The EU restructuring compromise receives praise and criticism

Real estate - The EU restructuring compromise receives praise and criticism

The EU agreement on new requirements for the energy efficiency of buildings has met with criticism from environmentalists. However, associations representing homeowners, the housing industry and the skilled trades have been largely positive, partly because they believe that a comprehensive refurbishment obligation for particularly poorly insulated residential buildings is off the table.

Negotiators from the European Parliament and the EU member states have agreed on stricter requirements for the energy efficiency of buildings in the fight against climate change. Specifically, the energy consumption of residential buildings is to be reduced by 16% on average by 2030 and by 20 to 22% by 2035.

For non-residential buildings, the regulations stipulate that 16% of the least energy-efficient buildings must be renovated by 2030 and 26% by 2033. The EU member states are largely free to determine how these targets are to be achieved.

Competition of concerns

The owners' association Haus & Grund stated that the risk of a massive drop in the value of buildings due to specific renovation obligations is off the table. "Nevertheless, homeowners in Germany and throughout Europe are facing enormous challenges," said association president Kai Warnecke with regard to the agreed savings targets. The Federal Association of German Housing and Real Estate Companies spoke of a good path. It is undisputed that CO2 emissions from buildings must be reduced. According to the German Confederation of Skilled Crafts, even stricter targets could have hit owners hard.

Irmela Colaço, building expert at the German Federation for the Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND), said that a key measure for climate protection in buildings had been downgraded to a bedside rug. She would have liked to see stricter requirements for very poorly constructed and therefore inefficient buildings. These were fueling the climate crisis and energy poverty. Similar criticism came from Naturschutzbund Deutschland (Nabu). "People with low incomes often live in poorly renovated buildings, which means they also have to struggle with high energy costs," emphasized Nabu President Jörg-Andreas Krüger. People who live in poorly renovated buildings that consume more energy are also hit harder by high energy prices.

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1. The EU's commitment to boosting energy efficiency in real estate, particularly residential buildings, has sparked debate in Brussels, with environmentalists calling for stricter measures.
2. The European Parliament and EU member states have reached an agreement on enhancing energy efficiency in buildings as part of broader climate change mitigation efforts.
3. The Brussels-negotiated agreement aims to reduce energy consumption in residential buildings by 16% by 2030 and 20-22% by 2035, while non-residential buildings will be required to renovate 16% of their least energy-efficient structures by 2030.
4. Representatives from the European Parliament and EU member states have left considerable discretion to the national governments in determining how to meet these targets, sparking varying reactions from environmentalists and homeowners' associations across Europe.
5. Environmentalists, such as Irmela Colaço of the German Federation for the Environment and Nature Conservation, have expressed concern that a more robust approach to energy efficiency in poorly constructed buildings could impact those facing climate change and energy poverty.
6. The EU Parliament's stance on energy efficiency in real estate reflects a broader commitment to environmental stewardship as the EU aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels.
7. The agreement to upgrade energy efficiency in real estate forms part of the broader European Union environmental and climate change agenda, which promotes sustainable energy use and contributes to a greener and more environmentally conscious future.

Source: www.stern.de