26.10.2017

97% of buildings in the EU need to be upgraded

A decarbonised building stock by 2050 requires the large majority of buildings in the EU to be highly energy efficient, complying, at least, with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) label A. BPIE’s analysis of available EPC data finds that less than 3% of the building stock in the EU qualifies the A-label.

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BPIE undertook a detailed analysis of EPC data and finds that 97,5% of the building stock, currently not in the A class, should therefore be upgraded, making obsolete the figure of 75% of the European building stock being ‘energy inefficient’.

The gap between the two figures can be explained by the general assumption that all buildings built before 1990 (and any EU building regulations) are inefficient and all built after are efficient, determining the efficiency level of the EU building stock based on its age. EPCs are currently the only available EU-wide source of information on the energy performance of the building stock. The factsheet brings forward recommendations to ensure that the revised buildings Directive (EPBD) provides clear and effective requirements and support tools for the renovation of the building stock.

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