Nearly Zero-Energy Buildings (nZEB)

The re-cast Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) requires that from 2019 onwards ‘all the new buildings occupied and owned by public authorities are nearly zero-energy buildings’ (nZEB) and by the end of 2020 ‘all new buildings are nearly zero- energy buildings’.

The European Member States ‘shall draw up national plans for increasing the number of nZEBs. Concepts and examples for nearly Zero-Energy or climate neutral buildings already exist in various countries and from different sources. However the views on how such buildings should be defined, and the means and techniques to achieve specific national targets show considerable differences across Europe. The definition of nZEB in the EPBD recast offers flexibility, but at the same time leaves uncertainties on the actual ambition level and CO2-emissions of such buildings.

Following its main mission to contribute to the improvement of the buildings’ energy performance across Europe, BPIE started in December 2010 a study to support the EPBD implementation by developing a well-founded opinion on principles for nearly Zero-Energy Buildings, based on the current status and on existing concepts for low energy buildings.

The nZEB study is designed to lead to:

  • a common understanding of the issue around nearly zero energy buildings;
  • knowledge on possible solutions to pending questions;
  • proposals for suitable definitions;
  • a clear view on the effects of such definitions;
  • a comparison of the results and recommendations for the steps towards common understanding of this term throughout of the EU.

The report has been presented on November 9th 2011 at the Aeropolis II building, one of the largest low-energy office buildings in Brussels.

In a second phase of this project we plan to define nZEB strategies for a selection of Central and Eastern European Member States, delivering also practical recommendations.

Please check out our website for updates on this topic.

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