05.05.2026 #EPBD #EPBDwise #MEPS EPBDwise

Development of Article 9: Policy guidelines for Poland and Romania

The EPBD.wise project is a strategic initiative designed to translate European Union building legislation into actionable national policy by supporting public authorities in the implementation of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). These specific reports are part of the broader "EPBD Policy Compass: Country Guidelines for Implementation" series, which provides a technical and regulatory roadmap for developing Article 9 of the EPBD. Article 9 is a cornerstone of European climate strategy, as it mandates the creation of Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) for non-residential buildings and establishes national renovation trajectories to ensure the entire building stock aligns with 2050 net-zero goals.

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Poland

The guidelines for Poland establish a comprehensive framework to transition a building stock that is currently characterized by high energy demands and a significant reliance on coal and biomass for residential heating. The report utilizes detailed modeling to analyze various policy scenarios, testing the effectiveness of regulatory tools such as mandatory fossil-fuel boiler phase-outs alongside financial incentives like investment subsidies. Because Poland currently lacks a unified energy classification system, the researchers emphasize the urgent need to improve Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) databases. These recommendations are designed to help Polish authorities bridge the investment gap and align national renovation trajectories with broader decarbonization milestones for 2030 and 2033.

Romania

The Romanian policy guidelines serve as a strategic roadmap for transforming the nation’s building stock through the lens of the Invert/EE-Lab modeling framework. This report highlights how the decarbonization of district heating systems and the adjustment of Primary Energy Factors (PEFs) can significantly amplify energy savings across the residential sector. A major focus of the publication is overcoming implementation hurdles, specifically the lack of centralized “one-stop shops” for renovation and the data gaps associated with older, undocumented structures. By coordinating national renovation targets with financial instruments like the Social Climate Fund, the report outlines a path to protect vulnerable households while prioritizing the deep renovation of the most energy-intensive non-residential buildings.