The Council has adopted its position at first reading on the draft Directive on the energy performance of buildings, which seeks to clarify, strengthen and extend the scope of the current Directive 2002/91/EC & to reduce the considerable differences in Member States' practices in this sector. Its provisions address various regulatory and information-based instruments and cover energy needs for space and hot water heating, cooling, ventilation and lighting for new and existing, residential and non-residential buildings. From Jan/2021 all new buildings must be "zero energy" buildings, meaning producing at least as much energy as they consume. Member States should set intermediate targets for 2015. The public sector is called on to show the example by owning & occupying only buildings that meet the zero energy standard, with effect from 1 January 2019.
