Setting the Way to a 2050 Net-Zero Building Stock
Photo: Wolfgang Weiser / Unsplash
Europe’s energy future will largely depend on what happens inside its buildings, in our homes, schools, offices, and factories.
Today, around 75% of the EU’s buildings are energy inefficient, and most heating and cooling still rely on fossil fuels. With more than 85% of existing buildings expected to be still standing in 2050, the challenge is clear: if we don’t renovate them, we won’t reach climate neutrality.
But this is not only about emissions. It is about energy bills. It is about energy security. And it is about protecting citizens, especially the most vulnerable, from volatile energy prices.
From ambition to action: the revised EU’s Buildings Directive
In May 2024, the European Union revised the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), setting the path towards a net-zero building stock by 2050. The clock is now ticking. By May 2026, Member States must translate this Directive into national law.
The next crucial milestone is the finalisation of National Building Renovation Plans (NBRPs).
These plans are meant to be practical roadmaps that show how each country will transform its buildings, residential and non-residential, public and private, into highly energy-efficient, decarbonised assets over the next 25 years.
At the current pace, roughly 1% of buildings renovated each year, progress is simply too slow. To make a visible difference, renovation rates will need to double to at least 2% per year.
What makes National Building Renovation Plans different?
The NBRPs replace the earlier long-term renovation strategies and are designed to be more comprehensive and data-driven. They must map out clear trajectories, identify investment needs and explain how countries will support citizens and businesses through the transition.
The NBRPs replace the earlier long-term renovation strategies and are designed to be more comprehensive and data-driven.
Like the National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs), they will be assessed by the European Commission and updated every five years. Draft plans were due at the end of 2025, with final versions expected in 2026.
However, the way countries approach this task varies significantly.
Spain, for example, has taken a notably inclusive route. The drafting of its NBRP involved numerous working groups bringing together actors from across the building value chain, as well as regional and local authorities and civil society organisations. This broader consultation process aims to ensure that the plan reflects practical realities on the ground and builds ownership among those responsible for delivering renovations.
Such approaches may prove critical. Planning on paper is one thing. Delivering renovations at scale is another.
The reality check: challenges on the ground
Through EPBD.wise, a LIFE-funded project supporting six national authorities in implementing key provisions of the Directive, several recurring challenges have emerged across Europe.
One of the most fundamental is availability of data. In some countries, reliable and detailed information on the building stock, especially non-residential buildings, is still incomplete. Without clear data, setting realistic yet ambitious targets becomes far more difficult.
Other common challenges include:
- Aligning policies with clear, measurable targets, especially for worst-performing buildings
- Estimating investment needs and how to mobilise private capital
- Identifying and collecting data on worst-performing buildings
- Designing effective measures for public buildings, which should lead by example
- Ensuring renovation strategies address energy poverty
If these issues are not properly addressed, renovation plans risk becoming box-ticking exercises. They should be connected to the financial, technical and social realities.
Supporting delivery at national level
Turning targets into real renovation projects requires three reinforcing pillars: guidance, financing and empowerment of building owners.
The European Commission has already published practical guidance to help countries transpose the EPBD and design coherent plans using a common EU template.
On financing, initiatives such as the Affordable Housing Plan and strengthened cooperation with the European Investment Bank aim to help mobilise both public and private investment. Scaling renovation will require billions in additional capital and clear signals to investors.
Equally important is simplifying access for citizens. Upcoming guidance on one-stop shops should make it easier for homeowners and businesses to navigate technical advice, funding opportunities and administrative procedures.
Simplifying access for citizens is equally important.
The Citizen Energy Package is expected to reinforce the social dimension of the transition, addressing energy poverty, strengthening consumer protection and empowering citizens to participate in energy markets individually or through energy communities.
Together, these three pillars — guidance, financing and empowerment of building owners — create the conditions for NBRPs to move beyond compliance and become true engines of transforming EU’s buildings.
Where do we stand?
“Most countries are moving forward with transposition”, says Rémi Collombet, Secretary-General of Efficient Buildings Europe.
In January 2026, the European Commission published the eight plans submitted by seven Member States (Bulgaria, Croatia, Finland, Lithuania, Romania, Slovenia, and Spain) and the Belgian region of Wallonia. These drafts are now under assessment, with recommendations to follow.
As countries move from planning to implementation, the real test will be the quality of the measures, the credibility of the financing strategies and the speed of delivery. Transparent monitoring and shared learning will be key to ensure that the EPBD translates into real-world impact, such as lower energy bills, reduced emissions, and healthier, more resilient buildings.
“Renovate Europe’s EPBD implementation tracker aims to support this process by providing an up-to-date overview of national developments and key milestones across the EU, helping stakeholders follow progress and contribute to an effective, coordinated transformation of Europe’s building stock”, concludes Rémi Collombet. “This work would not have been possible without the valuable input and continuous engagement of Renovate Europe partners and the members of Efficient Buildings Europe.”
About Efficient Buildings Europe
Efficient Buildings Europe represents Europe’s leading companies involved with the manufacture, distribution and installation of energy efficient products, equipment, and services for buildings.
The members of Efficient Buildings Europe employ more than 280,000 people in these activities in Europe and have over 1,200 production facilities and office locations in the EU. The mission of Efficient Buildings Europe is to work together with the EU institutions to help the EU to move towards a more efficient use of energy in buildings, thereby creating an efficient, decarbonised, and flexible building stock that actively contributes to the achievement of Europe’s commitments on climate change, energy security, and economic growth.