In 2021, the Commission submitted to the European Parliament and the Council a proposal for a recast of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). As a reminder, this directive is part of the EU ‘Fit for 55’ package. It lays down the minimum requirements for the energy performance of buildings, new and existing, that are being renovated to guarantee minimum energy performance and zero-carbon emission buildings by 2050. For the sake of our private cultural heritage buildings, such as historic houses, it was necessary to add amendments to protect their integrity and our owners’ lives. European Historic Houses – with the help of friendly MEPs and our partners – advocated to have the already existing exemption for officially protected buildings extended to other heritage buildings.
European Historic Houses is glad to share that the revised EPBD – including the exemption pushed by European Historic Houses – was formally adopted by the Council on April 12, 2024. The directive was then signed and published in the Official Journal of the EU. It is now time for national associations to use this broad exemption at national level so to make sure that their private owners of historic houses have the full benefit.
The exemption covers also the Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) and is worded in the following way: “buildings officially protected as part of a designated environment or because of the special architectural or historical merit, or other heritage buildings, in so far as compliance with the standards would unacceptably alter their character or appearance, or if their renovation is not technically or economically feasible”.
This is a monumental step in protecting historic houses and their owners. Member States have two years to incorporate the provisions of the EPBD into their national legislation. However, the decision on applying for the exemption rests in the hands of the Member States.