What are the policy needs and challenges to implementing the recast EPBD in Bulgaria? On 15 May 2024 in Sofia, EPBD.wise experts Rose Hartwig-Peillon from Efficient Buildings Europe, Fabio Zanghirella from ENEA and Cátia Carvalho (ADENE) met with in-country EPBD.wise partners EnEffect and Bulgarian Association for Construction Insulation and Waterproofing (BACIW), national public authorities, industry experts, and academic institutions to discuss the challenges and opportunities for better buildings across Bulgaria.

DG ENER’s Silvia Rezessy presented the main requirements of the new EPBD which have to be transposed into national legislation by May 2026. The directive’s provisions on energy performance certificates and zero emissions buildings are in focus for EPBD.wise ‘s work in Bulgaria.

More than targets

Bulgaria faces several implementation challenges, necessitating comprehensive policy adjustments. Strategic planning, financial support, and public awareness are crucial aspects. Nationally, the focus is on reducing energy consumption in buildings, transitioning to clean transport, improving industrial efficiency, increasing the share of renewable energy, and reducing fossil fuel reliance.

However, the country struggles with a lack of public awareness, financial constraints, limited technical capabilities, global economic issues, political instability, and corruption. Bulgaria needs policies that avoid overburdening consumers, set realistic implementation timelines, provide financial support, and conduct extensive communication campaigns to raise awareness.

Digitalizing certification processes, ensuring access to renewable energy, simplifying energy certificates, and adjusting regulations for small-scale photovoltaic installations are also essential. Addressing these challenges with well-designed policies would help Bulgaria to meet its energy efficiency and sustainability targets in line with the new EPBD.

Eng. Yordan Nikolov (executive director at BACIW) outlined guidelines on how to achieve these goals: reducing energy consumption in the building sector (which accounts for about 40% of total energy costs), gradually transitioning to clean and non-polluting transportation, reducing energy consumption in the industrial and agricultural sectors through more efficient equipment, replacing energy-intensive processes, digitization and automation, and on-site renewable sources. Increasing the share of renewable and clean (green) energy sources, as well as reducing the import and consumption of fossil fuels.

Raising public awareness of the many co-benefits is key for successful implementation, according to Stanislas Andreev from EnEffect, EPBD.wise’s partner in Bulgaria:

“We need to find convincing strategies to show the benefits of these measures. It’s to do with how to create a healthier environment for our citizens, improving the comfort of living – this is what we need to talk about.”

Next steps

Current challenges for Bulgaria linked to energy performance certificates (EPCs) include a lack of qualified people to carry out the assessments for EPCs, the high cost of EPCs, and limitations on quality control and compliance/penalty mechanisms.

The country boasts some of the most comprehensive methodologies in Europe, yet the certification process remains non-automated, making it relatively expensive for single-family buildings and more accessible to specialists than to building owners. A risk factor is the potential for manipulation of results. Additionally, the methodology for evaluating energy classes is simplified, which may not capture all necessary details. Moreover, there is no provision for the phased implementation of measures, which could help ease the transition and encourage more widespread compliance.

In autumn 2025 EPBD.wise will hold a second forum in Bulgaria to share recommendations for the national approach to implementing the provisions of the directive. Watch this space!