The European Union is introducing a fresh directive on the energy performance of buildings (EPBD), which is crucial for the future of home heating throughout Europe. The Directive, approved by the European Parliament in April, poses fresh challenges to the energy efficiency of buildings. Ignacy Niemczycki, Deputy Minister of improvement and Technology, in an interview with Business Insider Polska, explains what changes await property owners, and how Poland intends to implement these regulations.
Objective of the Building Directive: Energy Efficiency
The main nonsubjective of the EPBD Directive is to improve the energy efficiency of buildings, which is to contribute straight to reducing heating costs. As Deputy Minister Niemczycki points out, the Directive does not impose direct obligations on the owners of single houses, but alternatively gives associate States the task of creating an appropriate legal and financial framework to facilitate the modernisation of buildings and increase their energy efficiency.
What about the gas stoves?
In the context of gas furnaces, the Building Directive allows their use, but does not supply for fresh support schemes for the acquisition of specified equipment. For investments approved before 2025, Deputy Minister Niemczycki stresses that Poland will clarify with the European Commission how hybrid heating systems and already existing support programmes will be assessed. The good news for the gas furnace owners is that they will not be forced to dismantle them.
Pellet As Alternative
Pellet ovens are positively rated in the context of fresh regulations. They are an ecological alternate to coal boilers due to the fact that the pellets have a smaller carbon footprint. Additionally, Poland has local producers of specified boilers, which further emphasizes the sense of their use. Deputy Minister Niemczycki points out that the government will encourage the usage of pellets as well as another green technologies specified as heat pumps, photovoltaics and renewable energy.
Funding for Buildings Thermomodernisation
In order to enable modernisation of buildings according to fresh standards, the National Building Renovation Plan and the Social Climate Fund are being prepared in Poland. It is from this fund, which is expected to have around EUR 11 billion in funds, that investment in the thermomodernisation of buildings is to be financed, especially for those at hazard of energy poverty.
Even now, property owners can benefit from the Fund for Thermomodernization and Repairs and from the thermomodernisation relief, which allows to deduct from taxation up to PLN 53 1000 in the case of modernization of a single household house.
Conclusions: What does the Directive mean to an average citizen?
The fresh EPBD is primarily a commitment by the State to make conditions conducive to the modernisation of buildings and to reducing the cost of surviving of citizens. Although it does not supply for direct penalties for homeowners, its implementation may in future affect decisions on the choice of heating systems in fresh buildings. Most importantly, however, the aim of the regulation is to support measures aimed at improving energy efficiency, which will in time benefit both the environment and our portfolios.
More here:
New EU Building Directive: What awaits Houseowners with Pieces for Gas, Coal and Pellet?
