Towards 2020 - Nearly Zero-Energy Buildings. Overview and outcomes

With the adoption of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (Directive 2010/31/EU - EPBD) in 2010, both the building industry and Member States (MSs) faced new challenges. One of the most prominent among them is the progress towards new Nearly Zero-Energy Buildings (NZEB) by 2021 (or by 2019 in the case of public buildings), while in parallel supporting the transformation of existing buildings into NZEBs. Thus, since 2010, the Concerted Action EPBD (CA EPBD) has been discussing the issues related to moving 'Towards 2020 -Nearly Zero-Energy Buildings' promoting dialogue and the exchange of best practices among MSs and thereby contributing to a more effective implementation of the EPBD in the MSs. The work focused on the transposition of the Directive 2010/31/EU into national law, namely on the national detailed application in practice of the framework definition of NZEB, and on the national plans for increasing the number of NZEBs. This report summarises the main outcomes of the discussions on this topic from March 2011 to March 2015. The successful contribution on MSs progress towards 2020 is based on the active participation of the national delegates (representing national authorities in charge of implementing the EPBD), including information gained from questionnaires, national studies, poster presentations, and study tours.