Expert: Czech state, not owners, should ensure renovation of energy-inefficient buildings

The European Parliament adopted a package of measures to accelerate renovations and reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. However, some Czech politicians dislike the wording, and they are backed by Petr Holub, an expert on energy-efficient buildings, who says that member states, rather than building owners, must be responsible for meeting the targets of the directive on the mandatory renovation of old and energy-intensive buildings.

All new buildings should have zero emissions from 2028, while the deadline for new buildings occupied, operated or owned by public authorities has been set for 2026. All new buildings should be equipped with solar technologies by 2028, where technically suitable and economically feasible, while residential buildings undergoing major renovation have until 2032.

Residential buildings should achieve at least energy performance class E by 2030 and class D by 2033 on a scale from A to G, with these classes corresponding to the 15% worst-performing buildings in a member state's national building stock. Non-residential and public buildings would have to achieve the same ratings by 2027 and 2030, respectively.