The recast of the directive on the energy performance of buildings, known as EPBD IV or 'green homes', in force since 28 May 2024. It redesigns the European framework: zero-emission buildings for new construction, trajectories to reduce the average consumption of the residential stock by 2030 and 2035, a renovation passport, the gradual phase-out of fossil-fuel boilers and a revision of the Energy Performance Certificate. The transposition deadline was 29 May 2026: Italy missed it, and in July 2026 the European Commission opened infringement proceedings. Until transposition, Legislative Decree 192/2005 remains the operative reference.
It applies to new and existing buildings in EU Member States and to their technical systems. It sets objectives and tools that States transpose into national law: minimum energy performance standards, requirements for zero-emission buildings, certification and renovation plans.
EPBD IV is the recast of the directive on the energy performance of buildings (replacing 2010/31/EU). Like every directive, it binds Member States as to results but leaves them the form of transposition: it entered into force on 28 May 2024 and was to be transposed by 29 May 2026. Italy missed that deadline: no implementing legislative decree, no national renovation plan submitted, and since July 2026 infringement proceedings opened by the European Commission. The operative reference therefore remains Legislative Decree 192/2005.
The core of the directive is the new zero-emission building (ZEB) standard: very low energy demand, no on-site emissions from fossil fuels and consumption covered by renewables or very-high-efficiency systems. It becomes mandatory for new public buildings from 2028 and for all new buildings from 2030, superseding the earlier NZEB concept.
On the existing stock the directive acts differently for residential and non-residential buildings, leaving States to choose the instruments (incentives, specific obligations) to be defined in the national renovation plan.
| Scope | Target | Horizon |
|---|---|---|
| Residential | reduce average primary energy use | -16% by 2030, -20/-22% by 2035 |
| Non-residential | renovate the worst-performing buildings via minimum performance standards | worst 16% by 2030, 26% by 2033 |
| Heating systems | end subsidies for fossil-only boilers; gradual phase-out | from 2025, towards 2040 |
Around these targets the directive renews the tools: an Energy Performance Certificate harmonised on a common European scale (classes A to G), the voluntary renovation passport, requirements for installing solar energy in buildings and for electric-mobility recharging infrastructure.
Where this rule shows up in past architect qualification exams — study the rule, not just the theme.
No. The directive has been in force in EU law since 28 May 2024, but it has not been transposed in Italy: the 29 May 2026 deadline passed without an implementing legislative decree, and in July 2026 the European Commission opened infringement proceedings. For designers this means the operative obligations remain those of Legislative Decree 192/2005 and its implementing decrees; the directive sets the direction, not yet the applicable requirements.
A building with very low energy demand, no on-site CO2 emissions from fossil fuels and consumption covered by renewables or very-high-efficiency systems. It will be the standard for new public buildings from 2028 and for all new buildings from 2030.
It does not require immediate replacement. It ends subsidies for boilers powered solely by fossil fuels from 2025 and aims at their gradual phase-out by 2040; timing and detail are set by national transposition.
States must reduce the average primary energy use of the residential stock (-16% by 2030, -20/-22% by 2035) and renovate the worst non-residential buildings. The concrete measures (incentives, obligations) are chosen by each State in the national renovation plan.
A voluntary document that maps, in phases, the roadmap to bring an existing building towards high performance or zero emissions, helping the owner plan works over time.