All buildings to be zero energy from 2019 (1/4/09)

April 1, 2009 at 1:56 pm Leave a comment

MEPs on a key EU Committee have backed legislation that would require all new buildings to produce their own renewable energy by the year 2019. Members of the Industry Committee have this week voted in favour of beefing up targets on energy efficient buildings laid down in 2002, to take advantage of ongoing developments in ‘green buildings’.
The European Parliament is due to debate the proposal next month to make all new buildings ‘zero energy’; in other words, that they produce as much energy – through solar panels, heat pumps or other renewable sources – as they consume on site.
If the legislation is approved, all EU countries will have to draw up national action plans by the year 2011 setting out financial instruments to improve energy efficiency in buildings, including low-interest loans and tax rebates. Also, all new buildings will have to install ‘smart’ metres, to measure how much and when energy is consumed. This would allow customers to benefit from lower night-time rates.