The public debate surrounding the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) is currently focused mainly on one issue – the obligation to install photovoltaic panels. However, as SPIE experts emphasise, the actual scope of the changes it introduces is much broader and concerns a fundamental overhaul of the way buildings are designed, modernised and operated across the European Union.
From the perspective of the construction and infrastructure markets, the EPBD is not a regulation concerning a single technology, but a comprehensive approach to energy efficiency. Its aim is to gradually bring about a situation in which buildings – both new and existing – will meet stringent requirements regarding energy consumption and emissions. This means they must be viewed as an integrated energy system rather than a collection of independent installations.
– Photovoltaic systems play a significant, yet ancillary, role in this model, as they are just one element of the building’s entire ecosystem. Their true value only becomes apparent when they are integrated with energy and utility management systems. Energy generation alone does not solve the problem of efficiency – optimal utilisation of energy is key – emphasises Tomasz Szolc, Deputy Chairman of the Management Board at SPIE LTEC.
The Directive also introduces a significant change to market mechanisms. Until now, investment in advanced energy management systems has largely depended on investors’ decisions and return-on-investment calculations. In many cases, this meant limiting the scope of implementation to the minimum required by regulations. The situation is now changing. Rising energy costs and new regulations mean that energy efficiency is no longer an option, but a necessity.
– For years, we encountered an approach whereby investors were unwilling to bear the costs of more advanced solutions because the payback period was too long. Today, given current energy prices and new regulatory requirements, the market itself is beginning to actively seek optimisation solutions – points out the SPIE LTEC expert.
The EPBD came into force in 2024, and Member States, including Poland, have until 29 May 2026 to transpose it into their national legal systems, a process which is currently underway. Legislative work is currently in progress, as is the adaptation of technical and building regulations, which will gradually tighten the requirements regarding the energy performance of buildings. The implementation timetable provides for the gradual introduction of further obligations – starting with solar energy installations in selected types of buildings before 2030, through to the future achievement of the zero-emission building standard set out in the EPBD (first for public buildings from 2028, and then for all new buildings from 2030).
The growing role of integrators and the scale of the transition
As part of the shift from a ‘minimum compliance’ model to a ‘full optimisation’ model, new and refurbished buildings will have to meet increasingly advanced requirements, including, amongst other things, energy consumption management, the integration of various technical systems, and the ability to utilise locally generated energy.
In this context, coordinated design—together with the appropriate selection of equipment and all technologies, ranging from electrical installations through to ventilation, cooling, heating and extensive energy recovery systems, right through to dedicated building management systems (BMS). It is precisely these systems that enable real savings to be achieved by adapting energy consumption to the current needs of users and external conditions. As a result, the building begins to function like an organism managed by data and algorithms, whilst photovoltaics and energy storage systems are further elements within this framework that enhance the efficiency of the entire system.
Importantly, the EPBD directive covers not only new developments but also the existing building stock, which will gradually be subject to modernisation. This further increases the scale of the changes and makes the energy transition of buildings one of the greatest investment challenges of the coming years. A key role will be played not only by the design and installation of individual technologies, but above all by their integration and the long-term management of buildings’ energy efficiency.
– We can clearly see that requirements will increase, both in terms of scope and technological sophistication. This means that projects cannot be carried out in a piecemeal manner. A holistic approach, covering all building systems, will be necessary,” emphasises Tomasz Szolc.
The EPBD Directive therefore sets a new direction for the entire sector, going far beyond mandatory photovoltaic installations. The real change concerns a deeper transformation – a shift towards a model of buildings managed in an intelligent, integrated and maximally energy-efficient manner. For the market, this means an increase in the complexity of projects, whilst at the same time the importance of engineering and integration expertise is growing. In the long term, this may translate not only into a reduction in energy consumption and operating costs, but also into a lasting change in the operating standards of the entire construction industry.
[1] The term ‘zero-emission buildings’ refers to a regulatory concept defined in the EU Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings (EPBD).
