Featured in Further upstream – 10-2024

Solar central to European building rules

The European Union’s revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), which came into force in spring 2024, lends substantial support to solar on building structures. Andreas Walstad asks whether this is sufficient to trigger a widespread revamp of Europe’s aging, energy-inefficient building stock.
By
Andreas Walstad
New buildings with energy-efficient designs and integrated PV could help EU member states meet targets for reduced energy consumption from buildings, as outlined in the EPBD. | Photo: Kameleon Solar

 Buildings account for 40% of the European Union’s energy consumption and 36% of the bloc’s energy-related CO2 emissions, while 75% of Europe’s buildings are energy inefficient, according to the European Commission.The EPBD aims to address the issue and could help drive the decarbonization of Europe’s aging building stock, with solar power playing a leading role. …

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