The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive
The set of EPB standards play a key role to support the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) of the European Union. The EPBD aims to promote the improvement of energy performance in buildings across the EU, taking into account outdoor climatic and local conditions, indoor climate requirements, and cost-effectiveness.
The most recent revision of the EPBD was published in May 2024, continuing the EU's commitment to reducing energy consumption and enhancing building performance. The directive has evolved significantly since its first version in 2002, with each revision strengthening the role of standardization in achieving consistent implementation across member states.
Revision of the EPBD in 2024
On December 15, 2021 the European Commission published its proposal for the revision of the EPBD:
"Buildings are one of the largest sources of energy consumption in Europe. Boosting their energy efficiency would cut emissions, tackle energy poverty, reduce people's vulnerability to energy prices and support the economic recovery and job creation. The Renovation Wave Strategy (MEMO) presented in October 2020 set out measures aiming to at least double the annual energy renovation rate by 2030.
The revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) is an essential element of this Strategy. It upgrades the existing regulatory framework to reflect higher ambitions and more pressing needs in climate and social action while providing Member States with the flexibility needed to take into account the differences in the building stock across Europe."
The revised EPBD was published in May 2024.
EPBD Timeline
First EPBD
The first version of the EPBD was published as Directive 2002/91/EC, establishing the initial framework for improving energy performance in buildings across the EU.
EPBD Recast
In the interest of clarity and effectiveness, the EPBD was recast as Directive 2010/31/EU, introducing more specific requirements and guidelines.
EPBD Amendment
A revised version of the EPBD was published as Directive 2018/844/EU, introducing a stronger role for EPB standards and more ambitious targets.
Latest Revision
The latest revised EPBD was published in May 2024, further strengthening requirements and aligning with the EU's climate neutrality objectives.
Overarching
| Sub-Modules | M1 Module |
| General | EN ISO 52000-1 |
| Common terms and definitions, symbols, units and subscripts | EN ISO 52000-1 |
| Applications | EN ISO 52000-1 |
| Ways to Express Energy Performance | EN ISO 52003-1 |
| Building Functions and Building Boundaries | EN ISO 52000-1 |
| Building Occupancy and Operating Conditions | EN 16798-1ISO 17772-1 |
| Aggregation of Energy Services and Energy Carriers | EN ISO 52000-1 |
| Building Zoning | EN ISO 52000-1 |
| Calculated Energy Performance | EN ISO 52000-1 |
| Measured Energy Performance | EN ISO 52000-1 |
| Ways to express Indoor Comfort | EN 16798-1ISO 17772-1 |
| External Environment Conditions | EN ISO 52010-1 |
| Economic Calculation | EN 15459-1 |
Building as such
| Sub-Modules | M2 Module |
| Building Energy Needs | EN ISO 52016-1EN ISO 52017-1 |
| (Free) Indoor Conditions without Systems | EN ISO 52016-1EN ISO 52017-1 |
| Ways to Express Energy Performance | EN ISO 52018-1 |
| Heat Transfer by Transmission | EN ISO 10077-1EN ISO 10077-2EN ISO 10211EN ISO 12631EN ISO 13370EN ISO 13789EN ISO 14683EN ISO 6946 |
| Heat Transfer by Distribution & Control Infiltration and Ventilation | EN ISO 13789 |
| Internal Heat Gains | EN 16798-1ISO 17772-1 |
| Solar Heat Gains | EN ISO 52022-1EN ISO 52022-3 |
| 1 Building Dynamics (thermal mass) | EN ISO 13786 |
Technical Building Systems (under EPBD)
Energy performance of buildings — Overarching EPB assessment — Part 1: General framework and procedures
Published: 2017-06Energy performance of buildings — Ventilation of buildings — Part 1: Indoor environmental input parameters for design and assessment of energy performance of buildings addressing indoor air quality, thermal environment, lighting and acoustics
Published: 2019-05Energy performance of buildings — Indicators, requirements, ratings and certificates — Part 1: General aspects and application to the overall energy performance
Published: 2017-06Energy performance of buildings — Indoor environmental quality — Part 1: Indoor environmental input parameters for the design and assessment of energy performance of buildings
Published: 2017-06Energy performance of buildings — External climatic conditions — Part 1: Conversion of climatic data for energy calculations
Published: 2017-06Energy performance of buildings — Economic evaluation procedure for energy systems in buildings — Part 1: Calculation procedures
Published: 2017-06Energy performance of buildings – Energy needs for heating and cooling, internal temperatures and sensible and latent heat loads — Part 1: Calculation procedures
Published: 2017-06Energy performance of buildings — Sensible and latent heat loads and internal temperatures — Part 1: Generic calculation procedures
Published: 2017-06Energy performance of buildings — Indicators for partial EPB requirements related to thermal energy balance and fabric features — Part 1: Overview of options
Published: 2017-06Thermal performance of windows, doors and shutters — Calculation of thermal transmittance — Part 1: General
Published: 2017-06Thermal performance of windows, doors and shutters — Calculation of thermal transmittance — Part 2: Numerical method for frames
Published: 2017-06Thermal bridges in building construction — Heat flows and surface temperatures — Detailed calculations
Published: 2017-06Thermal bridges in building construction — Heat flows and surface temperatures — Detailed calculations
Published: 2017-06Thermal performance of buildings — Heat transfer via the ground — Calculation methods
Published: 2017-06Thermal performance of buildings — Transmission and ventilation heat transfer coefficients — Calculation method
Published: 2017-06Thermal performance of buildings — Transmission and ventilation heat transfer coefficients — Calculation method
Published: 2017-06Thermal bridges in building construction — Linear thermal transmittance — Simplified methods and default values
Published: 2017-06Building components and building elements — Thermal Resistance and thermal transmittance — Calculation methods
Published: 2017-06Thermal performance of curtain walling — Calculation of thermal transmittance
Published: 2017-06Thermal bridges in building construction — Heat flows and surface temperatures — Detailed calculations
Published: 2017-06Energy performance of buildings — Thermal, solar and daylight properties of building components and elements — Part 1: Simplified calculation method of the solar and daylight characteristics for solar protection devices combined with glazing
Published: 2017-06Energy performance of buildings — Thermal, solar and daylight properties of building components and elements — Part 3: Detailed calculation method of the solar and daylight characteristics for solar protection devices combined with glazing
Published: 2017-06Thermal performance of building components — Dynamic thermal characteristics — Calculation methods
Published: 2017-06Energy performance of buildings — Method for calculation of system energy requirements and system efficiencies — Part 1: General and Energy performance expression
Published: 2017-04Energy performance of buildings — Ventilation for buildings — Part 9: Calculation methods for energy requirements of cooling systems
Published: 2017-06Energy performance of buildings — Ventilation for buildings — Part 3: For non-residential buildings – Performance requirements for ventilation and room-conditioning systems
Published: 2017-07Energy performance of buildings — Energy requirements for lighting — Part 1: Specifications
Published: 2017-04Energy performance of buildings — Energy performance of buildings — Part 1: Impact of Building Automation, Controls and Building Management
Published: 2017-05Energy performance of buildings — Method for calculation of the design heat load — Part 3: Domestic hot water systems heat load and characterisation of needs
Published: 2017-07Energy performance of buildings — Method for calculation of the design heat load — Part 1: Space heating load
Published: 2017-07Energy performance of buildings — Method for calculation of system energy requirements and system efficiencies — Part 2: Space emission systems (heating and cooling)
Published: 2017-05Energy performance of buildings — Part 7: Ventilation for buildings — Calculation methods for the determination of air flow rates in buildings including infiltration
Published: 2017-06Energy performance of buildings — Ventilation for buildings — Calculation methods for energy requirements of ventilation and air conditioning systems — Part 5-1 Distribution and generation — Method 1
Published: 2017-05Energy performance of buildings — Control for heating, ventilating and air conditioning applications — Part 1: Electronic individual zone control equipment
Published: 2017-05Energy performance of buildings — Ventilation for buildings — Part 5-2: Calculation methods for energy requirements of ventilation systems — Method 2: Distribution and generation
Published: 2017-08Energy performance of buildings — Controls for heating systems — Part 1: Control equipment for hot water heating systems
Published: 2017-05Energy performance of buildings — Controls for heating systems — Part 3: Control equipment for electrical heating systems
Published: 2017-05Energy performance of buildings — Controls for heating systems — Part 5: Start-stop schedulers for heating systems
Published: 2017-05Energy performance of buildings — Method for calculation of system energy requirements and system efficiencies — Part 3: Space distribution systems (DHW, heating and cooling)
Published: 2017-04Energy performance of buildings — Method for calculation of system energy requirements and system efficiencies — Part 5: Space heating and DHW storage systems (not cooling)
Published: 2017-05Energy performance of buildings — Ventilation for buildings — Part 15: Calculation of cooling systems
Published: 2017-06Energy performance of buildings — Method for calculation of system energy requirements and system efficiencies — Part 4-3: Heat generation systems, thermal solar and photovoltaic systems
Published: 2017-05Energy performance of buildings — Ventilation for buildings — Part 13: Calculation of cooling systems
Published: 2017-06Energy performance of buildings — Method for calculation of system energy requirements and system efficiencies — Part 4-1: Space heating and DHW generation systems
Published: 2017-05Energy performance of buildings — Method for calculation of system energy requirements and system efficiencies — Part 4-2: Space heating generation systems, heat pump systems
Published: 2017-04Energy performance of buildings – Method for calculation of system energy requirements and system efficiencies – Part 4–4: Heat generation systems, building-integrated cogeneration systems
Published: 2017-04Energy performance of buildings — Method for calculation of system energy requirements and system efficiencies — Part 4-5: District heating and cooling
Published: 2017-05Energy performance of buildings — Method for calculation of system energy requirements and system efficiencies — Part 4–10: Wind power generation systems
Published: 2017-05Energy performance of buildings — Method for calculation of system energy requirements and system efficiencies — Part 4-8: Space heating generation systems, air heating and overhead radiant heating systems, including stoves (local)
Published: 2017-04Energy performance of buildings — Heating and DHW systems in buildings — Part 3: Measured energy performance
Published: 2017-04Energy performance of buildings — Heating systems and DHW in buildings — Part 1: Inspection of boilers, heating systems and DHW
Published: 2017-05Energy performance of buildings — Ventilation for buildings — Part 17: Guidelines for inspection of ventilation and air conditioning systems
Published: 2017-06Energy performance of buildings — Inspection of Automation, Controls and Technical Building Management — Part 1
Published: 2017-07Energy performance of buildings — Building Management System — Part 1
Published: 2017-06