Study: building efficiency off track

Without further guidance, EU countries may mismanage their energy efficiency commitments and risk missing their energy savings' target.

This new report aims to provide guidance for member states to meet the EU's rules on implementing "cost-optimal" methodology to take into account the lifetime costs of buildings under the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). The EPBD requires member states to ensure that by 2021 all new buildings have a net energy output of near zero.

According to the European Commission, failure to implement the efficiency goals could result in court challenges."The building sector is responsible for the largest share of energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions and therefore they are a key sector to reach the long-term climate and energy targets," the BPIE report said. "The building sector has a significant cost-effective energy and CO2 emissions savings potential, which should be properly addressed by policies in order to mobilise the market towards a low carbon society and trigger multiple benefits."