MEPs approve plan to improve buildings’ energy efficiency

Strasbourg, 12 March (CTK special correspondent) – The European Parliament today adopted a plan to improve the energy efficiency of buildings. It requires new buildings to have zero emissions from 2030, and public buildings from 2028. Under the plan, fossil fuel boilers should be phased out entirely from 2040, while subsidies for these boilers will be banned from 2025. Financial incentives will still be possible for hybrid heating systems that combine a boiler with, for example, a heat pump, according to an EP press release.

According to the European Commission, buildings currently consume two-fifths of the energy used in the European Union and produce 36 percent of its greenhouse gas emissions. The revised directive aims to achieve full climate neutrality by 2050.

A total of 370 MEPs voted in favour of the proposed revision of the relevant directive on the energy performance of buildings, 199 voted against and 46 abstained. For the directive to enter into force, it must also be formally approved by the Council of the EU, which is made up of member states.

The vote was preceded by a heated debate on Monday evening, with arguments in favour of adoption citing lower energy bills in the future and the creation of thousands of new jobs in construction, while opponents called it „green madness“ and said the targets were unrealistic and unattainable.