Climate requirements for houses: researcher sees “Goal conflict”

Representatives of the European Parliament, the EU states and the Commission agreed in December on stricter requirements for the energy efficiency of buildings. Specifically, the member states should reduce the energy consumption of existing residential buildings by an average of 16 percent by 2030 and by 20 to 22 percent by 2035. How is essentially up to you.

• Also read: Renovation, heating, PV: This is how funding is provided

Contrary to what some have feared, there should be no individual obligation to renovate private houses. Owners’ associations had warned of a dramatic loss in value, especially in older buildings. In Brussels, however, it was emphasized that renovations and less energy consumption would pay off in the long term.

The EU Commission made its proposal for the Buildings Directive almost two years ago. The EU institutions still have to formally approve the current agreement.

“We see a clear political conflict of objectives here”says Wolfgang Amann, head of the Institute for Real Estate, Building and Living (IIBW) in Vienna: “On the one hand, climate protection, on the other hand, there is the political risk that a large part of the population will not go along.” There is no doubt that the building sector can be decarbonized comparatively easily, without loss of prosperity, and even with additional stimulus for the construction industry, says Amann: “At the same time, in terms of democratic policy, we have to deal with the fact that many people no longer believe the common narrative that united our parents’ generation. There is a fear that EU rules could become an enemy. This also applies to the building guidelines.”

The proposed rules are sensible, but above all in relation to the goal of decarbonization, says Amann: The goal of taking the vast majority of the population with you can only be achieved if “if not only experts, but also concerned citizens, committed mayors and local politicians advocate for it.”

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