G scale, required for sale, rental, and advertising [Art. 19].
Major renovation: Renovation where the total cost exceeds 25% of the building value (excluding land), or where more than 25% of the building envelope surface is renovated [Art. 2(22)].
Deep renovation: A renovation that transforms a building into a nearly zero-energy building (before 2030) or a zero-emission building (from 2030 onward) [Art. 2(20)].
Renovation passport: A digital document providing a tailored roadmap for staged deep renovation of an individual building toward zero-emission status, issued after an on-site visit by a qualified expert [Art. 12].
Smart readiness indicator: A rating of a building's capability to adapt its operation to occupant needs, optimise energy use, and interact with the energy grid [Art. 15, Annex IV].
Building automation and control system (BACS): A system comprising all products, software and engineering services for automatic control, monitoring and optimisation of building technical systems [Art. 2(41)].
Life-cycle global warming potential (GWP): The cumulative greenhouse gas emissions of a building over its entire life cycle, calculated according to Annex III and mandatory for disclosure in new buildings from 2028/2030 [Art. 7(2)].

Frequently Asked Questions

When must all new buildings in the EU be zero-emission?

All new buildings must be zero-emission from 1 January 2030 [Art. 7(1)(b)]. New buildings owned by public bodies must meet this standard two years earlier, from 1 January 2028 [Art. 7(1)(a)].

What are the minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) for non-residential buildings?

Non-residential buildings must fall below a maximum energy use threshold set so that the worst-performing 16% of the stock (based on 1 January 2020 data) is above it — by 2030 [Art. 9(1)(a)]. A stricter 26% threshold follows by 2033 [Art. 9(1)(b)]. Member States must define further thresholds for 2040 and 2050.

How does the Directive affect residential buildings?

Member States must establish a national trajectory so that the average primary energy use of the entire residential stock decreases by at least 16% compared to 2020 by 2030, and by 20-22% by 2035 [Art. 9(2)]. At least 55% of the reduction must come from renovating the worst-performing 43% of residential buildings.

When do solar energy requirements apply?

Phased deployment starts by 31 December 2026 for new public and non-residential buildings over 250 m2 [Art. 10(3)(a)], extends to existing public buildings over 2,000 m2 by end of 2027 [Art. 10(3)(b)(i)], and covers all new residential buildings and roofed car parks by end of 2029 [Art. 10(3)(d)-(e)].

What penalties apply for non-compliance?

The Directive does not prescribe fixed fines. Member States must lay down penalties that are effective, proportionate and dissuasive [Art. 34]. Practical enforcement comes through EPC requirements for sale, rental and advertising, and through MEPS compliance checks.

Are there exemptions from the MEPS?

Yes. Heritage-protected buildings, places of worship, temporary structures used less than 2 years, non-residential agricultural buildings with low energy demand, residential buildings used less than 4 months per year, and stand-alone buildings under 50 m2 are exempt [Art. 5(2)-(3), Art. 9(6)].

What is a renovation passport under this Directive?

A renovation passport is a tailored, digitally issued roadmap for staged deep renovation of an individual building toward zero-emission status [Art. 12]. Member States must introduce a scheme by 29 May 2026. The passport is voluntary for owners unless a Member State makes it mandatory [Art. 12(2)].

When is the fossil fuel boiler subsidy ban effective?

Financial incentives for stand-alone fossil fuel boilers have been banned since 1 January 2025 [Art. 17(15)]. This was an early transposition obligation, ahead of the general 29 May 2026 deadline.

Assessment Factors & Checklist

Premium

Start 7-day free trial

Questions for Your Lawyer

Premium

Start 7-day free trial

Conclusion & Summary

Premium

Start 7-day free trial

Detailed analysis with source links.

Schalten Sie die KI-Analyse frei — mit markierten Fundstellen und direkten Links zu EUR-Lex. 7 Tage kostenlos testen.

Start 7-day free trial →

Keine Kreditkarte heute. Kündigung jederzeit.