Green Homes Directive: what it is and what it provides

The Green Homes Directive is a regulation adopted by the European Union with the aim of improving the energy efficiency of buildings and reducing CO₂ emissions in the construction sector. This initiative fits into the broader context of the European Green Deal, which aims to achieve climate neutrality by 2050.

Main objectives of the directive
Reduction of energy consumption in residential buildings. Member States must ensure a decrease in the average primary energy consumption of residential buildings by 16% by 2030 and by 20-22% by 2035. Zero-emission buildings. Starting January 1, 2030, all new buildings will have to be zero-emission.

It will reportedly force all owners to renovate their homes by 2030, under penalty of the property being unsellable and other penalties. But what does it really predict? What are the real or probable implications for homeowners, given that European Union directives (unlike regulations) do not automatically come into force, but require implementation measures issued by individual member states? (for Italy this processing is still in progress).

Objectives and timing
In summary, the main objectives of the Green Home Directive with the related implementation timeline are:
. new buildings: starting from 1 January 2030, all new private buildings must be zero-emission; for new public buildings, this requirement will be mandatory as early as 2028;
. existing buildings: existing residential buildings will have to reduce average energy consumption by 16% by 2030 and by 20-22% by 2035

Exemptions from the scopeno
Some categories of buildings could (depending on what national legislation establishes) be exempted from the obligations of the Green Homes Directive, which allows this to be done for the following categories of properties:

. historic buildings or buildings of particular architectural value (castles, monuments, ancient and valuable buildings, etc.);
. buildings located in protected areas or subject to particular constraints (archaeological, architectural, landscape, cultural, etc.);
. holiday homes used occasionally and in any case for less than 4 months a year;
. buildings of worship (churches, sanctuaries, monasteries, convents, etc.);
. temporary structures, such as construction sites and bathing establishments.

Implications for homeowners
Owners of residential buildings classified in the lowest energy classes - such as F and G, respectively penultimate and last in the series - will most likely be required to carry out, by 2030, barring variations, redevelopment measures to improve the energy efficiency of their properties.

These works could – based on the current conditions of the property – include the following interventions:
. thermal insulation: for example, the installation of "thermal coats" to reduce heat loss;
. replacement of fixtures: use of thermal break windows to improve insulation;
. updating of heating systems: replacement of traditional boilers with heat pumps or more efficient condensing boilers (here opens a further chapter on which detailed legislation will have to intervene);
. installation of photovoltaic systems: to exploit renewable energy and reduce energy consumption from fossil sources.

Green Homes Directive: where are we at in Italy?
The Green Home Directive was published in the Official Journal of the EU on 8 May 2024 and entered into force 20 days later. Member States, including Italy, have until 29 May 2026 to transpose it into their national legislation. This means that, at the moment, there are still no concrete obligations for Italian owners, but the Government will soon have to adopt specific measures to align with European objectives. Although Member States have some flexibility in transposing these rules, it is already clear that many owners will need to adapt their properties in the coming years.

What should homeowners do?
Those who own a property may have to face energy efficiency measures like those we have described above by 2030 (or 2035), to comply with the new parameters.

Here are the main actions to consider and which may be necessary to undertake, based on what the next national measures implementing the Green Homes Directive will establish.

Evaluate the energy class of the property
The first step is to check the current Energy Performance Certificate (APE), which classifies buildings from A4 (most efficient) to G (least efficient). The directive aims to progressively eliminate buildings in the lowest classes, so those who own a house in class F or G may be required to take action. Less risk, however, for those who have a building that is already in the upper class.

Improve thermal insulation
One of the most effective interventions to reduce consumption is the insulation of the building, which can be achieved through:
. the installation of thermal coats on external walls;
. the replacement of fixtures (which constitute one of the main sources of heat dispersion) with thermal break windows;
. the insulation of the roof, the attic and other structural parts of the building.

Replace the heating system
Traditional gas boilers may no longer comply with the new requirements. Solutions such as heat pumps, condensing boilers or geothermal systems could, based on Italy's decisions to implement the Directive, become mandatory to improve energy efficiency.

Install renewable energy sources
The Directive strongly encourages the use of photovoltaic systems and other solutions based on renewable energy. In some cases, new buildings (including condominium ones) will have to be equipped with solar panels.

Access incentives and tax breaks
The Italian Government will hopefully have to introduce measures to facilitate the transition, such as tax deductions, restructuring bonuses and subsidized financing.
Now that the Superbonus has ended (which in all likelihood will not be reintroduced), at the moment tools such as the Ecobonus already offer tax breaks for energy efficiency interventions, allowing at least part of the expenditure incurred to be recovered (on average from 50% to 65%), but it will be necessary to see what measures will be adopted for the implementation of the Directive.

What can be done now?
In the meantime, while waiting for the national measures to transpose the European Green Houses Directive, if you are the owner of a property for residential use and are afraid of being involved in the new energy improvement obligations that will soon be introduced in Italy too, you can:

. if you don't already have it, request an APE energy certification from a qualified professional to determine the current class of the building;
. undertake a rough planning of the interventions, identifying the areas that need improvements for the purposes of achieving energy efficiency (for example: the roof, windows, boilers, etc.), and thus plan the necessary interventions in time;
. inform you about tax incentives or financing (European, state, regional or municipal) already available to support energy renovations;
. request advice from a qualified professional (engineer, architect, surveyor) you trust to obtain advice and opinions on effective interventions that comply with current regulations.