1. Sustainable buildings
in the EU context
Nordic GBC Conference
Helsinki, 31.01.2013
Ferenc PEKÁR
Sustainable Production and Consumption
Directorate General for Environment
European Commission
1

2. EU 2020 Strategy
 7 Flagship initiatives, incl. “Resource Efficient Europe”
 The course for EU economy for the next 10 years and
beyond
 3 priorities:
Smart Growth – education, research
Sustainable Growth – low carbon, resource
efficiency
Inclusive Growth – high-employment; economic,
social, territorial cohesion

3. The Resource Efficiency Roadmap
 Transformational agenda: 2050 vision, 2020 milestones
 Resources considered:
 energy, minerals & metals, water, air, land & soil,
ecosystem services & biodiversity, marine resources
 Addresses bottlenecks and barriers to resource
efficiency:
 Getting prices right
 Boost resource efficiency in production, consumption and
waste management
 Focus on three main sectors: food, housing, mobility

4. Resource use - buildings
40% of our final energy consumption
35% of our greenhouse gas emissions
50% of all extracted materials
30% of our water consumption
30% of total generated waste

5. Existing Policy
 Buildings: Focus on energy efficiency
Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, Energy Efficiency
Directive
Near-zero energy buildings
Cost-optimal energy efficiency standards for buildings
Mandatory refurbishment of publicly owned buildings to energy
efficiency level
 Product level: CPD/CPR
Product declarations, performance requirements left to MS
 Private initiatives (BREEM, HQE, etc.)
Limited number of environmental performance parameters,
limited compatibility

6. Communication on Sustainable
buildings
 Planned by end 2013
 Objectives:
 Holistic approach
 Increase supply of sustainable buildings – remove
barriers
 Raise awareness/demand
 Improve knowledge/information on resource use
 Support more intensive use

7. Possible Policy Options, so far…
 Coherent assessment framework for
environmental performance of buildings
 Support data development/availability
 Stronger incentives: EU funding, Green Public
Procurement, Fiscal incentives (facilitate
coordination at MS level), information to
purchasers/users (labels, declarations, etc.)
 Better use of buildings and space

8. Communication on Sustainable
buildings
 Now: assessment of policy options
 Public consultation starts in February
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/consultatio
ns_en.htm#open
12 weeks to respond

9. Thank you!
ferenc.pekar@ec.europa.eu

10. Thank you!
ferenc.pekar@ec.europa.eu